Exemptions

Some foreign nationals belong to the target group that is normally required to follow an integration programme, but that is exempt from this requirement for legal reasons.

First, some exemptions pertain to the nature of residency rights. In general, these exemptions do not require proof as they are granted automatically according to national registry data. These exemptions apply in the following cases:

You have EU+ member state nationality

You have nationality from one of the following countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden or Switzerland.

This is the case if you have an E(U)-card and Appendix 8.

United Kingdom nationals are also exempt if they benefit from withdrawal agreement terms. In this case you will have an M card.

You are a family member of a citizen with EU+ nationality

A family member is understood to be:

a wife/husband.
a partner with whom a registered partnership has been concluded insofar as this is equivalent to marriage. This is the case for partnerships concluded in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Germany, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Legal or de facto cohabitation in Belgium is not considered to be equivalent to marriage.
Direct descendants and those of spouse or partner (equivalent to spouse), under 21 or dependent.
Direct ascendants and those of spouse or partner (equivalent to spouse) who are dependent. This does not therefore include ascendants of an EU+ citizen who is a minor.

This is the case if you hold an F card or a certificate of immatriculation during the procedures to obtain an F card, on the condition that you are one of the aforementioned family members.

If you are a family member of a Belgian national, you are only exempt if the Belgian national has exercised his or her right to free movement. That will be the case if you and the Belgian national have lived legally in another EU+ member state for more than three months.

If you are a family member of a UK national and you are benefitting from the withdrawal agreement you are also exempt. In this case you will have an M card.

You have a non-renewable, maximum 1-year residency, or you are a family member of a foreign national with a non-renewable, maximum 1-year residency.

This is the case, for example, for au pairs and persons with a working holiday visa, as well as their family members.

You have a right of residence based solely on work, studies, education, training, placement, exchange or voluntary work (as a consequence the right of residence is limited to the duration of this activity).

This is the case, for example, in the following situations:

You have a single permit;
You are a student;
You are a diplomat;
…

You are a long-term resident of an EU member state and have fulfilled the integration conditions

This is the case if you have obtained long-term resident status in Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, or Romania.

You have temporary protection as a refugee from Ukraine.

You have temporary protection in accordance with European Directive 2001/55/EC. This is currently applicable to refugees from Ukraine.

Secondly, there are exemptions for which you have to provide proof to your municipality – through BON or the BAPA, by going to the municipality offices in person, or by email – in order to benefit from them. This applies in the following cases:

You have obtained an integration certificate in Belgium

You must provide the following:

a civil integration certificate or proof of regular attendance in an integration programme, issued in Flanders;
a participation certificate issued in Wallonia;
a certificate attesting to stage-two attendance, issued by the French Community Commission;
a certificate establishing that you completed a course in French or Dutch as foreign language up to level A2, as well as proof of completing a citizenship course organised or funded by the Flemish Community, the Walloon Region, the French Community Commission or the German-speaking Community.

You have already been exempted from having to follow an integration programme in another Region.

You must provide the following:a certificate of exemption issued by the Flemish Community, the Walloon Region or the German-speaking Community.

You hold a certificate or diploma of primary, secondary or higher education obtained in Belgium.

You must provide the following: a certificate or diploma from an educational establishment financed, organised or subsidised by the Flemish Community, the French Community or the German-speaking Community.

You are seriously ill or have a mental or physical handicap that makes it permanently impossible for you to follow any integration programme

You must provide the following: a medical certificate. You can download a certificate template here It must be filled out and signed by your doctor.

Please note that the exemption request for medical reasons must be made at your municipality offices in person or by email addressed to the municipality

You can obtain an exemption at any time, upon registration until closure of your file.

Even if you are exempt, you can begin or continue to follow the programme voluntarily. To do so please contact the approved organiser of your choice.