The course of the personal interview
The protection officer interviews every applicant separately. The personal interview is conducted professionally in a quiet atmosphere and can last up to four hours. There is at least one break.
More information on this subject tailored to the asylum seeker can be found on asyluminbelgium.be in 9 languages (Dutch, French, English, Spanish, Arabic, Pashto, Farsi, Tigrinya and Somali).
Purpose and course of the personal interview
At the beginning of the personal interview, the protection officer informs the applicant about the purpose and the course of the interview:
- The applicant’s statements remain confidential
- The interpreter is neutral and bound by professional secrecy. The protection officer asks the applicant if he understands the interpreter.
During the personal interview, the applicant must tell the truth and do everything possible to prove his/her identity, origin, travel route and to back up his/her statements. Among other topics, the protection officer asks questions about the applicant’s identity, the ‘nature’ of the persecution, the reasons for the persecution, the parties involved ('actors') in the persecution, the fear in case of a return and the available evidence. If possible, an applicant must back up his/her statements with documents and (s)he must submit all the identity documents (s)he possesses.
At the end of the personal interview, the protection officer asks the applicant and the lawyer, guardian or trusted person if they would like to clarify some points.
The presence of children
You are not allowed to bring your children to the personal interview (hearing) and must provide childcare for them yourself.
- The applicant can lose concentration or can be inhibited in the presence of a child
- The child may hear painful stories in an unfamiliar environment
- It can be difficult for the interpreter, the lawyer or the parent to concentrate due to a child’s presence.
If both parents are invited to an interview and bring their child with them, they can take a seat in the family waiting room. While the protection officer interviews one parent, the other parent can look after the child.
Single parents
You are not allowed to bring your children to the personal interview (hearing) and must provide childcare for them yourself.
If the child accompanies the single parent to the personal interview, a family member or friend can look after the child in the family waiting room during the interview.
Audio recording of the personal interview
An audio recording will be made of every personal interview. This audio recording is required by law. From 12 June 2026, an audio recording will be made of every personal interview conducted as part of the applications filed from that date. For applications filed prior to this date, an audio recording will be made starting from the date the new law amending the Aliens Act takes effect.
In addition to the notes of the personal interview, the audio recording serves as an additional safeguard for the applicant to ensure an accurate representation of the personal interview. This audio recording may only be used as evidence during the appeal phase, i.e. in the event of a negative decision. The audio recording may be listened to by appointment at the CGRS in preparation for an appeal, and at the Council for Alien Law Litigation (CALL) after an appeal has been lodged.
The audio recording system is secured in such a way as to ensure appropriate confidentiality as mentioned in Articles 13/1, paragraph 1, and 14, §1 of the Royal Decree regarding the CGRS. More information about the processing of your personal data can be found in the privacy statement for applicants for international protection. For persons assisting applicants who are also present during the personal interview, there is the privacy statement for intervening parties.
Access to the audio recording of the personal interview may be granted to the applicant and, if necessary, to the lawyer and an interpreter. In the case of a minor applicant, access may be granted to the applicant and the parent(s) or guardian, and, if necessary, to the lawyer and an interpreter.
It is the responsibility of the applicant (if applicable, the parent(s) or guardian) and his/her lawyer to arrange for an interpreter if desired, for example in the context of second-line legal assistance.
Access is secured in such a way as to guarantee the confidentiality of the audio recording and to ensure the protection of personal data. This means, for example, that the audio recording is listened to in a closed room or through headphones, to make sure that the applicant’s statements cannot be heard by third parties.
The audio recording can be listened to by appointment:
- at the CGRS in preparation for an appeal with the CALL and
- at the CALL after lodging an appeal.
You must follow the procedure below to make an appointment to listen to the audio recording at the CGRS:
- If you have received a negative decision, you can make an appointment with the CGRS within the appeal period, starting from the date of notification of that decision.
- To do so, you or your lawyer (or your parent(s)/guardian) must complete the form to gain access to the audio recording of the personal interview.
- You or your lawyer (or your parent(s)/guardian) must send the completed form to the following email address: CGRA-CGVS.Advocate@ibz.fgov.be.
- Only your lawyer (or your parent(s)/guardian) and, if desired, an interpreter can assist you while listening to the audio recording of your personal interview.
- If you wish to bring someone to assist you as an interpreter, please also submit a copy of his or her identity card together with the form.
- If everything is in order, you will receive an email from the CGRS with the details of the planned appointment. This will be sent to the contact details mentioned in the form.
Requests that do not reach the CGRS through the above-mentioned procedure, will not be taken into account.
Once the appeal period has expired, you will no longer be able to make an appointment with the CGRS to listen to the audio recording.
If you have already lodged an appeal, you may submit your request to the Council for Alien Law Litigation.
The notes of the personal interview
The protection officer writes down the entire conversation (questions, answers and possible problems that occurred) in the notes of the personal interview. The protection officer does not read these notes to the applicant. However, the applicant or the lawyer can request a copy of the notes of the personal interview. They can do this during or after the personal interview by using this form.
The applicant and the lawyer will still have the possibility to request a copy of the notes of the personal interview. The copy of the notes of the personal interview will be sent as soon as possible and in any event before the decision, provided it was requested in time (before the decision). Furthermore, from 12 June 2026, it will remain possible to submit comments on these notes but the CGRS will no longer be obliged to await any comments before taking a decision.
For applications filed before 12 June for which no audio recording will be made until the date of publication of the new Act amending the Aliens Act, a copy of the notes of the personal interview can be requested by using this form. The request must be made within two working days of the personal interview. Within eight working days of receiving the copy, you may submit comments if you wish, which the CGRS will then take into account.