Applying for A card extension while waiting for L card.

Whats the difference between B card L card amd A Card?

@Stranger_F

I know someone who was in the same situation. Your A card will be extended and you will receive a new A card. Once your L card is approved, it will then be issued to you. Don’t worry about the transition; it should go smoothly.

The B card you are referring to is not a replacement card. It is a permanent residence card for non-EU nationals in Belgium, granted under Belgian national law after several years of legal stay. The L card, on the other hand, is the EU long-term resident card, which also comes after long residence but gives you EU long-term resident status, meaning you may have additional possibilities to move or reside in other EU countries under certain conditions.

@Mu Jaycee

Thanks! I have heard that after 5 years of legal residence in Belgium, when the time comes for another extension of A card, townhall/office etranger issues B card instead of A card.

Hence I was worried that if they issue B card first (which is long-term residence), then they won't issue L card later because I already received long-term residence card.

Of course if they just issue new A card then there is no issue - I will just wait for L card.

@Stranger_F

In this case you have to apply for your renewal of A card and L card same time, L card generally takes 5 month, so In between you will get B in case no reply from ministry on your A card other wise A and after 5 month L

And if you want to apply for Nationality then don't waste your money to get another card, means B and L both are ok for this

This happened with my wife

@gbsc0609

Is the B card condition the same as L card ? Student years count as half ?

@Gvad45

Sorry, I don't know about student year, I have been doing job here for 6 year

@Gvad45

The requirements to be issued B card is not on the basis of being a student. So the counting of student years towards legal residence is not relevant in this B card's case.

L card legal residency requirement, on the other hand, considers the student years (counted half year).

@brla15

Thanks for the explanation. Just to ask further senario, so a person who spent 3 years on study permit 1 year on search year permit, can work 3 more years to qualify for L card?

Just to clarify. Thanks