After a divorce, can I take my child to another country without the other parent's permission?
In short
No. Not handing a child over to the other parent, or taking a child abroad without permission, can be a crime (level 2; level 3 in aggravated cases).
Video transcript
You are divorced. You want to take your child abroad this summer; your ex objects. Not allowed: Not handing a child back, or taking them abroad to keep them from the other parent, can be a crime: level 2. Wrongful retention abroad is level 3. The right way: First get the other parent's written consent. If you cannot agree, go to the family court. Outcome (Level 2 crime): Prison: 6 months – 3 years; Aggravated: 3 – 5 years; Also: Custody may go against you.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Not handing your child over to the other parent according to the arrangement set by the court is a crime (art. 679).
- Taking your child abroad to deliberately keep them away from the other parent can be a crime. If the child is wrongly kept outside Belgium or hidden for more than 5 days, the penalty is heavier: level 3 (art. 680).
- Not respecting the contact (visiting) arrangement is also a separate crime (art. 681, level 2).
- If a relative or someone else knowingly takes the child away from, or keeps them away from, the people responsible for looking after them, this can be abduction (ontvoering / enlèvement): art. 223, level 4. If the child is 12 or older, violence, threats or deception must have been used.
- Before you go abroad on holiday, get the other parent's written permission. If you cannot agree, go to the family court.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- At this level the main penalty is prison or an alternative penalty. The victim can also claim compensation separately.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36 + V.T.Sv. art. 3ejustice.just.fgov.be
- Court / prison
- 6 months – 3 years in prison or electronic monitoring; 120–300 hours of community service or probation can also be given; in aggravated cases (art. 680), level 3: 3 – 5 years in prison; abduction (art. 223) level 4: 5 – 10 years in prison
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36
What does this level mean? Criminal Code, level 2: 6 months – 3 years in prison or an alternative sentence. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- It can appear on your criminal record extract (uittreksel uit het strafregister / extrait de casier judiciaire). This can cause problems when you apply for jobs.
Legal basis:Sv. art. 590, 595
- Custody and the contact arrangement can change against you
Legal basis:oud BW art. 387ter §1
- An international procedure can be started to bring the child back to Belgium
Legal basis:HCCH – Status table, Child Abduction Convention 1980
What do these terms mean?
- Criminal record
- The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.
Why does this rule exist?
The rule protects the child's bond with both parents. When one parent decides alone, the child is cut off from the other parent and from school.
Where can you go?
- Violence helplineFlanders 1712 (weekdays 09–18) · Wallonia and Brussels 0800 30 030 (partner violence), 103 (child abuse) · Emergency 112
- Child and family servicesFlanders: Kind en Gezin / Opgroeien · Wallonia and Brussels: ONE
- School guidance centreThe school's CLB / centre PMS
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 12 / 12 statements in an official source
- Checked: 22.10.2026
- Last checked
- 22.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 12 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Teslim etmemek/izinsiz götürmek suç; seviye 2, ağırlaştırılmış 3
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 679–680 - Found in an official source
Çocuğu diğer ebeveyne teslim etmemek suçtur (md. 679)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 679 - Corrected according to the source
Çocuk Belçika dışında haksız tutulursa veya 5 günden fazla saklanırsa seviye 3 (md. 680)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 680 - Found in an official source
Görüşme düzenine uymamak suçtur (md. 681, seviye 2)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 681 - Found in an official source
Seviye 2: 6 ay–3 yıl hapis veya elektronik izleme; 120–300 saat çalışma veya denetimli serbestlik; seviye 3: 3–5 yıl
Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Çocuğun geri dönüşü için uluslararası süreç başlatılabilir
HCCH – Status table, Child Abduction Convention 1980 - Found in an official source
Seviye 2: hapis veya alternatif ceza; tazminat ayrıca istenebilir
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36 + V.T.Sv. art. 3 - Found in an official source
Mahkûmiyet Strafregister'e işlenir; uittreksel bu kayıtları gösterir
Sv. art. 590, 595 - Found in an official source
Kararlara uyulmazsa hâkim velayet ve barınma konusunda yeni karar verebilir
oud BW art. 387ter §1 - Found in an official source
Kaçırma tanımı; 12 yaş üstünde şiddet/tehdit/hile şartı; seviye 4 (md. 223)
Code pénal livre II (Loi 29.2.2024), Justel FR konsolide metin, art. 223 (madde numarası: Justel NL inhoudstafel) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Kanunda 'izinsiz yurt dışına götürmek' diye ayrı bir suç yok. Suç, çocuğu hak sahibine bilerek teslim etmemek ya da kaçırmaktır. Yurt dışı yalnızca çocuk orada 'haksız yere tutulursa' ağırlaştırıcı olur. Kartın kendi özeti de doğru biçimde
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması) - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Tazminat kendiliğinden değil, mağdur isterse
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması)
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?