All people residing in Belgium are required to only have one main place of residence in the population register.
However, the royal decree of 26 December 2015 states that “at the request of the host parent” (i.e. at the parent’s home where the child is not officially registered):
– The child’s file in the population register in the city where they are legally domiciled can state that the child “partially resides at this address in equal or unequal shared care with the host parent” due to a court decision or mutual agreement between the parents.
– The host parent’s file in the population register in the city where they are registered can state that one or several of their minor children “partially reside at this address in equal or unequal shared care”, and that the child’s identity is stated elsewhere.
These notes on the register are not to grant socioeconomic rights or tax benefits, but to inform the local authorities that a child resides in their area part of the time. This information could also be useful to grant reductions or facilities for this child such as reduced entrance to the swimming pool or park, as well as for security purposes.
