Agentschap voor Binnenlands Bestuur

Persons integrating who have a civic integration obligation

The following persons integrating are obliged to follow a civic integration programme:
1. Foreigners who meet all of the following conditions:

• They are 18 years old or more.
• They are registered in the State Register.
• They live in a municipality of the Flemish Region.
• They have a residence permit of more than three months for the first time.

For those persons integrating, the civic integration obligation continues to exist as long as they have not fulfilled it.

2. Belgians who meet all of the following conditions:

• They are 18 years old or more.
• They were born outside Belgium.
• At least one of their parents was born outside Belgium.
• They are registered in the State Register for no longer than 12 consecutive months for the first time.

For those persons integrating, the civic integration obligation continues to exist as long as they have not fulfilled it.

3. Foreign-speaking minor newcomers who reach the age of 18 at a moment when they have not yet been registered in the State Register for twelve consecutive months for the first time with a residence permit of more than three months.

4. Persons integrating who act as a minister of religion in a local church or religious community, recognised by the Flemish authorities.

The civic integration obligation does not apply in Brussels. 

Exemption from the civic integration obligation

The following persons integrating are exempt from the civic integration obligation:

• citizens of a European Union Member State, the European Economic Area and Switzerland and their family members. This exemption does not apply to family members of Belgians and persons integrating with the Belgian nationality that are mentioned above.
• persons integrating who have already obtained a civic integration certificate.
• persons integrating who cannot follow a civic integration programme as a result of a serious illness or disability.
• persons integrating who have obtained a certificate or diploma in Belgian or Dutch education.
• persons integrating who have attended welcome classes during an entire school year.
• persons integrating of 65 years or older.
• economic migrants who have a temporary residence status that may lead to a definitive residence.

The last four grounds for exemption do not apply to persons integrating who act as a minister of religion in a local church or religious community, recognised by the Flemish authorities.
 

Civic integration obligation

Anyone who has an obligation to integrate must meet the following two conditions:
1. He must report to the welcome office in time. 
2. He must regularly attend the lessons within the primary civic integration programme. This means that he must attend at least 80% of each course.

Persons integrating who have a civic integration obligation and fail to fulfil it, may receive an administrative fine. The system of administrative fines does not apply in the Brussels Capital Region.