Are you an employee, job-seeker or retiree? We make it easy for you to look through your career and pension data and access your social security data.
My identity
Identifying a citizen in the social security system involves recognising the person concerned accurately, finding their unique identification number and linking their data (career data, pension data, etc.) to this identification number.
Sigedis supports citizens in this process: from obtaining an identification number to accessing online applications and sharing personal data securely with other parties.
My identification number
What is an identification number?
An identification number is a unique number that the Belgian government uses to identify you in its administrative procedures. There are two types:
- National registration number: for people who reside in Belgium and are entered in the population register.
- BIS number: for people who are not registered in Belgium but who still come into contact with the Belgian government – for example, through work or social security.
Together, they are also known as NISS/INSZ numbers (social security identification numbers).
What is an identification number for?
An identification number allows public authorities and businesses to manage your rights and administrative data correctly:
- Employers use it to register you for social security (the DIMONA declaration).
- Your career data and social entitlements are linked to it, so that everything is kept track of correctly.
As a citizen, you need an identification number if:
- you want to work for a Belgian employer;
- you have social security rights in Belgium or are in the process of establishing a business, or if you receive benefits;
- you need to be identified by a Belgian government body, for example, for an internship, temporary assignment or exchange project.
How to request an identification number
You cannot apply for a national registration number. You receive it at birth or when you are entered in the Belgian population registers.
If you don't have a national registration number, you can obtain a BIS number. Currently, you cannot apply for a BIS number yourself. BIS numbers are only created in an administrative context:
- by a Belgian municipality
- by your employer or future employer if they want to register you as an employee
- by a competent authority (for example, a health insurance fund when a voluntarily insured person is registered).
You must provide valid proof of identityay11.link.new_window when you apply.
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