Radioamateurs

Becoming a radio amateur

You must demonstrate certain knowledge and skills to become a radio amateur. Radio amateur exams are organised at the BIPT premises in Brussels. There is at least one session a month.

The operator’s certificate

The operator’s certificate is similar to a driver’s licence: it allows you to transmit signals as a radio amateur. The certificate is issued by the Institute, is valid for 5 years and includes a call sign. Please note that this certificate alone does not allow you to possess a station, you must also hold a station authorisation.

According to the class of your operator’s certificate, you must also follow a frequency plan.

Station authorisation

In addition to your operator’s certificate, if you possess your own equipment, you must also hold a station authorisation. If the operator’s certificate is comparable to a driver’s licence, the station authorisation is similar to the registration of your equipment.

Frequencies

Frequency bands and technical characteristics authorised for radio amateurs.

Decisions

• Decision of 19 January 2021 concerning the setting of rules and conditions applicable to tests and examinations for radio amateurs
• Decision of 24th May 2019 on frequencies, capacities and transmission modes that radio amateurs are allowed to use
• Decision of 26 October 2010 on the possibility for the holders of an ON3 radio amateur licence who passed their exam before 15 September 2005 to apply for an ON2 call sign

Billing of radio amateurs 2026

In early January 2026, radio amateurs received a payment request for their station licence and, if applicable, their additional call sign. Previously, failure to pay this invoice by the due date automatically resulted in the cancellation of the file. Reactivating it involved paying an administration fee.

To avoid these additional costs, the BIPT has decided that in the event of non-payment by the due date of the invoice, a “reminder” will be sent, granting an additional period of 15 days. The file will be deactivated on the basis of non-payment following this “reminder”.

Please note that if the 2025 licence expires before the 2026 licence is received, using the station is not permitted in the meantime. In order to avoid this period of prohibited use, prompt payment is recommended.