L card When to Apply

Hi Team,
I am on unlimited work permit and completing my 5 years of local contract in the month of Dec 2026.
I have to also renew my current A card as it is going to expire in the month of Dec 2026.
Should I apply for L card or only Renew A card at the moment. - @gabawo9189

I’m in the same situation, my unlimited work permit backed A card expires in March 2027 and

I’ll apply for my L card on first week of October 2026(next month). I was advices by commune to apply for both cards to avoid any surprises

@gabawo9189

Both. Since the L card application can take up to 5 months or even longer, you need an A card renewal to bridge that gap and keep your residence legal.

@ARMaliq

Should I apply L card after completing 5 years or I can apply before that.

Which date is taken for completion of 5 years? The date one went to the commune or the date in your first ever A card?

@gabawo9189

The commune does not accept your application if 5 years have not yet passed.

@Srizzy

The date when you were first registered at the townhall.

@hermito

Is this mentioned in any commune websites?

@Srizzy

I doubt that there is a written document on this. This is how people experienced with their communes. This is mostly the first date of registration.

IT's the day you go to your commune to register for the first time!

My annexe 49 was on Jan 4th 2022 - so on jan 4 2027 I could visit the commune and ask for a L card based on 5 years of full time employment?

Yes, you can, but not because of 5 years of full time employment. 5 years of legal stay.

Conditions (from dofi.ibz.be):

1. provide a valid residence or settlement permit and, if their identity cannot be established, a copy of a valid passport;
2. provide proof of legal and uninterrupted residence in Belgium during the 5 years immediately preceding the application for long-term resident status;
3. have stable, regular and sufficient means of subsistence to support themselves and their dependent family members, i.e. €1,038 for a single person and €346 for each dependant;
4. be in possession of a medical insurance covering the risks in Belgium;
5. not represent a danger to public order or national security.

Also, if you want to be extra sure, just download a "Certificate of Main Residence with history (attest van hoofdverblijfplaats met historiek / certificat de résidence principale avec historique)" and you will see when you were first registered at the townhall.

@hermito

Yes my stay history certificate says the same date I mentioned above

@Srizzy

they will count not less than 5 full years of payslips and 5 full years of stay from the date in your residency certificate. So if your stay is 5 years, but payslips are couple months less - I would wait.

@Srizzy
they will count not less than 5 full years of payslips and 5 full years of stay from the date in your residency certificate. So if your stay is 5 years, but payslips are couple months less - I would wait. - @gannam

If you haven’t worked for couple month in between the 5 years due to your jobs loss, it doesn’t matter. For L card it’s not a requirement anywhere. I’ve friends who were jobless for a month or two and got their L card. However your residence should be legal and continues in these 5 years