We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions for Ukrainian refugees in Belgium. Here you can read more about the application for temporary protection, the registration with a health insurance fund, social assistance ...
Frequently asked questions about Ukrainian refugees in Belgium
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What is the temporary protection status? Who can apply for it and where?
People who fled from Ukraine after the military invasion on 24.02.2022 do not have to apply for asylum ('request for international protection') at the Immigration Office. Instead, they can apply for a 'temporary protection status’. Report to the registration centre in palace 8 of Brussels Expo (Heysel) to do so.
Who can apply for this temporary protection status?
- You or your partner have Ukrainian nationality
- You or your partner have lived in Ukraine under international protection or are recognised as a stateless person in Ukraine
- You are a minor child of one of the above
- You are another close relative who has lived with one of the above
At the registration centre in Brussels your identity and biometric data (such as fingerprints) are registered. The administration then issues a ‘temporary protection certificate’. Present yourself with this certificate at the municipal administration where you live (see below).
Currently there are long waiting times at the registration centre in Brussels. Make a reservation online.
More information about the registration centre
What should you do after you have been registered and have the temporary protection status?
Present yourself with your temporary protection certificate (or your e-mail invitation to go register) at the municipal administration.
The municipality will issue an 'annex 15' document that is valid for 45 days. Then the municipality will issue an 'A card'. This card is valid for 1 year from the date of application of the temporary protection (in this situation from 04.03.2022 to 04.03.2023).
You will also be registered in the foreigners' register.
More information about residence opportunities and legal status
When and how can a Ukrainian refugee register with the health insurance fund?
Ukrainian refugees are entitled to health insurance to reimburse medical expenses. They are registered as 'entitled residents' with a Belgian health insurance fund.
Present yourself to a health insurance fund office with your temporary protection certificate. The registration with the health insurance fund takes effect retroactively from the first day of the trimester in which the person receives the temporary protection certificate.
If you are awaiting your appointment in the registration centre, you can register with a health insurance fund using one of these documents:
- an e-mail invitation to go register
- an ‘annex 15’ document from the municipal administration
- an A card from the municipal administration.
In each of these cases you will later have to have your temporary protection certificate added.
Have you provided a temporary protection certificate after 1 September 2023? If so, you pay a personal contribution. This depends on your family income.
Do you still have questions or do you want to join our health insurance fund? Then make an appointment in one of our offices.
Is a Ukrainian refugee entitled to the reimbursement of medical costs?
Yes. Those who fall under the temporary protection (with a temporary protection certificate from before 1 September 2023) and can be affiliated as an entitled resident have the right to an increased allowance.
Those who have a temporary protection certificate provided after 1 September 2023 do not automatically receive the increased allowance. An application must be submitted for the increased allowance. Those who fall under the temporary protection after 1 September 2023 belong to a vulnerable group and can have the right on the basis of the family income (annual income based on monthly income) that must be lower than the limit.
Learn more about Belgian social security
Learn more about the benefits of our health insurance fund
What should you do if you need medical care before registering with a health insurance fund?
Contact the welfare office (OCMW) of the municipality where you live, pending the registration with a health insurance fund. You may receive an 'urgent medical assistance certificate' on the basis of your declaration.
In case of emergency, you can always present yourself at the emergency department of a hospital. Contact the OCMW to start the 'urgent medical assistance' procedure.
When your registration with a health insurance fund is completed, you will be reimbursed retroactively.
Are Ukrainian refugees entitled to social assistance such as sickness or disability benefits? What about persons with chronic illnesses or disabilities?
Yes, Ukrainian refugees with a protection status are entitled to social support as long as they meet all the requirements.
For more information you can make an appointment with a social worker in one of our offices.
Are Ukrainian refugees entitled to a living wage (‘leefloon’)?
As a Ukrainian refugee with a temporary protection status and an application for an annex 15 and subsequently an A card, you can claim a living allowance if you meet all the requirements.
For more information, contact the OCMW of your municipality.
Can Ukrainian refugees apply for child allowance (‘groeipakket’)?
Every child who lives in Flanders and has a right of residence (which includes the temporary protection status) is entitled to a child allowance (‘groeipakket’). To apply, register the minor with the municipality.
More information (in English and Ukrainian)
Are Ukrainian refugees allowed to work in Belgium?
As a Ukrainian refugee with a temporary protection status and an application for an annex 15 and subsequently an A card that states ‘labour market: unlimited’, you are allowed to work.
To work as a self-employed person, you must apply for a self-employed permit .
Do Ukrainian refugees have to follow an integration course?
As a Ukrainian refugee with a temporary protection status you may freely follow an integration course. This course includes a social orientation course and a Dutch language course, helps you register as a jobseeker with VDAB or Actiris, and offers you counselling.