Startbedrag adoptie for adoptions within Belgium

You must satisfy 3 conditions for entitlement to the Startbedrag adoptie in Flanders:

1. It must concern the adoption of a child with a potential Groeipakket entitlement in Flanders. Groeipakket is the name for Child Benefit in Flanders. The adopted child must therefore satisfy the same conditions as other children receiving the monthly Groeipakket.
    
2. An application must be submitted to the Juvenile Court or Family Court. If it concerns a foreign adoption, then an additional adoption certificate must be submitted.
    
3. The adopted child must form part of the applicants' family.

Please note: The adoptive parent or partner with whom the child lives or forms a de facto family must never have received Startbedrag adoptie or regular Startbedrag for that same adopted child.

Example 1: 
John wants to adopt his stepson Nick. However, he cannot claim a Startbedrag Adoption because Nick's mother Silvia (to whom John is married) received a Startbedrag upon Nick’s birth.

Example 2: 
Nina and Stef adopt 2-year-old Silke who previously lived in a home. Silke's biological mother received a Startbedrag upon Silke’s birth. Nina and Stef can still claim a Startbedrag adoptie.

Example 3: 
Peter and Ivo adopted Abel in 2015 and received a Startbedrag adoptie for him. They adopted Suzy in 2020. Providing they satisfy all the requisite conditions, Peter and Ivo can also claim a Startbedrag adoptie for Suzy.

Startbedrag adoptie for adoptions outside Belgium

The same conditions largely apply to foreign adoptions as adoptions in Belgium. However, a few additional conditions apply:

1. It must concern the adoption of a child with a potential Groeipakket entitlement in Flanders. The adopted child must therefore satisfy the same conditions as other children receiving the monthly Groeipakket.
    
2. An application must be submitted to the Juvenile Court or Family Court. If it concerns a foreign adoption, then an additional adoption certificate must be submitted. A sworn translation must also be provided for the Flemish Startbedrag Adoption.
    
3. The adopted child must form part of the applicant’s family or be registered at the adoptive parents’ address within 2 months of adoption.
    
4. The adoptive parent or their partner must be domiciled in Belgium.
    
5. There must be no entitlement to an Adoption Premium or Adoption Allowance under foreign regulations or regulations of another region.

Example 1:
Lies and Sanne adopt Sidi from Ghana. Sidi is 3 years old. Sidi has lived in Belgium since 5 November, 2020 and forms part of Lies and Sanne’s family. Sidi is a minor and therefore unconditionally entitled to Groeipakket in Flanders. A Startbedrag Adoption can be paid in this case.

Example 2: 
Marie adopts Lucy. Lucy is from Korea, and came to live with Marie in Belgium in October 2020. However, Lucy is 21 years old and hasn’t studied since reaching the age of majority. Lucy is therefore no longer entitled to a Startbedrag Adoption.

Example 3: 
Dries and David adopt Leon from France on 10 October. Leon is 3 years old. Leon joined Dries and David’s family in Belgium on 5 November, 2020. Leon is a minor and therefore unconditionally entitled to Groeipakket in Flanders. However, since there’s an entitlement to adoption premiums in France, no Startbedrag Adoption can be paid in Flanders.

Example 4:
Leen adopts Camille on 20 September, 2020. Camille comes from Romania, and came to live with Leen in Belgium in October 2020. However, Camille is 21 years old and hasn’t studied since reaching the age of majority. Camille is therefore no longer entitled to Groeipakkt in Flanders and Leen is consequently not entitled to the Startbedrag adoptie.