Hi Grad, travelling for work is a rather common problem for those holding an Orange Card because you are not supposed to leave Belgium for 6 months before getting an F Card. You have to apply for a Return Visa for work purposes while waiting for your residency permit. For work reasons, your Return Visa will get approval with a provision of a company letter or contract.

After getting your F Card, you can travel freely within the EU exercising your right within the EU member states for a non-EU citizen. F Card and Orange Card are both not travel documents. You still have to carry your passport + F Card (compulsory) with you when taking a plane for immigration control even though the Customs officers don’t check the passport within the Schengen zone most of the time.

They will still check your residence permit to see if you have the right to stay and travel without a valid visa (applicable for some non-EU countries) Usually, these Customs officers do not ask a lot of questions. Even if they do, it is just a routine check such as asking you what you are doing in Germany. Overall, things should go fine once you get the F Card. Remember to apply for your Return Visa asap as it takes some time for approval.

I would like to have info from your side, maybe you could give a suggestion or maybe you know for a similar situation. Recently I have applied for status change and apply for reunification with my wife (EU citizen). Before that, I had a temporary ID card via employment. I received the Orange card, already with a national registration number on it.

I was told that I could not leave Belgium for 6 months, but I realize that it is possible but with some additional documents which I have to carry with me. I’m not 100% sure about this because I travel outside the EU for business reasons (it’s a must).

In this link it has been stated:

“The orange card itself is not a residence permit and indeed you cannot travel with this document. However, the following Directive can apply: DIRECTIVE 2004/38/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 29 April 2004 on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States.

You will have to bring a little file with you when you travel, gathering the wedding certificate, copy of the Belgian residence permit of your partner, copy of his/her employment contract, your orange card and appendix 19ter, a document concerning the purpose of your trip, … Of course, if you are travelling with your EU partner it’s easier. But indeed you might face questions at the border.”

On this basis, I can, therefore, go out freely on the territory of the Member States, but I am not sure that this is also visible for non-EU Member States?

So, I am thinking to go by train to Germany and take an airplane from Frankfurt and back the same way. Also, I am not sure if Germany will ask some questions at the airport and passport control checks? Thank you in advance for the advice. Grad.

Hi Anunaki, I believe the notifier is the letter sent to your house with the PUK Pin Code to the identification card. You need to bring it when you collect your eID.

Hi Salmah, the Annexe 19ter and the orange card will usually have the same date and issue on the same date while it is also common to issue the annexe first followed by the issuing of Orange Card later. The residence permit will only issue after 6 months on the annexe. If there are no documents stated, you may like to check with the Stadhuis if you need to submit any proof of relationship. I was thinking that you may just have to submit all the proof of relationship to them within 3 months from the date of the annexe 19ter.

Please refer to the articles below and submit a copy of documents for proof of relationship.

1) Proof of Relationship: What to submit
2) Suggested Family Reunification Template to File Your Documents

Hi Gloria, it seemed that you did not submit your proof of relationship in the first place. According to this website, after you have received Annex 20, you have to provide documents within 1 month.

Please read these 2 articles and supply the information suggested there within 1 month from the receipt of your Annex 20:

1) Proof of Relationship: What to submit
2) Suggested Family Reunification Template to File Your Documents

If you think you cannot complete the proof of relationship on time, please send an email to the relevant authority/city and ask for the dateline to be extended.

I received annex 20 now which stated that I am allowed to live in Belgium because I am married to a Belgian man, but I need to register again and bring proof. But, they didn’t state what documents I need to bring. Help me thanks.

Hi Davinder, every rejection letter will give you a reason for rejection and you didn’t specify anything. You have to rectify the problem stated in the letter. If it is something you cannot do, it is best to ask a lawyer for a solution as I have no clue what was the reason for your refusal.