1. Obtaining a temporary Press Pass

Contact the Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and arrange an appointment with:

  • Mr. Michael Vlamijnck - Tel: +32 2 501 44 81 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fax: +32 2 513 2546
www.diplomatie.be

Address:
15, rue des Petits Carmes
1000 Bruxelles

For European citizens :

To obtain the temporary belgian press card, please send following information to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you are a salary paid journalist :

  • a copy of your passport or identity card
  • a copy of your national press card (or press card of your media)
  • a recent accreditation letter with letterhead of the Director / Editor of the media, in which the duration of the mission, the number of years of experience as a professional journalist and your salary (and possibly other benefits) are specified
  • a signed letter in which you declare on your honor not to engage in any business activity including advertising.

If you are a freelance journalist :

  • a copy of your passport or identity card
  • a copy of your national press card (or press card of your media)
  • a recent collaboration letter with letterhead of the Director/Editor of the media you are working for. This letter must specify the duration of the mission, the number of years of experience as a professional journalist and possibly specification of other benefits.
  • Evidence of journalistic salaries of the last 6 months (copies of invoices + bank statements)
  • a signed letter in which you declare on your honor not to engage in any business activity including advertising aimed

Once you have sent the documents, the press office will review your request.
Once your demand has been approved, the press office will contact you to fix an appointment to come pick up your temporary press card (valid for 6 months) at the Press Department of the FPS Foreign Affairs. At this appointment you must bring 2 passport photos.

Once you obtained this temporary press pass, you can apply for the permanent Belgian press card at the International Press Association (IPA).

Journalists from non-EU countries

  • Journalists with the nationality of a non-EU country, who wish to settle in Belgium, need to request a single permit since 1 January 2019.
  • From now on, one request needs to be made in order to acquire a work permit (competent authority = competent region) and a residence permit (competent authority = Immigration office/FPS Interior).
  • If you have settled earlier in Belgium under the old system, where you did not need to obtain a separate work permit, we remind you that you need to introduce “a renewal demand for a single permit” at the competent region 2 months (3 months is more advisable) before expiration of your current residence permit. Even if you never requested the single permit before. The Belgian press card is no longer equivalent to a work permit.
  • All additional information can be found on the website of the Brussels region, where most foreign journalists in Belgium have chosen to reside: http://werk-economie-emploi.brussels/en/single-permit-exemption-journalist

2. Request for a permanent Press Card

The offices are open: Monday from: 09:30 - 13:00
API - Résidence Palace - bloc C - bureau 2.257
Rue de la Loi 155 - 1040 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 2 235 2224
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Documents needed:

  • Request form
  • Declaration from your Director/Editor-in-Chief certifying that you are a paid correspondent from at least two years (free-lances must bring proof of remuneration for the past two years)
  • One copy of the temporary Press pass
  • One copy of the residence certificate delivered by your Municipality
  • One copy of the birth certificate from your Country or Consulate or copy of your passport
  • Four passport photos

3. Residence permit

Find a place to live, establish your residence there and go to the Municipality.

Documents needed:

  • Accreditation letter from your Director/Editor-in-Chief
  • Passport
  • Lease contract
  • Temporary press card
  • Three passport photos