An Alfapass card is valid for 5 years from its issue date. The card can be replaced free of charge when it expires, but the user should present himself in person to collect his new card at one of the permanent Alfapass issue stations.
The company contact is automatically sent an e-mail 6 weeks prior to the card’s expiry date and is asked to inform the card holders involved of the replacement of their card. This e-mail message is resent 2 weeks before the actual expiry date in case the replacement card hasn’t been collected yet. The new card is automatically prepared by the system on the send date of the first e-mail message and can only be collected from that date. New cards are preferably collected before the old card expires (expiry date is printed on the card) in order to prevent any inconvenience during access registration at the terminals.

Replacement cards can be collected at one of the following locations:

• At the issue station at Hesse-Noord-Natie Building , Quay 702, Blauwhoefstraat 25, 2040 Antwerp. No appointment is required if collected between 8 a.m. and 3.45 p.m.
• At the issue station on the 7th floor of the Cepa Building , Brouwersvliet 33, Antwerp. Please arrange your visit in advance by calling +32 (0)3 303 28 28.
• By appointment at the Zeebrugge issue station, Doverlaan 7, 8380 Zeebrugge (1st floor). To make an appointment, please call +32 (0)50 55 27 57.

Please clearly advise the card holders involved that, in order to obtain their new Alfapass, they have to present their old Alfapass and their identity card or passport. When the new card is issued, a new photo will be made and a new biometric hand scan will be made.

When card holders request us to replace their card AND are able to hand in their old Alfapass, they will be given a new card showing the same card number. They will still have their original card number and should retain their original access rights in the terminals’ local access control systems. Their new card will be valid immediately without any further notification to the terminals’ security desk. The Hesse-Noord-Natie terminals are an exception, as they require users to re-register once.

When employees request us to replace their card without handing in their old Alfapass, only a replacement card with a different card number can be created. In that case, card holders will have to present themselves once to the security desk of each Port Facility (or group of companies) to activate the new card in the local access control system. Read more on the activation of the card per company here.