Fifteen questions and answers about living in Thailand, being registered in Belgium and everything related to it
Earlier an article was published by Jacques Koppert, Residence in Thailand, residential address in the Netherlands? The article also included limited information about Belgium. Jacques stated in his article that it was not possible to go into detail about the consequences for Belgians who leave for Thailand or stay there for a long time. 'This is a task for a Belgian expert,' he concluded.
I certainly wouldn't call myself an expert, as Jacques hoped, but I accepted the challenge anyway. It was. as they say with us 'a serious sandwich' to read, but now and then you can give something back to TB and its readers. After all, I have already been helped by them. So see this article as a continuation of Jacques' previously published article, but for Belgians.
Like Jacques, I will first list the most common questions that I regularly receive, with a short answer of what I have found about them. For a detailed explanation, I refer to the complete article Residence in Thailand, residential address in Belgium?, which can be downloaded as a pdf.
FAQ
1) Can I stay abroad for a longer period of time (eg Thailand) for tourist reasons without this having any consequences?
Yes, for tourism reasons you may be absent from your legal residence for less than a year. Some longer, but then you have to belong to that category of people for whom it is allowed.
2) Do I have to report my long-term absence?
Yes, if you are absent from your main place of residence for longer than 6 months, you must report this to your municipality. You will then be considered temporarily absent. The fact that you are considered temporarily absent does not change your primary residence.
3) Can I leave after returning home?
Yes, it doesn't say anywhere that this is not allowed. However, if several temporary absences are reported one after the other, this may be a reason to check whether this is still the main residence of the person concerned.
4) What happens if I stay away for more than 6 months without reporting this?
If, after checks, it appears that the person concerned cannot be found at his legal residence, this may be a reason to proceed to an official deletion. In principle, this can already be done after 6 months, if the temporary absence has not been reported, and after a year if the temporary absence has been reported.
5) What are the possible consequences if I am absent for longer than a year?
You can be removed from your main residence. This can also have consequences for the health insurance fund and any benefit entitlements.
6) Are there any penalties if I am not in order with my registration in the population register?
There is a possibility that you will incur a fine that can range from 26 to 500 euros.
7) Can I be registered with my sister and have my main residence there?
Yes. Your sister must of course agree.
Caution : Make sure that this has no other consequences . Perhaps she will move into social housing or you or she will benefit from certain social benefits. Your registration at that address may then have consequences. Consult your Social Services for this.
8) Can I take a reference address at my sister's address?
No, registration at a reference address is strictly limited to a certain category of persons and this for a specific reason. Tourism or holidays abroad are not included.
9) What about my main place of residence if I were to leave for Thailand permanently?
If you wish to transfer your main residence abroad, you must notify the municipality where you are registered, no later than the day before departure. The removal starts on the date of the declaration of departure. The municipality will hand you a Mod 8 with which you can register at the Embassy. They will then act as your 'town hall' in the future.
11) Does Belgium have a treaty with Thailand regarding Social Security?
No, I cannot find Thailand as a country with which there is an agreement. I therefore assume that there is no treaty between Belgium and Thailand regarding Social Security.
12) Can I stay abroad for a longer period of time as a support recipient?
Yes, in some cases, but you will have to meet certain conditions. You should therefore always personally contact the SZ services concerned to find out what to expect in connection with leave or long-term absence.
13) As a Belgian, am I insured against illness and accident in Thailand?
Yes, the compulsory health insurance also applies abroad and is arranged through Mutas (formerly Eurocross).
14) What is Mutas and should I always contact you?
Mutas is an intermutualist project. You can always contact Mutas. If you do not contact us in time, within 48 hours, the intervention may be limited to 125 euros (SocMut/FSMB) or no compensation may even be paid (CM).
15) How long will I receive medical care and is there a maximum amount?
We are Belgians and we do unite under the same emergency center, but as befits the good Belgians, we are going to make different agreements with each other. A matter of disagreement.
CM states that the service is guaranteed for three months and starts on the first day of care provision, the SocMut states that the stay abroad should not exceed 3 months (students one year), and FSMB must concern a stay of a maximum of three months per calendar year.
There are also important differences in the maximum and minimum amounts. CM and FSMB apparently cover the total amount of the medical costs, but the SocMut limits the intervention to € 5.000 per claimant. So inform yourself well before you leave to avoid surprises.
Put all the advantages and disadvantages side by side and it may even be worth switching health insurance funds for this.
Closing comments
Undoubtedly there are more questions that come to mind or if you want a more detailed answer, you can click on the attached PDF File. It also contains useful links to the official websites.
Everything is changing and what is prescribed today may be obsolete tomorrow.
If you have or obtain other, additional or more recent information, please share it with readers. Please make sure that you mention the source so that everyone can also consult it.
However, I hope that I have been of service to the readers with this Q&A and the accompanying article, and that it has cleared up ambiguities or cleared up misunderstandings. I wish everyone a pleasant and above all a safe holiday / stay.
RonnyLadPhrao
goedemorgen,
Can someone help me with the article by Jacques Koppert that is referred to?
I have not been affiliated with Thailondblog that long or the article has, very stupidly, eluded me. Thanks.
Cor.
@ Cor de Leeuw You will find a link to Jacques' article at the beginning of the article.
Very interesting article. The information is also in accordance with the legal system. What is important for a certain category of tourists who want to travel/stay in Thailand for a longer period of time: if you receive benefits, you must inquire with the relevant authorities how long you are allowed to travel. If you exceed that term and hospitalization follows, the health insurance is no longer in line. Then Mutas may cover the costs during the stay, but then reclaim them in full afterwards. Think before you start 😉
David,
Beats. That is why I also write in the PDF file that you should always inquire with the relevant authority. Every case can be different and the consequences, especially financial, can be very serious.
The CM does not guarantee you up to 5000 euros, but up to 500 euros per calendar year if you have deregistered in Belgium and then only if you have had at least one overnight stay
for every intervention speak from experience experienced it yourself! If you have a problem in the 3 months after registration, you are still insured as normal, unfortunately after
the 3 month it is a fixed amount of 500 euros PER YEAR!
I don't think I wrote anywhere that it guarantees CM up to 5000 Euro?
This applies to SocMut and to people registered in Belgium.
Nevertheless, thank you for your information for the persons who have been deregistered in Belgium.
Can you also confirm this from a source so we can refer to it?
In case there are people who end up in this situation, they have a reference to recover their costs up to 500 Euro.
Very interesting article
is there anyone who can tell this for the Dutch
I've been looking through google and can't find this specified
my intention is to leave for Thailand this year for good
so it would be very helpful if I could find out a little more
kind regards William
@ Willem de Kedts Houtman At the beginning of the article reference is made to a similar article for Dutch people (with a click through). Are you reading correctly?
Did you mean at least one night in the hospital? Addendum to previous email to avoid misunderstandings.
Great to do so much research and to make it clearly available, there are indeed sometimes many questions without a clear answer.
having to report a long absence was unknown to me, Belgian democracy.
Thank you
An instructive article. I would like to download the PDF file, but the link does not work!
@ Khun Martin I don't get that, because the link works for me. I will send you the basic article as an attachment to your email address.
In the meantime I am back in Belgium for a few weeks and have received additional information from the CM.
It can be found in their brochure CM 2013 (pages 37- and 60) but cannot find it directly in their articles of association with Mutas on the Internet.
See question 15 – Travel assistance is also guaranteed at CM for a maximum of three months per year. It starts at the moment of care provision.
Indeed Ronny, travel assistance is only guaranteed for up to 3 months. Concerns employee status (whether or not on sick leave or disability). You must first request permission from the medical officer to travel, and if you receive permission, this is legally stipulated for a maximum of 3 months per calendar year.
By the way, I once suffered in hospital for more than 3 months, AEK Udon Thani International Hospital. With full travel assistance. This pending medical admission for repatriation, decision in consultation with Mutas and AEK Udon. So there was no other way. The only costs that were paid for themselves were internet, international telephone calls, and things like a hairdresser etc.
in Belgium it is always difficult to get a clear and well-founded answer to such questions, you are always referred from one service to another Apparently they do not want to take responsibilities I have sent an email to many services but never a total answer got an explanation, but many puzzles. .
I even asked foreigners to become an asylum seeker in their own country because they know their way around everywhere.
On the website of the consulate of Antwerp there is a mention in connection with deregistration if you are absent for more than 6 months.
The CM intervenes in hospitalization costs for 3 months after departure. For this purpose, I was asked where I had bought my flight and was also asked for a return flight date (check of 3 months) and it could only concern a trip with a tourist character. They fully reimbursed my 15 days of admission in Ram search house and flight to Belgium via eurocross.
Daniel,
You write - in Belgium it is always difficult to get a clear and well-founded answer to such questions, you are always referred from one service to another -
I think some of our northern neighbors will say the same.
Whether this is right or not…..
Going to an agency well prepared also helps a lot and often clears up many misunderstandings.