Guidance for newcomers (civic integration path)

Civic integration is meant for foreigners who are 18 years old or older and who move to Flanders or Brussels to live here. Belgians born abroad and who have at least one parent born outside of Belgium are part of the civic integration target group.

Everybody who is part of the civic integration target group is entitled to a civic integration path.

Newcomers obligated to follow the civic integration path

Some newcomers must follow a civic integration path, including:

• foreigners who:
  • are 18 years old or older
  • are registered in the national population register (‘Rijksregister’)
  • live in a municipality situated in the Flemish Region
  • have a residence permit valid for more than 3 months for the first time.
• Belgians who:
  • are 18 years old or older
  • were not born in Belgium
  • have at least one parent who was not born in Belgium
  • are registered in the national population register for the first time for no longer than 12 consecutive months.
• allophone underage newcomers:
  • who will be 18 years old at the moment when they will not have been registered in the national population register for the first time for 12 consecutive months with a residence permit of more than 3 months
• newcomers who are ministers of a religion in a local church or religious community recognised by the Flemish authorities.

For these categories of newcomers, the civic integration obligation remains valid as long as they do not fulfil the civic integration program.

Warning: the rules concerning the civic integration obligation set out here apply for Flanders. Different rules may apply for Brussels.

In Flanders, the civic integration program consists of:

• a course ‘social orientation’ about life, work, norms and values in Belgium (in a language the learner can understand)
• a Dutch course
• an individual guidance in the search for work, studies… and help for the evaluation of diplomas.

The Flemish Agentschap Integratie en Inburgering(opens in new window) (Agency for Integration and Civic Integration) and the two city agencies in Antwerpen (Atlas(opens in new window)) and Gent (Amal(opens in new window)) offer the civic integration paths.

The content of the civic integration path is incorporated into a civic integration contract. Anyone who signs a civic integration contract commits to regularly follow the training programme (to attend at least 80% of all classes during each part of the training).

Anyone who passes the course ‘social orientation’ and the Dutch course receives a civic integration attestation. The newcomers are then guided in their search for a job or for a diploma (vocational training, training to become a self-employed entrepreneur, extra Dutch language classes, other studies…).

Civic integration obligation

Anyone who is required to fulfil the civic integration path must:

• register on time at the competent agency (you will then receive a registration attestation)
• attend at least 80% of all classes

Newcomers required to fulfil the civic integration path who do not fulfil their civic integration obligation risk an administrative fine.

If you are not required to fulfil the civic integration path but you do not respect the civic integration contract you signed, you still risk an administrative fine.

In the Flemish Region, some newcomers are exempted from the civic integration obligation:

• citizens from member states of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland and their family members. This exemption does not apply to the family members and newcomers of Belgian nationality mentioned above.
• Newcomers who have already obtained a civic integration certificate
• Newcomers who are not able to follow a civic integration path due to a serious illness or a handicap
• Newcomers who obtained a certificate or diploma in the Belgian or Dutch education
• Newcomers who followed a complete schoolyear of education for nonDutch speaking newcomers
• Newcomers who are 65 years old or older
• Migrant workers with a temporary residence permit that may lead to a permanent residence.

The four last options for exemption do not apply to newcomers who are ministers of a religion in a local church or religious community recognised by the Flemish authorities.

Underage newcomers

For underage allophone newcomers (children and young people who are entitled to education for non-Dutch speaking newcomers), civic integration is accomplished by means of education and not through a civic integration path. Like all underage children, they benefit from the right to education and are subject to compulsory schooling. Therefore, the Flemish authorities help them to find an adequate school or education for non-Dutch speaking newcomers.

If necessary, they are also guided to well-being and health facilities. The municipality gives them information about associations, sports and cultural activities and facilities for young people in the vicinity.