How to submit an application for international protection
Access to the asylum procedure takes place in three stages.
- making the application for international protection;
- registering the application for international protection (competence of the Immigration Office);
- lodging the application for international protection (competence of the Immigration Office).
During the first stage (making the application), foreign nationals personally make an asylum claim. This means that they express their intention to submit an application for international protection. This takes place at the Immigration Office (Rue Belliard 68, 1000 Brussels, at 8.30 am, from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays)).
Foreign nationals may also file an application for international protection with the CGRS. However, the CGRS is not responsible for registering or lodging the application. The Immigration Office is responsible for registering and lodging the application. To ensure the prompt and efficient processing of an application for international protection, it is recommended that the application is submitted directly to the Immigration Office.
During the second stage (registering the application), the Immigration Office registers the application, recording in particular the following details:
- the applicant’s name, date and place of birth, gender, nationalities or statelessness;
- the applicant’s family members, and in the case of minors, brothers and sisters, or relatives residing in a Member State of the European Union;
- other personal details of the applicant relevant to the international protection procedure and to the determination of the Member State responsible for examining the application;
- the type, number and period of validity of the applicant’s identity or travel document and the country that issued the document, as well as other documents of the applicant the competent authority considers relevant to his or her identification, to the international protection procedure and to determine the Member State responsible for examining the application.
During this second stage (registering the application), the Immigration Office takes the following actions:
- taking a photograph of the applicant;
- taking the applicant’s fingerprints;
- conducting a medical examination.
During the third stage (lodging the application), the application for international protection is formalised at the Immigration Office.
During the lodging stage, the applicant must provide, as soon as possible, all necessary information and documents at his/her disposal needed to substantiate and complete the application.
Upon lodging of the application, the language of the procedure (Dutch or French) is determined, and the applicant may indicate whether (s)he requires the assistance of an interpreter.
After lodging the application, the applicant completes a questionnaire enabling the CGRS to process his/ her application. The applicant also completes a questionnaire regarding any special procedural needs.
Applicants for international protection can find more practical information on the registration process on the website www.asylumregistration.be launched by the Immigration Office (IO). On this website, steps such as the security check and fingerprinting are clearly explained in 16 different languages via text, audio and videos.