How does organ donation work?
In Belgium everyone is automatically an organ donor after death, unless you objected while alive — it is a system of 'presumed consent' (opt-out). Under the law of 13 June 1986, everyone in the population register (or in the foreigners' register for more than 6 months) is considered a donor, unless they registered an objection. Since 1 July 2020 you can register your choice yourself — online via masanté/mijngezondheid, at your municipality or via your GP. You can separately consent or object for four purposes: transplantation of organs, of tissues/cells, making medicines and scientific research. If you registered an explicit choice, your family cannot override it. Minors from age 12 can register (only via the municipality or doctor). For living donation (e.g. a kidney) you must be an adult and give prior written consent; selling organs is forbidden.
📋 The rules
- Presumed consent (opt-out): everyone is a donor unless they objected (law of 13 June 1986)
- Applies to those in the population register, or in the foreigners' register for more than 6 months
- Since 1 July 2020: register your choice yourself online (masanté), at the municipality or via your GP
- You can choose per purpose: organs, tissues/cells, medicines, research
- An explicit choice cannot be overridden by the family; if you registered nothing, the family can object
- Living donation: adult, prior written consent; selling is forbidden
🔓 Exceptions
- Minors from age 12 can register, but only via the municipality or the GP
- A minor or incapable person can only register an objection, via the municipality/doctor; it lapses at 18
- If you registered nothing, your family can still object to removal — only an explicit choice rules that out
⚠️ Penalties & fines
This is not a fines matter: you are free to be a donor or to object, and to change your choice at any time. Selling organs is forbidden, though, and death is confirmed only by three physicians independent of the transplant team. The real cost of doing nothing is of a different kind: without an explicit registered choice, your family can object to removal — so anyone relying on presumed consent effectively leaves the decision to their relatives. The official message: register your choice AND talk to your family.
📎 Official sources
- FPS Public Health · organ donation →
- MyHealth (masanté) · register organ donation →
- ejustice · law of 13 June 1986 (removal and transplantation of organs) →
❓ Frequently asked
Am I automatically an organ donor?
Yes. Everyone in the population register (or in the foreigners' register for over 6 months) is a donor after death, unless you objected while alive. That is the presumed-consent system.
How do I register my choice?
Since 1 July 2020, online via masanté/mijngezondheid, at your municipality or via your GP. You can consent or object, generally or per purpose: organs, tissues and cells, medicines, scientific research.
Can my family block my choice?
If you registered an explicit choice, no. If you registered nothing, your family can object to removal. So it is best to register your choice yourself and to discuss it with those close to you.
Can a minor register?
From age 12, yes, but only via the municipality or the GP — not online. A minor or an incapable person can only register an objection, and that objection lapses at 18.
Can I donate an organ while alive?
Yes, as an adult, with prior written consent, for example a kidney or a liver lobe. The risk to you may not be disproportionate, and selling organs is forbidden.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “organ donor belgium automatic”
- “register organ donation online”
- “object to organ donation commune”
- “presumed consent organ donation”
- “living organ donation kidney”
- “family objection organ donation”