PRACTICAL GUIDE AND INFORMATION FOR MIGRANTS - Know your rights in order to assert them - EMN BELGIUM
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PRACTICAL
GUIDE AND
INFORMATION
FOR
MIGRANTS
Know your rights
in order to assert them
POCKET VERSION
A practical tool proposed by The Human Rights League
The practical guide and information PRACTICAL
GUIDE AND
for migrants (Pocket Version) was
made possible thanks to the support
of the province of Walloon Brabant,
the Impulse Fund for immigrants (FIPI)
and the Federation Wallonia-Brussels. INFORMATION
The guide was written by
Alizée Dauchy, Robin Bronlet, FOR
Claire-Marie Lievens and
Aude Meulemeester.
We would like to thank Alicia Cristo
MIGRANTS
and Manon Poncelet for the layout. Know your rights
in order to assert them
POCKET VERSION
Legal notice:
Responsible publisher : Alexis Deswaef
Rue du Boulet, 22. 1000 Bruxelles – 2016
A practical tool proposed by The Human Rights League
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Abbreviations list 4
Overview:
What is in this guide? How do you use it? 5
Directory of Belgian Migration Sector 6
Main procedures for stay 11
Social and administrative aid 15
HEALTH CARE 17
HOUSING 29
FAMILY 37
MENA - Unaccompanied Minor foreigners 47
EDUCATION 53
TRAINING 59
EMPLOYMENT 67
RELATIONSHIP WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT 73
DETENTION CENTRES 75
Map of Belgium 78
ABBREVIATIONS LIST INTRODUCTION
WHY WAS THIS GUIDE CREATED? WHAT DOES IT INCLUDE?
Through its work with field organisa- This guide lists the contact details of in-
AMO Youth Centre Service
tions and its own department for reori- stitutions, organisations and administra-
EMA Emergency Medical Aid entation of individual applications, the tions that can be useful to a migrant’s sit-
CBAR/ BCHV Belgian Refugee Council Human Rights League (LDH) has no- uation in everyday life in Belgium. These
ticed a series of needs in the migration include rights of stay, access to health
CCE/RVV Council for Alien Law Litigation (CALL)
sector. The most important of those care, training, education, housing, etc.
CE/RVS Council of State (CS) needs being the one of migrants being WARNING! This guide has no
CGRA/CGVS Office of the Commissioner General for Refugee and Stateless Persons able to access information regarding force of law and does not claim
(CGRS)
their rights. to be exhaustive. It simply contains ba-
CPAS/OCMW Public Welfare Centre
HOW TO GET A COPY? sic information which, in most cases,
ESP Social Promotion Education should be complemented by profes-
FEDASIL Federal Agency for the reception of asylum seekers This guide is available on our website sionals from this field.
www.liguedh.be under the heading This guide is complementary to the
VIP Volontary Interruption of Pregnancy
DOCUMENTATION, as a downloadable information tools produced by our
LDH The (Belgian) League of Human Rights and printable version. partner organisations specialising in
MENA Unaccompanied Minor Migrant Additionally, we can also send it by matters relating to migrants’ rights and
OE/IBZ Immigration Office mail. To do so, simply contact us on this which can be found in the Directory of
ONE/ KIND Birth and Childood Office phone number: Belgian Migration Sector P.6
AND GEZIN ●● T : 02 209 62 80
YOU CAN HELP US TOO
ONEm/RVA Employment Office
A phone number is no longer valid? An
BRU Brussels
organisation has changed its sched-
ules or conditions of consultation? You
W Wallonia have discovered an effective aid service
F Flanders which is not listed in this guide?
Undocumented persons In order to help us keeping this guide
up-to-date send us your comments,
Warning
suggestions or necessary information
to the following address:
The League of Human Rights (LDH)
○○ Rue du Boulet 22
1000 Brussels. Belgium
●● T : 02 209 62 80
●● F : 02 209 63 80
●● Email : ldh@liguedh.be
●● Website : www.liguedh.be
4 5
DIRECTORY OF BELGIAN MIGRATION SECTOR DIRECTORY OF BELGIAN MIGRATION SECTOR
BRU BRU
In French and Dutch In Dutch
Myria (Federal CBAR/BCHV Vluchtelingenwerk Agentschap Brussels regional CAW
Migration Center) (Belgian Refugee (Refugee Council) Integratie branch (and Flemish (Centre for
Council) en Inburgering outskirts Mechelen Social Work)
○○ Rue Royale 138 Hotlines in FR and NL: ○○ Kruidtuinstraat 75
(Agency for and Leuven) (In-
1000 Brussels On Mondays from ○○ Rue Defacqz 1 1210 Brussels These are general
Integration and house legal aid)
●● T: 02 212 30 00 9:30-12:30 and 1000 Brussels ●● T: 02 225 44 00 social services that
Reception)
●● T: 0800 14 912 Tuesdays, Wednesdays ●● T: 02 537 82 20 ●● w ww. ○○ Mommaertsstraat 22 provide their services
●● myria@myria.be and Fridays from ●● info@cbar-bchv.be vluchtelingenwerk. Since 2015, the Flemish 1080 Brussels in Dutch, including
●● www.myria.be 13:30-17:00 ●● www.cbar-bchv.be be Agency for Integration ●● T: 02 414 04 53 reception, information
has been incorporating and possible support
For asylum seekers Open from: Open from
most of the support for any steps on pro-
only Monday to Friday Monday to Friday from
services for migrants cedures relating to
from 09:00-12:30 and 9:00-13:00 and
available in Flanders. migrants’ rights. They
from 13:00-17:00. from 14:00-17:00.
In French It organises the are located all over
Coordination of “Inburgering” Brussels and Flanders.
organisations that are (= reception procedure
CIRÉ ADDE BAPO Caritas To find your nearest
active in the field of of the newly arrived,
(Coordination (Association for (Brussels Housing International service:
refugee, migrant and see P.61)
and Initiatives for foreigners’ rights) Open Doors) Rescue Brussels
asylum seeker aid. but equally, all the ●● T: 078 150 300
Refugees and
○○ Rue du Boulet 22 ○○ Rue de Tabora 6 ○○ Rue de la Charité 43 general integration
Migrants) Legal Helpdesk of Brussels’ City
1000 Brussels 1000 Brussels 1210 Brussels services such as Dutch
Vluchtelingenwerk Centre (1000):
○○ Rue du Vivier 80-82 ●● T: 02 227 42 42 ●● T: 02 511 81 78 ●● T: 02 229 36 11 courses, social and
●● T: 02 227 02 00
1050 Brussels ●● www.adde.be ●● www.caritas-int.be ●● T: 02 205 00 55 legal support for
Open on Mondays,
●● T: 02 629 77 10 ●● asiel@ migrants, housing... Anderlecht (1070):
Legal aid drop-in Tuesdays and Open daily from
●● www.cire.be vluchtelingenwerk. ●● T: 02 521 29 22
sessions: Thursdays from 8:00-17:00 Legal aid service
be
Hotline from Monday 10:00-18:00. (people attending from the Agency for Etterbeek (1040):
- Information on
to Friday from for the first time must Mondays and Integration ●● T: 02 629 23 45
residence permits Hotline on
9:00-12:30 and arrive at 8:00). Thursdays from and Reception
On Mondays from Wednesdays Brussels North (1000):
13:30-16:30. 9:00-12:30, (Flemish
9:00-12:00 and and Fridays from L’Olivier ●● T: 02 205 66 00
Wednesdays from government).
Open from Monday Wednesdays from 10:00-13:00. (Saint-Vincent de
13:30-17:00. ●● w ww. Molenbeek (1080):
to Friday from 14:00-17:00. Paul Society in
SESO vreemdelingenrecht. ●● T: 02 414 24 23
9:00-12.30. Brussels Area) Vluchtelingenwerk
- International family law: (Social Services of be ●● w ww.caw.be/
Startpunt
CIRÉ coordinates On Mondays and Socialist Solidarity) ○○ Rue de la Rosée 9 zoek-je-hulp
Head Office
organisations that are Thursdays from 1070 Brussels ○○ Chaussée
○○ Rue de Parme 28
active in supporting 14:00-17:00. ●● T: 02 223 29 97 d’Anvers 34 ●● T: 02 205 00 55
1060 Brussels
migrants in Brussels ●● T: 02 223 12 43 1000 Brussels ●● w ww.
Social care on-site: ●● T: 02 533 39 84
and Wallonia. ●● s svp.olivier@ kruispuntmi.be/
On Tuesdays and Open from
Open on Wednesdays tiscali.be juridische-helpdesk
CIRÉ’s main reception Thursdays from Monday to Friday
and Fridays from
service provides 9:00-11:00. SIREAS from 12:00-14:00, Open from:
9:00-11:00.
information and refers (Service for Tuesday and Monday to Fridayfrom
CSP
people to organisations Drop-in for people International Wednesday until 17:00. 9:00-12:30 and
(Protestant
that best suit their needs. originating from Latin Research, Wednesdays from
Social Centre) Service point for
America: Education and 13:30-17:00.
asylum seekers arriving
○○ Rue Cans 12 On Tuesdays and Social Action)
in Belgium for the first
1050 Brussels Thursdays from
○○ Rue de la Croix, 22 time. Near the North
●● T: 02 512 80 80 9:00-11:00.
1050 Brussels Station (Gare du Nord).
●● T: 02 500 10 11
●● T: 02 649 99 58
●● www.csp-psc.be
●● sireas@sireas.be
Open on Tuesdays, ●● www.sireas.be
Thursdays and
Fridays from
9:00-13:00 The employees of those Organisations are subject to professional secrecy.
and Mondays and
Wednesdays from
Even if you’re undocumented, all the informations you’ll transmit
13:00-17:00. will be confidential.
6 7
DIRECTORY OF BELGIAN MIGRATION SECTOR DIRECTORY OF BELGIAN MIGRATION SECTOR
F W
Regional Integra- Cap Migrants CAI SESO
ODICÉ Migrants CAW CAW
tion Centres (RICs): (Centre for (Social Service of
Oost-West Rights Service Antwerpen West-Vlaanderen ○○ Rue de Fétinne 98
Intercultural Socialist Solidarity)
Vlaamderem (Vreemdelingen- Transit house There are 8 RICs in 4020 Liège
○○ L ange Action) – Namur
permanentie) the territory of the ●● T: 04 222 36 16 ○○ R
ue de
○○ Dok Noord 4 D001 Stuivenbergstraat ○○ Oude Houtlei 124
Walloon Region. They ○○ Rue Dr Haibe 2 Marchienne 47
9000 Gent (Migration Info Point, 54-56 9000 Gent Open on Mondays,
organise the integration 5002 Saint-Servais 6000 Charleroi
●● T: 09 267 66 45 Antwerp Bar, Legal 2060 Antwerpen ●● T: 078 150 300 Tuesdays, Wednesdays
process but also offer ●● T: 081 71 35 18 ●● T: 071 317 250
●● T: 09 267 66 46 Aid Committee, Legal ●● T: 03 235 34 05 ●● onthaal.Ghent@ and Fridays from
services that cater to all
●● T: 09 267 66 47 Aid Office) ●● adviescentrum. cawoostvlaan 9:00-12:30, Open on Mondays, Reception
people of foreign origin.
●● rechtspositie@ migratie@ deren.be and over the phone Wednesdays, and promotion of
○○ Lamorinièrestraat They offer hotlines
odice.be cawantwerpen.be from 14:00-16:45. Thursdays and Fridays Immigrants
137 Open from for social and legal mat-
from 9:30-12:00.
Open from 2018 Antwerpen Open from Monday to Friday ters, a socio-profession- For a first visit, come on: ○○ Rue Léon Bernus 35
Monday to Friday from ●● T: 03 270 33 03 Monday to Friday from from 9:00-13:00. al counselling service Wednesdays from SAE 6000 Charleroi
9:00-12:00 and 13:30-16:00, Tuesdays and cultural activities. 9:30-12:00. (Foreigners ●● T: 071 31 33 70
Contactable on-site SESO
from 13:00-16:00. and Thursdays from Check with your Support Service)
and over the phone on (Social Service Point d’Appui Social care from
9:30-12:00. nearest RIC to find out – Nouveau
ODICÉ Tuesdays and Gent of Socialist 9:00-11:30.
how it can help you. ○○ Rue Maghin 33 Saint-Servais
Limburg, Campines Thursdays from Service of Civil Solidarity)
4000 Liège APD – Mons
and Hageland 13:00-15:00. Affairs – Migration See the Main ○○ R
ue de Gembloux
○○ Schaverdijnstraat 1 ●● T: 04 227 69 51 (Aid to displaced
Info Point Procedures for Stay 500/15
○○ Universiteitslaan 1 Info Point 9000 Ghent ●● p ointdappui@ people)
sheet P.11 5002 Saint-Servais
3500 Hasselt about Residence ○○ Woodrow ●● T: 09 239 99 80 proximus.be
●● T: 081 73 34 48 ○○ Rue Belneux 4
●● T: 011 23 77 99 and Rights Wilsonplein 1 ●● T: 0471 26 18 44 APD - Huy
By appointment only. 7000 Mons
●● juridesk.lim@ (Infopunt Verblijf en 9000 Gent (Aid to displaced Open on Tuesdays
Regional branches: It is possible to leave a ●● T: 0478 02 19 90
integratie Rechtspositie) ●● M ain number: people) from 9:00-12:00.
voicemail message.
-inburgering.be T: 09 266 71 40 Aalst Open on Mondays
●● T: 03 270 33 03 ○○ Rue du Marché 33 APD - Namur
●● Translations: ○○ M ajoor Charles Legal Aid Office and Wednesdays from
Walk-in service from: ●● verblijfenrecht 4500 Huy (Aid to displaced
T: 09 266 54 78 Claserstraat 10 (BAJ) 09:30-12:00.
Monday to Thursday spositie@stad. ●● T: 085 21 34 81 people)
●● infopuntmigratie@ 9300 Aalst
from 9:00-12:00. antwerpen.be ○○ Rue du Palais 66 CINL (Namur
stad.Ghent ●● T: 0491 152 818 Open on Fridays ○○ CINEX (1st floor)
4000 Liège - Luxembourg
By email or phone from 9:00-12:00. Rue Saint Nicolas 84
Open on: Roeselare ●● T: 04 222 10 12 Immigrants Centre)
from 9:00-17:00. 5000 Namur
Mondays, Tuesdays, ○○ Langemarkstraat 8, APD – Liège - Arlon
In order to be received Opening hours of ●● T: 081 83 39 51
Wednesdays 8800 Roeselare (Aid to displaced
in person, see the “Rights of the Poor ●● T: 0492 73 79 75 ○○ Espace Didier 42
and Fridays from ●● T: 051 35 95 16 people)
Vreemdelingenper- and the Migrants” 6700 Arlon
9:00-12:30. ●● T: 0470 999 036 Open on
manentie above. ○○ R ue Jean collective: residence ●● T: 063 43 00 30
On Wednesdays also Wednesdays from
d’Outremeuse 93 rights, social support ●● arlon@cinl.be
from 14:00-16:00. 9:00-12:30 and
4020 Liège and housing, every
Thursdays from CINL (Namur -
●● T: 04 342 14 44 Monday, Wednesday
14:30-16:30. Luxembourg
and Friday from
Open on: Immigrants Centre)
14:00-16:00. APD – Braine-le-
Mondays, Wednes- - Libramont
Comte (Aid to
days, Thursdays Le Monde des
displaced people) ○○ Rue du Vicinal 7
and Fridays from Possibles
6800 Libramont
9:00-12:00. ○○ R eception house
○○ Rue des Champs 97 ●● T: 061 29 25 18
Dominique Pire
SIREAS 4020 Liège ●● libramont@cinl.be
Rue Père Damien 14
(Foreign Social ●● T: 04 232 02 92
7090 Braine-le-Comte CINL (Namur
Service) ●● T: 0497 53 38 85
●● T: 067 63 60 29 - Luxembourg
○○ R ue Lambert-le- ●● T: 0478 02 19 90 Immigrants
Bègue 8 Centre) - Marche-
Open on Thursdays
4000 Liège en-Famenne
from 9:00-11:30.
●● T: 04 223 58 89
○○ Place aux Foires 21
Open on Tuesdays 6900 Marche-en-
and Thursdays from Famenne
9:00-12:00. ●● T: 084 45 68 08
The employees of those Organisations are subject to professional secrecy.
Even if you’re undocumented, all the informations you’ll transmit
will be confidential.
8 9
DIRECTORY OF BELGIAN MIGRATION SECTOR MAIN PROCEDURES FOR STAY
THE PROCEDURE FOR ASYLUM AND
ADMINISTRATIONS AND JURIDICTION
SUBSIDIARY PROTECTION
OE/IBZ CGRA/CGVS CCE /RVV The asylum procedure leads to one of THE DIFFERENT STAGES OF THE PROCESS
(Immigration (Office of the (Council for Alien
Office) Commissioner Law litigation)
the following results: recognition of ref- 1. Introduction of the application at the
○○ W
orld Trade Center,
General for
○○ R ue Gaucheret
ugee status, the granting of subsidiary Immigration Office (OE/IBZ)
Refugees and
Tower II
Stateless Persons)
92-94 protection, or the refusal of both sta-
Chaussée d’Anvers 1030 Brussels
tuses. The claimant must however only 2. First interview at the (OE/IBZ) to
59 B ○○ WTC II ●● T: 02 791 60 00
1000 Brussels Boulevard du Roi ●● www.rvv-cce.be/fr submit one request. Subsidiary protec- assess the statements concerning
INFODESK
Albert II 26 A
tion will only be processed if asylum has identity, origin and route taken to ar-
1000 Brussels
●● T: 02/793 80 00
●● T: 02 205 51 11 not been granted. rive in Belgium.
●● infodesk@
●● F: 02 205 51 15
ibz.fgov.be
●● c gra.info@ The asylum application provides ac- 3. Second interview at the Commission-
●● dofi.ibz.be/sites/
dvzoe/FR/Pages/
ibz.fgov.be
cess to refugee status. The term «refu- er General for Refugees and State-
●● www.cgra.be/fr
home.aspx
gee» applies to any person who is out- less Persons (CGRA/CGVS) for an in-
side a particular country where, based depth assessment of the application
on well-founded reasons, they fear of for asylum
being persecuted due to their race, re- 4. Where to go in case of a refusal:
ligion, nationality, or membership of a - The Council for Alien Law Litigation
particular social group or political opin- (CCE/RVV)
ion, and who cannot or does not want to
claim protection from said country. - The Council of State
The subsidiary protection status is SEVERAL ASYLUM APPLICATIONS
granted to the migrant who cannot be
considered a refugee and for whom If your first asylum application was not
there are substantial grounds for be- successful, you have the opportunity
lieving that, if returned to their country, to introduce a 2nd, 3rd, etc. However, if
they would incur a real risk of suffering the Commissioner General for Refugees
serious harm. and Stateless Persons (CGRS) believes
The asylum procedure is long and that you are not providing any new ele-
complex. We do not recommend you ments, it will refuse to take your request
starting it without the help and sup- into consideration and to go ahead
port of either a lawyer or a specialist with the assessment. It will give you
service for migration rights listed in an Annex 13 quater (decision to refuse
the Directory of Belgian Migration consideration of the asylum application
Sector P.6 with orders to leave the territory).
The CIRE has created a hands-on guide
for the asylum procedure:
●● https://www.cire.be/publications/
etudes/nouvelle-edition-du-guide-de-la-
procedure-d-asile-en-belgique
10 11MAIN PROCEDURES FOR STAY MAIN PROCEDURES FOR STAY
THE RIGHTS RELATED TO ASYLUM THE REGULARISATION REGULARISATION
AND SUBSIDIARY PROTECTION OF STAY FOR EXCEPTIONAL BASED ON MEDICAL REASONS
1.THE RIGHT TO RECEPTION
REASONS (9BIS) (9TER)
In Belgium, people who apply for asy- In principle, any application for resi- documents that prove the exceptional If you suffer from a disease that poses
lum are entitled to material assistance dence in Belgium, for a period exceed- circumstances preventing their return. a real threat to your life and there is no
(reception) which includes accommo- ing three months, should be introduced The decision to refuse a regularisation possibility to receive adequate care in
dation, meals, social, medical and psy- from abroad at their respective Belgian of stay may be accompanied by an or- your country of origin, you can intro-
chological support, legal aid (see point diplomatic or consular authorities. How- der to leave the territory and, if need be, duce an application for regularisation of
2) and the possibility to attend certain ever, two exceptions allow migrants an entry ban as well. stay under Article 9ter of the 1980 Act.
courses. Reception is either offered who are already in Belgium to regular- How to apply? You must prove your
in open community centres that are ise their situation. These exceptions are If a permit is granted, the person re-
ceives a CIRÉ REGISTRATION (Resi- identity and attach a completed medi-
managed by Fedasil and The Belgian either the regularisation for exceptional cal certificate such as the one from the
Red Cross, or in individual housing or- circumstances based on Article 9 bis of dence permit). If the permit was granted
for a limited period, an extension has to Immigration Office (OE/IBZ). The med-
ganised by the CPAS (Local Housing the legislation from 15 October 1980, or ical certificate may not be older than 3
Initiatives) and the organisations CIRÉ the regularisation for medical reasons be requested from the local authority
before the expiry of the residence permit months and must always specify the
and Flemish Refugee Action. However, based on Article 9 ter of the same act, disease, its severity and the treatment
if you decide not to take advantage of a see Health Care sheet P.17. (45 days before).
considered to be necessary.
host site, the only help available for free An application for regularisation of stay Any decision made by the Immigration
is medical assistance. Office (OE/IBZ) regarding an application IMPORTANT: The concept of “se-
can be introduced on the basis of ex- verity” of a disease presents a
How to access this? To benefit from ceptional circumstances preventing for regularisation can be challenged
before the CCE as well. However, in this problem for the medical profession as
reception, you have to go to Fedasil’s them from a return to either their coun- this changes according to whether it
dispatching service once you have en- try of origin or the one for which they context, any deportation order issued by
the OE/IBZ will not be suspended. is being treated or not. The doctor will
tered your asylum application at the Im- hold a right of residence. However, the therefore have to specify a bit further
migration Office. law does not specify those exceptional For more information on the 9 bis reg- such as “severe threat, severe threat
Dispatching Service Fedasil
circumstances. Any argument can be ularisation process, it is necessary to without treatment, fatal risk without
○○ World Trade Center II
made but chances of obtaining a posi- contact a specialised association. See treatment...”
Chaussée d’Anvers, 59B (1st floor) tive response are low. the Directory of Belgian Migration
1000 Brussels
Sector P.6 For more information on the 9ter regu-
●● T: 02 793 82 40 How to apply? The request is automat- larisation process, contact the organi-
●● F: 02 203 60 04
ically processed as soon as the asylum sations specialising in migrants’ rights
2.THE RIGHT TO LEGAL AID: application has been rejected. The per- indicated in the Directory of Belgian
As an asylum seeker, you are entitled to son must then select a domicile. This Migration Sector P.6
legal aid which means that you can take can either be set to their main home ad-
advantage of free legal support and rep- dress or to their lawyer’s address (pre-
resentation. ferred option in order to ensure proper
receipt of mails). If a domicile is not se-
lected at the time of submitting the ap-
plication, the OE/IBZ will choose their
own office address. The applicant must
provide proof of identity alongside any
12 13MAIN PROCEDURES FOR STAY RECEIVING HELP
FAMILY REUNIFICATION SOCIAL EMERGENCY
W
In Belgium there is a procedure for cer- SPOUSE: A person will be considered a If you do not know where to sleep to-
Liège Charleroi
tain people who are residing in its terri- spouse if a legal union equivalent to mar- night, there are places that can host
Social emergency Social Emergen-
tory to be joined by some of their family riage was concluded within the following you. Sometimes, these emergency ser- service of the Liège cy of the CPAS of
members. Nevertheless, the conditions countries: Denmark, Germany, Finland, vices also offer a meal, a shower, etc. CPAS Charleroi
are strict. Iceland, Norway, UK and Sweden. ○○ Place ○○ Rue Dagnelies 3
Saint-Jacques 13 6000 Charleroi
In principle, an application for family PARTNER: A person will be considered BRU 4000 Liège (+nearby districts)
●● T: 04 221 13 13 ●● T: 071 20 23 10
reunification must be introduced at the a partner if a legal partnership was reg- (24h/7) – FR-EN (24h/7)
consular authorities in the country of istered with them (legal cohabitation in Emergency Medical Aid Service
Open from La Louvière
of Brussels (Samu Social)
origin. However, it can be introduced Belgium). Monday to Friday from
Social Emergency
○○ Rue du Petit-Rempart 5 9:00-12:30 and
when the person is already residing in For further information on the family 1000 Brussels 14:00-16:00,
Service of the CPAS
of La Louvière
Belgium. The application must then reunification procedure, contact the ●● T: 0800 99 340 except Monday
(24h/7) – freephone – FR-NL-EN afternoons. ○○ Place de la
be submitted to the Immigration Office organisations specialising in migrants’ Concorde 15
A general plan of all available emergency services Verviers
(OE/IBZ). rights, indicated in the Directory of in Brussels can be downloaded here:
7100 La Louvière
Social Emergency
●● http://plan.brureg-lastrada.be/ Hotline from
The family reunification procedure Belgian Migration Sector P.6 Service of Verviers
Monday to Friday
(DUS)
varies depending on the applicant’s F
from 8:30-16:00
○○ Rue Ortmans ●● T: 064 885 239
nationality (the family member being Hauzeur 39
Outside of the opening
joined in Belgium): Belgian, EU citizen There is a CAW Antwerpen
4800 Verviers
hours mentioned
●● T: 087 35 21 21
or citizen of a country outside the EU (Centre for Social
Crisispermanentie (24h/7)
above - freephone:
Work, see the ●● T: 0800 120 14
= “third country”, but also on that of the Directory of Belgian
●● T: 0800 259 22
Open from 13:30-16:30.
freephone Mons
reunited (the family member who joins Migration Sector
Namur
P.6) in every city Call after 16:00. Social Emergency
the migrant residing in Belgium): third of Flanders and Brus- Social Emergency Service of the CPAS
Limburg
country or EU. sels that can help and Service of Namur of Mons
guide you if needed. Crisisteam CAW ●● T: 0800 124 20
○○ Rue du Bouzanton 1
It is necessary to identify the family Call the CAW helpdesk
Limburg (24h/7)
7000 Mons
●● T: 011 28 38 73
member wishing to join the person to be redirected on:
(24h/7)
A brochure of the
Hotline from
●● T: 078 150 300 Namur Urban Social
residing in Belgium. The only family Oost-Vlaanderen Relay, lists all the
Monday to Friday
During the opening from 8:00-16:00
members that are permitted are parents, hours of the CAW Crisisteam
services accessible to
●● T: 065 408 437
people in difficulty in
children, grandparents and spouses (le- (usually 9:00-17:00) De Schelp
Namur: Outside of the opening
gal cohabitation or marriage). Uncles, Outside of opening ○○ Elyzeese Velden 7 ●● http://rsun.jimdo hours mentioned above
hours, call one of 9000 Ghent com/publications/ and on weekends
nephews and cousins can therefore not the numbers listed ●● T: 09 265 04 90 outils-a-telecharger/ ●● T: 065 84 01 01
apply for family reunification. here after. (24h/7)
If your area has
Additionally, there are further conditions no number,
of age, income, adequate housing, etc. call Tele-Onthaal
●● T: 106
For anyother emergency, see the table at the back.
14 15RECEIVING HELP
MONEY FOOD AID
BRU W
It’s not illegal neither impossible for an
undocumented person to open a bank Federation of Social Food Parcels from
account. But the bank will probably ask
for an ID Card and a proof of residency
Services (FDSS)
●● T: 02 526 03 08
the Red Cross
Call to find your nearest HEALTH
CARE
●● T: 02 250 09 13 Red Cross house and
registration. The practices can change ●● http://www its hours for food parcel
one bank to another. fdss.be/index. distribution:
php?page= ●● T: 105
Also, we recommend to always have a concertation
-aide-alimentaire-3 INFORMATION, GUIDANCE AND
50 euros deposit to assure the account’s
Collectmet CONSULTATION
current operation. - Marché
des Abattoirs in HEALTH INSURANCE
Anderlecht
○○ Rue Ropsy EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID
Chaudron 24
1070 Bruxelles
●● T: 02 5 56 11 79 ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE IN
●● info@cultureghem.be RECEPTION CENTRES
They collect and
share unsold fruit and MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR ASYLUM
vegetables every
Sunday between SEEKERS NOT RESIDING WITHIN
14:00 and 17:00. A RECEPTION CENTRE
F MENTAL HEALTH
Call the CAW helpdesk who will redirect you on: SEXUAL AND EMOTIONAL LIFE
●● T: 078 150 300. PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
MATERIAL AID FOR NEWBORNS
EXCISION AND FEMALE GENITAL
MUTILATION
APPENDIX
16HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE
INFORMATION, GUIDANCE AND CONSULTATION HEALTH INSURANCE EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID
In case of illness, all your necessary
BRU W
health care costs are subject to reim- Although it is commonly called Emer-
Medical Medical
bursement (totally or partially) through gency Medical Aid (EMA) it actually
Consultations Consultations a health insurance which you access via covers all necessary care (only beau-
Namur La Louvière
a membership of an insurance fund. ty treatments are excluded). This aid
○○ At the RGN, Rue M. In the premises of the
Medimmigrant asbl Médecins du Monde Bourtombourg 6 health relay of the CPAS You will have to pay some or all of the may cover medical expenses for a con-
●● http://www. 5000 Namur
information and
medecinsdumonde. ●● T: 0495 27 61 00
○○ Rue du Moulin 79 medical expenses in advance. The sultation with a general practitioner or
guidance in Brussels 7100 La Louvière
be/belgique/ ●● coordo.namur@
●● T: 06 454 02 18
fund reimburses you afterwards but specialist, a hospital stay, any drugs
○○ Rue Gaucheret 164 3-centres-daccueil medecins
1030 Brussels -de-soins dumonde.be Open on Wednesdays
a part of the cost is at your expense or medical equipment (e.g. crutches,
●● T: 02 274 14 33 -et-dorientation
Open on Thursdays
from 9:00-12:00. (co-payment rate). wheelchairs, etc.), and glasses in some
●● T: 02 274 14 34
●● info@
Only for people from 10:00-12:00.
FOR WHOM?
cases.
who are not
medimmigrant.be
●● http://www.
already monitored by a
For students, for employed or self-em- It is provided by the CPAS/OCMW of the
doctor and are unable F
medimmigrant.be/
to fund it. ployed workers, for dependants of an town you live in.
Hotline on Mondays,
Thursdays and Fridays
Medical Bus in Association of COZO - Centre affiliated person, for people in posses- To find a CPAS/OCMW near you in ei-
Brussels (Medibus) Health Centres for reception, care
from 10:00-13:00
(VWGC) and orientation
sion of a CIRE Registration, or for MENA ther Brussels or Wallonia:
and Tuesdays from Reception, guidance,
14:00-18:00. nursing care (Medical homes in ○○ Van Maerlantstraat
(Unaccompanied Minor Migrant, see FPS Social Integration,
Free Clinic From 18:30-20:45
Flanders and Brussels) 56 MENA sheet P.47) Fight against Poverty, Social Economy
2000 Antwerpen and Policy on Large Cities
Mondays: Central Station ○○ Vooruitgangstraat
○○ Chaussée ●● T: 03 231 36 41
Tuesdays: South Station 333 bus 10 ○○ World Trade Centre II – Tower 2
de Wavre 154
Thursday: North Station 1030 Brussels Registration for Boulevard Roi Albert II 30
1050 Brussels
●● T: 0474 40 67 30 ●● T: 02 265 01 67 consultations on: 1000 Brussels
●● T: 02 512 13 14
●● info@freeclinic.be Athéna Dispensary For an exhaustive list
Mondays and An undocumented person can usually ●● T: 02 508 85 86
Thursdays at 9:00. ●● question@mi-is.be
●● http://www.
○○ Rue Jean de
of VWGC: not join an insurance fund, unless they ●● http://www.mi-is.be
freeclinic.be/ ●● http://www Medical
Brouchoven
vwgc.be/index. Consultations
were affiliated before the loss of their
Medical Homes de Bergeyck 2 FOR WHOM?
(Maisons Médicales) 1000 Brussels
php?page=7& Ostende right to stay. In the latter case, they can
titel=Waar?%20
○○ Boulevard du Midi
●● T: 02 209 05 25
&style=bruin
At the CAW of apply for an extension of the insur- It is meant for people who have never
●● info@athenapmg.be Oostende
25 bte 5 – 5th Floor
●● http://www. Like the FR
ance, even if they are not legally resi- had a residence permit in Belgium or
1000 Brussels ○○ S
int Sebastiaan-
●● T: 02 514 40 14
athenapmg.be/ medical homes,
straat 16a
dent anymore. who have lost it.
the VWGC have differ-
●● www. CASO - Centre 8400 Ostende
ent practices regarding PROCEDURES
maisonmedicale. for reception,
access to their services Open on Thursdays
org medical attention
and orientation
for undocumented from 10:00-12:00. «NORMAL» PROCEDURE: When you
Medical homes migrants. In general,
have different By appointment only you must already be
Medical need to see a doctor, you must go to
Consultations
working practices
○○ Rue du Botanique 75
in possession of an
Zeebrugges
your local CPAS/OCMW in advance.
when it comes to AMU (Urgent Medical
offering their services
1210 Brussels
Assistance - Dutch: ●● T: 0491 90 69 66
This CPAS/OCMW will be able to either
●● T: 02 225 43 00
to undocumented
●● T: 02 225 43 13
Medische Dringende (Benoît Kervyn) accept or reject cover of medical costs;
migrants. Hulpverlening
Check out this page
●● Social.caso@
see P.19).
Open on Mondays depending on your personal situation
medecinsdumonde. from 16:00-19:00
with details of
be and Fridays from
(you must meet certain conditions such
intergroup (Brussels,
Charleroi, Liège): Email answer daily
10:00-13:00. as residence permit, lack of income...).
●● http://www. apart from Tuesday
maisonmedicale. afternoons.
org/-Intergroupes-.
html
18 19HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE
The CPAS/OCMW may ask you to pro- EMERGENCY PROCEDURE: Whenever you
ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR ASYLUM
vide an urgent medical assistance need to see a doctor urgently and you IN RECEPTION CENTRES SEEKERS NOT RESIDING
certificate (“certificat d’aide médi- do not have an EMA, you must go to your WITHIN A RECEPTION CENTRE
cale urgent”) completed by a doctor. nearest hospital’s accident & emer- In the centres, you are entitled to both
The doctor specifies the necessary care gency department and explain your sit- psychological assistance as well as sup- In this case, the only free service avail-
(type of treatment, drugs, whether hos- uation to the hospital’s social services. port for medical expenses throughout able is medical aid. Fedasil’s depart-
pitalisation is necessary...). You do not The social service is the entity that will the duration of your stay there. There is ment for Medical Costs organises
need to wait for care to become urgent launch the process for an EMA. Other- a medical team in every reception cen- both the repayment of bills to providers,
before calling the CPAS/OCMW (exam- wise you will be billed to your home. tre but the centre’s doctor may also refer as well as medical assistance.
ple: monitoring of pregnancy). Check out the section looking into the you to an external specialist service. HOW?
See Health Care’s Appendix 1 P.26 management of health care on this site For more information, see the Proce- Via a request for a payment undertak-
IMPORTANT: If the doctor is not http://www.vivreenbelgique.be/ which dures/Rights of Asylum Seekers fact ing (“réquisitoire”). An application for a
“conventionné” (affiliated to the was created by CIRÉ. sheet P.12 “réquisitoire” must be completed and
public health insurance system), you WARNING! When you ask for an EMA, sent (via fax or email) to the Medical Ex-
will have to pay for the first consultation. the social worker is obliged to penses department before the start of the
Ask the CPAS/OCMW for a list of doc- hand you a receipt. It is illegal for treatment. You should receive a response
tors near you that are “conventionnés”. them to refuse! This is a proof of your for a payment undertaking within a day.
The procedure varies from one CPAS/ claim. Likewise, if the CPAS/OCMW See Health Care’s Appendix 2 P.27
OCMW to another and is often confus- refuses your request for an EMA, de- This “réquisitoire” needs to be filled out
ing and a source of uncertainty. Please mand an answer in writing. You can together with the provider (doctor, spe-
contact organisations specialising in contact a specialist organisation cialist, pharmacist...), to whom you must
the field of Health P18 that will help you in your procedure deliver either Annex 26 or 26bis with
(see P. 18 of this sheet) your photo attached. In case of emer-
gency care, thus when it is impossible to
previously apply for a “réquisitoire”, you
will have to submit the invoice together
with an “urgent care certificate”.
See Health Care’s Appendix 3 P.28
You can call the department for Medical
Expenses from Monday to Friday (pref-
erably in the morning):
●● T: 02 213 43 25 (FR)
●● T: 02 213 43 00 (NL)
●● F: 02 213 44 12
●● Email: medic@fedasil.be
This service is closed on weekends
20 21HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE
MENTAL HEALTH SEXUAL AND EMOTIONAL LIFE PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH
W
VIA THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL AID
La Clinique de l’Exil CINL
When one leaves their country, it can ○○ Rue Docteur Marche-en-
The family planning services provide
sometimes be difficult to start a new Haibe 4 Famenne places with access to information, med- For undocumented mothers-to-be,
5002 Saint-Servais
life. It is an everyday struggle: under- Namur
○○ Avenue du ical consultations, social, psychological medical care relating to pregnancy and
Monument 8A1
standing the functioning of the country, ●● T: 081 776 819
6900 Marche-en-
and legal services, sexologists, mar- childbirth can be covered by the CPAS/
●● clinique.exil@
obtaining a residence permit, dealing province.namur.be
Famenne riage counsellors and family mediators OCMW within an EMA (Emergency
with money problems and document Mental Health
Arlon concerned with sexually transmitted Medical Aid, see P.19)
issues... This can lead to fatigue, stress Service ○○ Espace Didier 42 infections and their prevention, con-
and insomnia. It is a normal human reac- (Club André 6700 Arlon
traception, pregnancy monitoring and IMPORTANT: Submit your ap-
Baillon/asbl Tabane)
tion. You are not crazy! Bertrix
abortions (VIP), and guidance on sexual- plication for an EMA with your
○○ Rue Saint-Leonard,
510
○○ Rue de la gare 20
ity and family. CPAS/OCMW from the announcement
Whom to talk to? Maybe a doctor, a so- 4000 Liège
6880 Bertrix
of the pregnancy. In the event that you
●● T: 0479 08 48 16
cial worker or a mental health service. ●● T: 04 228 14 40
●● ethnopsy.cinl@
All workers are subject to professional do not have an EMA and hospitalisa-
●● tabane@skynet.be
In Belgium there are several services gmail.com secrecy, thus everything you say is con- tion is required, the hospital will be
Santé en Exil
that can help you for free and some- Sémaphore à Mons fidential, even for minors. responsible for making application for
○○ Avenue du
○○ Rue des Belneux 4
times with translator. Centenaire 75
7000 Mons
an EMA.
6061 Montignies- BXL W
●● T: 065 84 73 22
sur-Sambre
●● http://www.
BRU Charleroi
picardie-laique.be
●● T: 071 10 86 10 Secular Federation Pluralistic Federa-
of Family Planning tion of Family Plan-
Espace 28
Centre Exil asbl Centre for Mental Centres (NPO) ning Centres (NPO)
Health Care ○○ Rue du centre 81
○○ Avenue de la ○○ Rue de la Tulipe 34 ○○ Avenue Émile
4800 Verviers
Couronne 282 ○○ Ninoofsesteenweg 1050 Brussels de Béco 109
●● T: 087 341 053
1050 Brussels 120 ●● T: 02 502 82 03 Rue du Trône 127
●● T: 02 534 53 30 1080 Brussels ●● F: 02 503 30 93 1050 Brussels
●● T: 02 412 72 10 ●● flcp@ ●● T/F: 02 514 61 03
Service of Mental F
●● west@ planningfamilial.net ●● info@fcppf.be
Health Ulysse
cgg-brussel.be ●● http://www. ●● http://www.fcppf.
○○ Rue de l’Ermitage 52 planningfamilial. be/v2/
Consultations in Centre for Mental Healthcare (CGG)
1050 Brussels net/
Dutch + translator
●● T: 02 514 40 14 Consultations in Dutch + translators
Rivages
To find a centre near you and fitting to your admin-
○○ Rue de istrative status, contact: F
l’association 15
Federation of services for Mental
1000 Brussels
Health Care (FDGG)
●● T: 02 550 06 70 The CAW (Centre for Social Work) offers this
●● info@ ○○ Servaes Residence – 1st floor service.
rivagedenzaet.com Martelaarslaan 204B
To find your nearest CAW, call (in Dutch)
9000 Gent
First consultation is for ●● T: 078 150 300
●● T: 09 233 50 99
free and any thereafter
●● fdgg@fdgg.be For more information on CAW, check out the
cost €15 each.
●● http://www.fdgg.be/ Directory of Belgian Migration Sector P.6
.
22 23HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE
VIA THE OFFICE OF BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD – MATERIAL AID FOR NEWBORNS EXCISION AND FEMALE GENITAL
ONE/KIND AND GEZIN BRU
MUTILATION
○○ Rue Gabrielle Petit 6
In Belgium, it is strictly forbidden to exe- 1080 Brussels
The Office of Birth and Childhood (ONE/ Material aid is offered to families with- cute excision and female geniral mutila- ●● T : 02 219 43 40
KIND AND GEZIN) provides expecting out income. It is an “emergency parcel” tion. Specialised organisation exist and
parents, with or without documentation, including baby care products, nappies, can assist the victim. W
free consultations before and after the clothes... Assistance can take many forms: lend-
By appointment only, every second Tuesday
child’s birth. The goal is to monitor the To qualify for this aid, a social worker ing an ear, counselling and legal sup- of the month.
course of the pregnancy and to ensure must issue a certificate beforehand that port within an asylum procedure based Namur : Liège :
the health of the mother and the baby. you then take to one of the following or- on a fear of mutilation, support with so- ○○ R
ue de la Tour 7 ○○ R
ue Agimont 17
This counselling service can take place ganisations: cial and administrative procedures, col- 5000 Namur 4000 Liège
at home if future parents wish. lecting of witness statements... Mons : Samia Youssouf
●● T : 0470 54 18 99
○○ B oulevard
●● Email :
Gendebien 5
samia@gams.be
7000 Mons
BRU W BXL Groupe pour l’abolition des
mutilations génitales – GAMS asbl Halimatou Barry
●● T: 0493 49 29 50
●● Email: info@gams.be
●● Email:
ONE - Department Saint Pierre Hospital Nasci ASBL ●● Website: www.gams.be
halimatou@gams.be
of Consultations
Pre- and post-natal ○○ Rue d’Athenan 4
and Home Visits FR
consultations 1030 Brussels
○○ Chaussée de ●● T: 02 216 88 85 F
○○ Boulevard
Charleroi 95
de Waterloo 129
1060 Brussels
1000 Brussels
●● T: 02 542 12 21 Antwerpen:
●● T: 02 535 47 13
●● info@one.be
○○ Van Maerlanstraat 56
2060 Antwerpen
F F Katrien De Koster
●● T : 0495 93 93 18
●● Email : katrien@gams.be
KIND EN GEZIN - NL Babynest
●● T: 078 150 100 ○○ Frans van Ryhovelaan 166 .
●● http://www.kindengezin.be/ 9000 Gent
●● T: 0486 14 16 87
●● baby-nest@telenet.be
24 25HEALTH CARE HEALTH CARE
APPENDIX 1 APPENDIX 2
26 27HEALTH CARE
APPENDIX 3
HOUSING
SEARCHING ACCOMMODATION
SOCIAL HOUSING
TENANCY SUPPORT
ORGANISATIONS
SECURITY DEPOSIT
REGISTRATION
INFORMATION AND RIGHTS
ON ENERGY
(Gas, electricity, water)
28HOUSING HOUSING
SEARCHING ACCOMMODATION SOME TIPS FOR SOCIAL HOUSING TENANCY SUPPORT
FINDING ACCOMMODATION:
ORGANISATIONS
Looking for decent accommodation at - Check out the signs posted on avail- If your income is low, you may be enti- There are services and organisations
a fair price is a problem faced by many able properties. They are usually or- tled to social housing with a rent that is that can help you find private accom-
people in Belgium. ange and black and should always set according to your income. In reali- modation. They do not offer “miracle”
The ”Vivre en Belgique” guide contains indicate the rental price. ty though, there is a great lack of social solutions but can be useful, especially if
tips on finding and choosing a home: housing which creates delays and very you need help with French or Dutch, or
●● www.vivreenbelgique.be/1-logement/
long waiting lists. with using the internet.
la-recherche-d-un-logement
One of the conditions to have access to Some associations also give guidance
Several brochures on finding accom- social housing is a valid residence per- and legal advice on “droit du bail”
modation are available in Dutch, En- mit. In Brussels only, undocumented (=rights and obligations of a tenant and
glish, French, Farsi and Arabic on: people can reserve a registration num- a landlord).
●● https://www.vluchtelingenwerk.be/huisvesting
ber, allowing them to be better placed Whatever your status, you do have
on the waiting list if their regularisation rights. For example, a landlord cannot
is accepted. evict you without a judge’s authorisation.
To apply for social housing, contact A landlord cannot exclude a prospective
- Look through ads in shops and pub- your CPAS (see the Health Care sheet tenant because of them being foreign or
lic places. Consult the websites that aaaaaaa P.18). You can also get infor- receiving support from the CPAS.
publish ads, for example: mation from your local social housing A brochure of the Housing Support
●● www.immoweb.be organisation. Union Hasselt looks at some basic
●● www.vlan.be
●● www.kapaza.be principles on tenancy rights in English,
●● www.quefaire.be
●● www.2ememain.be BRU
Dutch and Arabic and illustrates them in
●● www.realo.be a simple and clear manner:
●● www.zimmo.be
●● w ww.vluchtelingenwerk.be/system/tdf/
Society of Housing in the region of Brussels
- Consult Facebook groups that publish Capital (SLRB)
huisvestingsfolder_in_het_arabisch_
huurderssynikaat_-_caw_1.pdf
ads, for example: ○○ Rue Jourdan 45-55. 1060 Brussels
●● B
XL à louer – Bouche à oreille, ●● T: 02 533 19 11
BXL À LOUERHOUSING HOUSING
W
You can rent private accommodation In addition to the addresses below,
Espaces Wallonie Liège Charleroi Hainaut
without a residence permit. You risk you can also contact your CPAS for as-
The 11 departments Habitat-Service New Solidarities My Roof for You
nothing by signing a written agreement sistance in finding accommodation. of Espaces Wallonie (Solidarités (À Toi mon Toit)
○○ R ue Chevaufosse,
and it is wise to do so. Organisations specialising in migrants’ (Arlon, Eupen, La
78
Nouvelles) ●● www.atoimontoit.be
Louviere, Mons, Namur, ●● info@atoimontoit.be
The owner will not be punished either rights may also be able to help (see the Nivelles, Tournai,
4000 Liège ○○ B oulevard Jacques
●● T : 04 226 20 55 Bertrand 8 Ath
unless they act as a so-called slum- Directory of Belgian Migration Sector, Verviers, Brussels,
6000 Charleroi
Charleroi and Liège) Caritas International : ○○ M arché aux
lord, someone who takes advantage P.6) disseminate informa- Housing Café of
●● T : 071 30 36 77
Toiles 13
tion on the services in Liège Hotline on Wednesdays 7800 Ath
of your weakness in order to house the Walloon Region. from 10:00-12:00 and ●● T: 068 45 52 28
○○ R ue des
you under conditions that are in- They also hold advice
Prémontrés 40
walk-in on Thursdays
Mons
sessions on housing. from 14:00-16:00
compatible with human dignity, and 4000 Liège
○○ Square Roosevelt 8
Call: ●● T : 0477 98 64 10 Relogeas
charges you an abnormally high rent. ●● 1718 ○○ R ue de Monceau
7000 Mons
●● T: 0497 24 63 10
for the address and Fontaine 42/11
opening hours of 6031 Monceau
your nearest Espace sur Sambre
BRU Wallonie. ●● T : 071 31 40 07
F
Convivial asbl .Tenants’ Union (UL) Social House Caritas International:
of Schaerbeek of Evere Brussels Housing
○○ R
ue du Charroi
Café The regional home and Anvers Tenants’ Union Ghent
33/35 ○○ Rue de la Poste 156 ○○ Avenue Henri
integration offices have ○○ Diksmuidelaan 276 (Huurdersbond) ○○ Grondwetlaan 56 b
1190 Brussels 1030 Brussels Conscience 83 ○○ Rue de la Charité 43
a mission to support 2600 Antwerpen 9040
●● T: 02 503 43 46 ●● T: 02 218 52 66 1140 Brussels 1210 Brussels They do not usually
housing needs, so you ●● T: 03 320 29 70 Sint-Amandsberg
●● www.convivial.be ●● T: 02 240 60 70 ●● T: 02 229 36 11 help with finding
List of accommodation can call them if you are ●● w ww.deideale ●● T: 09 223 28 77
●● housingcafe@ accommodation but
Help and support for available to rent in Computers available newly arrived. For full woning.be
caritasint.be can advise you on your Offices open on
recognised refugees the municipality of to browse accommo- contact details see the
Ghent rights and help you Thursdays 17:30-19:30
for finding an accom- Schaerbeek (updated dation search pages Assistance in searching Training sheet
○○ Leiekaai 340 defending them. There Membership:
modation and housing weekly) together with a coach, accommodation, P.59
9000 Ghent is a registration fee but €17 per year.
after leaving the recep- on Tuesdays and moving in, and first
Housing Equally, you can ●● T: 09 216 75 75 the first consultation is
tion centre. Thursdays from steps. Bruges
and Renovation contact your nearest ●● w ww. often for free. See:
13:30-16:30. ○○ Vlamingdam 55
Social Rights (Habitat Tenants Service’s WAC. Find the contact deGhentsehaard.be ●● www.
8000 Bruges
Workshop et Rénovation) Tenants’ Union (UL) National Office information in the huurdersbond.be
Brugge ●● T: 050 33 77 15
of St-Gilles Directory of Belgian
○○ Rue de la ○○ Avenue de ○○ Chaussée de Wavre ○○ Handboogstraat 2 Anvers
Migration Sector Offices open on
Porte Rouge 4 la Couronne 340 ○○ 131 Rue Berckmans 1176 8000 Bugge Antwerpen
P.6 Mondays from
1000 Brussels 1050 Brussels 1060 Brussels 1170 Brussels ●● T: 050 31 76 58 Huurdersbond
17:00-19:30, and
●● T: 02 512 71 57 ●● T: 02 639 60 10 ●● T: 02 538 70 34 ●● T: 02 218 75 30 ●● w ww.brugse ○○ Langstraat 102
Woonloket Tuesdays and Fridays
huisvesting.be 2140 Borgerhout
Tenants’ Union (UL) Active accommodation Help with internet and Legal advice from: from 10:00-12:30
Most cities and towns ●● T: 03 272 27 42
of Anderlecht research workshop led phone research on Monday to Thursday Turnhout Membership:
have a housing service.
by a facilitator, and with Tuesdays from from 10:00-12:00 ○○ Campus Blairon Offices open on Tues- €12 per year.
○○ Chaussée de They are called “woon-
the purpose of learning 14:00-16:00 and and from 13:00-16:00, 599 days from 19:30-21:00
Mons 291 loket” or “woonwinkel”. Hasselt
or improving one’s Thursdays 10:00-12:00. Fridays from 2300 Turnhout and Thursdays from
1070 Brussels You can find them on ○○ Albrecht Roden-
house searching meth- 10:00-12:00, and ●● T: 014 40 11 00 13:00-15:00
●● T: 02 520 21 29 Mentor Escale ●● http://www. bachstraat 29 bus 4
od. Available to people Thursday evenings ●● www.arkwonen.be
wonenvlaanderen. Membership: 3500 Hasselt
Leasehold advice living in Ixelles. ○○ Rue Souveraine 19 from 18:00-20:00.
be/huren/ Caritas Internation- €17 per year. ●● T: 011 333 576
on Mondays from 1050 Brussels
u-zoekt-een-beta al Housing ●● http://www.huur
14:00-17:00 and Thurs- ●● T: 02 505 32 32
albare-huurwoning Café of Antwerpen derssyndicaat.be/
days from 9:00-12:00 ●● info@
○○ Sint Jacobsmarkt 43
mentorescale.be Offices open on
Individual assistance 2000 Anvers
Mondays from
in finding accommoda- Reserved to young ●● housingcafeantwer
18:00-20:30 and Tues-
tion, based on a refugees or asylum pen@caritasint.be
days from 13:00-15:00
list that is updated seekers under
Monday afternoons, Membership:
every Monday. the age of 26.
register by email. €12 per year.
32 33HOUSING HOUSING
SECURITY DEPOSIT REGISTRATION INFORMATION AND RIGHTS ON
BRU W
ENERGY (Gas, electricity, water)
Many landlords ask for a security de- Whenever you move into a new home Some services can help you choose a
posit (or guarantee). This is a sum of Housing Fund of Fonds des
while being a legal resident, you must gas and electricity supplier and a pricing
the Brussels Capital Garanties Locatives
money from the tenant that is set aside Region du Brabant Wallon go and register at the town hall’s civil tailored to your income. They can also
to pay for any rental damage or unpaid ○○ Rue de l’Été 73
(Ligue des familles)
register within 8 days. This procedure is inform you about your rights and advise
rent. If you leave the accommodation 1050 Brussels ○○ A venue des Croix
called “domiciliation”. you in case you encounter any problems.
●● T : 02 504 32 11 du Feu 20
intact, you receive the guarantee back. ●● http://www. 1430 Rebecq
The maximum amount for a deposit is fondsdulogement. ●● T : 0494 31 74 68 If you are a legal resident, the municipal- BRU
be/ ●● fglbw@
the equivalent of 2 months’ rent if you liguedesfamilles.be
ity cannot refuse to register you, even if
Walk-in service
are paying it yourself or 3 months’ worth open from Monday to
your accommodation is substandard. If Infor Gas&Electricity
if a bank or CPAS is lending it to you. Friday from 8:30-12:00 they refuse, demand a written declara- ○○ Chaussée de Haecht 51 (ring bell number 7)
and 12:45-16:00
tion expressing their decision. Immedi- 1210 Brussels
In order to protect tenants, the law re- Flemish Fund for
ately after, contact an organisation that ●● T: 02 209 21 90
Rental Guarantees ●● www.infogazelec.be
quires the deposit to be paid into a can help you with filing an appeal. The
○○ Koning Albert Open Monday to Friday:
blocked bank account. If you do not II-laan 19 organisations below can help you as from 9:00-12:30 and 13:30-17:00,
have a bank account or the owner de- 1210 Brussels
well as those indicated in the Directory excluding Thursday mornings.
●● T: 02 553 19 10
mands it to be paid in cash, ask him to ●● huurgarantie of Belgian Migration Sector P.6
give you a signed paper bearing his and fonds@ W
rwo.vlaanderen.be Youth Rights Service
your names, together with the date and
●● T: 02 209 61 61
the amount of money you gave him as Energy Info in Wallonia
Walloon network for the fight against poverty
a deposit. ●● T: 081 390 626
●● T: 081 31 21 17 ●● http://www.energieinfowallonie.be/
If you have difficulties coming up with Solidarity against exclusion collective Mondays and Thursdays from 09:00-12:30.
the amount of the security deposit, ●● T: 02 535 93 57
contact either your CPAS or a Housing F
Fund, if available in your area:
Flemish Regulator for the Electricity
It is useless, and even dangerous, to try and Gas Market
to register in a municipality if you do not ●● T: 1700 – freephone
Monday to Friday from 09:00-19:00
intend to either apply for marriage, legal
●● http://www.vreg.be (NL-FR-EN)
cohabitation, or a permit to stay.
Public regulator of gas and electricity services.
Consumer advice.
34 35HOUSING
FAMILIES
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICE
YOUNG PEOPLE
MARRIAGE
LEGAL COHABITATION
DIVORCE/SEPARATION/MEDIATION
consequences on the right
of residence
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
FAMILIES WITH UNDERAGE
CHILDREN WITH
ILLEGAL RESIDENCE
36FAMILY FAMILY
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS YOUNG PEOPLE
FAMILY ALLOWANCES GUARANTEED FAMILY ALLOWANCES EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICE
In principle, access to family allowance This is a particular scheme for families Brussels-J is a website for young peo-
BRU W
is based on two conditions: employ- who are not eligible for family allowanc- ple with information on education, em-
ment and residence in Belgium. Parents es (under certain conditions: housing, ONE Accueil temps libre
ployment, unemployment, your rights
should therefore be legal residents and resources, residence permit in order...). Brabant Wallon Out-of-school
and many other topics. Each fact sheet
their children should be in Belgium. You have to submit your application for ●● T: 02 656 08 81
reception service offers you the possibility to anonymous-
Family allowances are usually paid to guaranteed family allowances to the ●● T: 02 656 08 90 ●● T: 02 542 12 59 ly post any questions and a professional
●● asr.brabant. ●● info@one.be
the mother of a child. However, if she is Federal Agency for Family Allowances wallon@one.be
will reply as soon as possible.
Service Centre
not a legal resident in Belgium but the (FAMIFED). Brussels of Holidays Website:
father of the child is either Belgian or a Federal Agency for Family Allowances
●● T: 02 511 47 51 ●● T: 02 542 12 40 ●● http://bruxelles-j.be/
●● asr.bruxelles@ ●● info@one.be
legal resident, the application for fam- (FAMIFED)
one.be An AMO (Open Youth Centre Service) is
ily allowances can be submitted in his Head Office
Hainaut a place where you can access counsel-
name (under certain conditions). ○○ Rue de Trêve 70
●● T: 065 39 96 60 ling, information, advice, support and
1000 Brussels
●● asr.hainaut@one.be
Whom to contact? You must apply for ●● T: 0800 94 434 guidance. The service tries to address
●● http://flandre.famifed.be/fr/contact Liège
family allowances according to your problems affecting young people in
●● T: 04 344 94 94
employment status (employed, self-em- ●● asr.liege@one.be
their daily lives.
ployed, etc.), either to the family allow- Luxemburg List of AMOs:
ances fund, the social insurance fund, ●● T: 061 23 99 60 In Brussels :
or the national family allowances office. ●● asr.luxembourg@ ●● http://amobxl.be/
one.be
In Wallonia :
For further information on the condi- Namur ●● http://www.aidealajeunesse.cfwb.be/
tions to be granted family allowances ●● T: 081 72 36 00
index.php?id=329
based on your permit of stay, contact ●● T: 081 72 36 02 Info for Young People
●● asr.namur@one.be ●● T: 081 980 816
one of the organisations listed in the
Find a centre in Belgium:
Directory of Belgian Migration Sector, ●● http://www.infor-jeunes.be/site/centre
P.6 , or via the following links: F ●● federation@inforjeunes.be
●● http://www.vivreenbelgique.be/
5-la-protection-sociale/
KIND EN GEZIN - NL
les-prestations-familiales
●● http://www.atelierdroitssociaux.be/node/48 To find your nearest branch,
contact the call centre on: F
●● T: 078 150 100
Lejo - Jeugdwerk
○○ Antwerpsesteenweg 701
9040 Sint-Amandsberg
●● T: 092232154
●● http://www.lejo.be
●● info@lejo.be
38 39FAMILY FAMILY
MARRIAGE LEGAL COHABITATION
- Through (repeated) visits at the s this type of interview with the police
A Legal cohabitation is based on a shared
spouses’ home, in order to check the can be very intrusive, we strongly ad- accommodation only. A brother and
OBSTACLES IN conditions of life and the reality of co- vise couples to contact their lawyer sister will be able to register a legal co-
A MARRIAGE PROCEDURE habitation. In this context, you are not or a specialised organisation in order habitation (but will not gain access to
POSTPONING A CELEBRATION :
obliged to let them enter your home to best prepare for the interrogation. family reunification). Also, an undocu-
and officers cannot use force to enter. Refusing to attend the interrogation mented person will be able to register a
If there is a doubt about the real motives However, this refusal could subse- usually triggers a refusal of marriage legal cohabitation or a marriage.
of a marriage, an official of the Register quently lead to a refusal of marriage celebration.
Office may request that the chosen date celebration.
to celebrate the wedding shall be post- Check the website of the “Amoureux,
poned for two months in order to allow - By summoning future spouses to the vos papiers!” project. It is a support net- A person with illegal residence status
for a police investigation to be carried police station for questioning them work for couples confronted with Bel- may also apply for legal cohabitation or
out (this period can be extended fur- about the grounds of their union. In gian migration policy and includes a col- marriage.
ther). In case of postponement, the offi- this context, the future spouses are lection of testimonies as well as monthly Unlike with the marriage procedure,
cer of the Register Office will inform the heard separately and considered as advice and exchange meetings. there is no list of necessary documents.
future spouses. If within that period no suspicious. The police officers will Website: Generally speaking, the municipality re-
decision is made, the marriage has to be ask questions such as: How did you ●● www.amoureuxvospapiers.com quires documents to verify that certain
celebrated by the municipality. meet your spouse? Who introduced ●● facebook.com/amoureuxvospapiers
conditions are met such as: an identity
you to each other? Who are your Contact organisations specialising in card (or passport), proof of celibacy and
REFUSING A CELEBRATION:
spouse’s family members and what migrants’ rights, see Directory of Bel- the agreement signed before a notary
The officer of the Register Office may do they do for a living? When did you gian Migration Sector P.6 (optional).
refuse to celebrate the marriage if he talk about marriage for the first time?
either consider that the conditions for What are your spouse’s preferences MARRIAGE/LEGAL COHABITATION:
marriage are not met, or he feel that the in food, literature, cinema, etc.? Un- WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
marriage could interfere with public less you have had time to calmly read
order. In this case, both parties may ap- the written statement of the interro- As for marriage, an investigation may be
peal within one month of the decision gation, it is not recommended to sign initiated by the police at the request of
notification in front of the Court of 1st it immediately. It is best to ask that a the officer from Register Office. In case
Instance. copy is sent to you, which can take up of a negative decision, both cohabitants
to a month. must be notified. From receipt of the no-
WHAT HAPPENS IN AN INVESTIGATION
OF A SUSPECTED SHAM MARRIAGE?
tice, they have one month to appeal to
the Court of 1st Instance.
The official of the Register Office may
decide to postpone the celebration to
allow for a police investigation that en-
sures that it is not a so-called “sham” or
“convenience” marriage. This investiga-
tion may happen in several ways:
- By collecting information from neigh-
bours, the landlord, a caretaker, the mu-
nicipality, the couple’s entourage, etc.
40 41You can also read
