People getting a new identity card (ID) might have to wait over two months, as the waiting times in some municipalities across Belgium have increased to nine weeks – leaving some people no choice but to use the more expensive 'urgent' procedure.
Municipal halls have been very busy recently: many identity cards need to be renewed, leading to long wait times in some cities and municipalities. Anyone who is called to renew their identity card should respond as soon as possible.
"These delays were caused by the influx of identity card renewal applications. This influx was predictable, and municipal administrations were normally aware of it," said Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR)
"The main reason for this spike is the extension of the eID card's validity period. In March 2014, it was extended from five years to ten years, meaning that starting in 2024, the number of card applications has increased," he said. However, it will take some time for the number to stabilise again.
No production delays
An estimated 2,073,000 Belgians will need a new ID this year. However, this figure will likely be higher, as people whose cards are stolen or lost are also in need of a new one.
This large number is leading to appointments to renew expired identity cards taking up to six weeks in some municipalities across Belgium. With a delivery time of three weeks, it can take up to nine weeks to obtain a new identity card.
In principle, citizens are notified three months in advance of their card's expiration date. Still, many still fall prey to the wait times, the figures show: more and more people are activating their new cards after their old ones have already expired.
"To be clear: there is no delay in the production of ID cards. On that front, the waiting time therefore remains the same for everyone," Koen Schuyten, spokesperson for the Interior Affairs Ministry, told The Brussels Times. "The issue lies with the municipalities' capacity for dealing with the high demand."
The elevators in the Brucity building, in Brussels City hall in the city centre, on Friday 11 August 2023. Credit: Belga/James Arthur Gekiere
In March 2024 (when the surge began), 7,124 citizens were in this situation – representing 7.3% of the new cards activated. By March 2025, the figure had skyrocketed to 18,291. Importantly, this means all these people are in violation of the law; having a valid electronic identity card is mandatory from 15 years old.
However, Quintin stressed that it is impossible to distinguish between citizens who were unable to renew their ID cards on time due to the long waiting times on the one hand, and those without a valid ID because they started the renewal process too late on the other.
As a temporary solution, people who need their new ID card quickly are opting for an "urgent" procedure, which is very expensive: 28,694 cards were issued urgently between March 2024 and February 2025, compared to 18,388 in the same period a year earlier – an increase of 10,306 cards.
Now, however, the proportion of cards issued "urgently" is decreasing: it has dropped from 2.73% to 1.89%. In the city of Liège, for example, the emergency renewal costs €178.20, compared to €39.70 for a standard renewal. In Wanze (near Huy), the emergency rate is even seven times more expensive: €161.20, compared to €22.70 for a standard renewal.
How to avoid long waiting times
Every citizen is notified in a timely manner (approximately three months in advance) to replace their identity card. "We therefore strongly recommend not waiting until the last minute to avoid delays in replacing your identity card," said Schuyten.
"Another tip for citizens: when you schedule an appointment to create your identity card, it is best to immediately schedule an appointment two weeks later to collect it," he stressed.
Those who wait until the last minute might not be able to get their ID card in time before the previous one expires. "As long as the application was submitted on time, there is no reason to panic. During a check, the police can see that an application has already been submitted."
