The ID card makes traveling in fifty countries, while allowing the passport to do so in all countries of the world (if necessary after
obtaining the required visa). Passports are valid for 7 years (5 years for minors); 10 years for identity cards (6 years for 12-18 years). On your own initiative, you must renew in time these documents when they are no longer valid or usable because of their expiration or its near expiry; or because you do not look like the photo.
From Turkey for example, for you and your children over 12 years old, the identity card (or passport) valid for at least six months after the date of entry, enough for a stay of less than 90 days. "Most countries require that validity of six months, although some are less fussy," says Foreign Affairs. If in doubt, you can also get information from your travel agent, airline, embassy (see their website) or consulate of the destination country. A European driving license model "bank card" is preferable to avoid attention.
Check with your municipality as to the exact delivery time of your passport or identity card. In holiday period, wait times can exceed the usual 5 working days. From the contacts we had with the Foreign Affairs and Interior, "possible delays are not attributable to services but to the municipalities themselves who are finalizing the cards."
For children alone or not?
The question of going abroad comes under parental authority. Therefore, the agreement of both parents is required. It is recommended that written consent if your child is traveling alone or with persons other than their parents.
If your child is traveling with one of his parents, you have the freedom to certify in writing the agreement of the other parent, to legalize the signature by your town and take the written agreement trip . If the child and the parent does not have the same name, a copy of the birth certificate can prove parentage.
There also is no standard form of parental authorization for the travel of minors imposed on Belgian or international level. The identity card or passport is sufficient. However, for security reasons, it is advisable to check with the embassy or consulate of the destination country to check if additional documents are required.
The kids-ID is the electronic identity document for Belgian children under 12 years. The Kids-ID is not mandatory and you must make yourself asking the population department of your municipality. With a Kids-ID children under 12 years old can travel in the EU and in other countries. In some countries, children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or be in possession of a parental authorization (more info on www.diplomatie.belgium.be/fr/).
To request a Kids-ID to the municipality, it must exercise parental authority over the child, go with him to the municipal administration and provide a recent photo of the child.
