Moving to Belgium

If moving to Belgium is still in the planning stages, understanding the areas best suited to your professional and personal needs is essential. Where some parts of Belgium favour families, others are heavily industrial. We’ve highlighted some of the key areas for consideration.

Families have a host of fantastic places to call home in Belgium. Whilst Brussels and Ghent provide the hustle and bustle of city life, parents and children may prefer Leuven or Mechelen. These cities have a similar buzz but are more affordable and picturesque, and offer a high standard of living. Tervuren and Waterloo are also great options. These commuter towns offer a quieter life, an abundance of green space, international schools, an excellent quality of living and easy access to the major cities.

Digital nomads can take their work with them, and in Belgium, there are plenty of options. Brussels is ideal for its international community, whereas the vibrant Antwerp and the classic yet modern Ghent provide fashion, art, history, charm and atmosphere in abundance. Perfect for when the laptop is shut down for the day.

If you aren’t in Belgium for work or to live with the family, you have the entire country to choose from. Many retirees prefer cities for the wider international communities. This makes Brussels, Antwerp, Mechelen and Bruges popular; however, Namur and Liege shouldn’t be discounted. Both are pleasant, safe places with a generally lower cost of living than those found in major cities.

Belgium is generally safe, but expats should exercise caution in some areas. Whilst Brussels offers excellent options for expats, some parts of the city are known for higher crime rates and are less than desirable. These include Quartier Nord, Mantongè, Hallepoort and Brabantwijk. Antwerp is considerably safer, but the areas near the port, docks and train station are best avoided. Charleroi has perhaps the worst reputation, constantly ranking last in the Belgian crime and safety index.

Non-EU nationals moving to Belgium will generally require a long-stay (Type D) visa if their stay exceeds 90 days. For short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period, some nationalities require a Schengen (Type C) visa, while others, including citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK and several other countries, are visa-exempt.

EU/EEA and Swiss citizens do not require a visa to enter or live in Belgium. If staying longer than 90 days, they must register with their local commune.

Non-EU nationals staying longer than 90 days must apply for a residence permit after arrival in Belgium. We’ll cover those a little further down the page.

A residency permit is essential if you wish to work or study in Belgium. Whether you are there on a visa or under visa-free conditions, you must register at the local municipal administration within 8 days of arrival. Once you have provided proof of your Belgian address, employment contract, proof of health insurance, your passport and visa (if applicable) and a birth or marriage certificate for family reunification, you’ll be granted a residence card. For professional cards, you may also be asked to attend the immigration office in Brussels, Antwerp or Liege. Your permit will be valid for 1-5 years and can be renewed as long as you remain eligible.

Opening a bank account as an expat in Belgium is simple. Once you have registered your residency, simply find a bank that suits your needs. When you go to open an account, provide ID, proof of residence, employment, and your Belgian national number.

Banks in Belgium include: BNP Paribas Fortis, Crelan, Belfius and VDK.

Contactless transactions are on the rise in Belgium. Transactions are limited to €50, or €150 cumulatively. Once these limits are reached, you require your PIN. Cash is still commonly used and is often the favoured method for independent retailers or businesses in more remote locations.

Belgium offers expats a high standard of living, but it comes at a price. The cost of living in Belgium is high compared to many European countries, and figures indicate it is approximately 1.5 times higher than the global average. This still leaves it cheaper than the neighbouring Netherlands and France, as well as Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and more.

Belgium has a minimum wage determined by age group, but many sectors have set their own base wage that exceeds the national minimum. This has helped to see average monthly gross earnings of between €3832 and €4076. With the high levels of income tax, however, money has to go much further.

Using the latest Numbeo data, we’ve highlighted some common expenses you’ll find in Belgium and compared them to those in one of Europe’s most expensive countries, the UK.

You’ll need to find somewhere to base yourself in Belgium, and both buying and renting may present challenges to expats. Thankfully, there aren’t many, as there are no restrictions placed on foreigners buying property, even if they aren’t residents. Renting is perhaps even easier.

Renting property in Belgium is easy. Provide proof of ID, evidence of your right to stay in Belgium and proof of funds to the landlord/letting agent, and you should be good to go. Costs will vary throughout the country, with cities such as Brussels and Bruges among the most expensive and rural areas being the cheapest.

You are well protected when renting in Belgium, too. Tenants have very strong rights and must be given at least six months’ notice when the landlord wants them to leave. However, tenant responsibilities are vast. Repairs, gutter cleaning and painting are not the landlord’s responsibility. You’ll have to do these yourself. If you live in Flanders or Wallonia, you must have tenant insurance. In other areas, it is not mandatory but is often included in contracts.

If you decide to buy a property in Belgium, you may find that your funds go further. House prices in Belgium are lower than those in many other European countries, especially Switzerland, Ireland and England. However, the prices are slowly rising.

The biggest downside of buying a property in Belgium is the associated costs and the bureaucracy. There is a lot of paperwork to complete and significant fees to pay. As a buyer, you can expect your total fees to range from 11%-22% of the property value.

The process for buying is quite easy. Start with a written offer; if accepted, you then sign a “commitment to buy contract”. This ties you into the sale legally but still allows the seller to back out if they wish. You then hire a notary to handle the legal aspects of the purchase and arrange a survey. Contracts can then be exchanged, but must be written in Dutch or French. A translator is advised, as the law states that the signatory fully understands the contract. Once this stage is complete, a 10% deposit is paid, and the property becomes yours.

Moving to a new country can be challenging, and it’s not just about Visas, job opportunities or a house. Many cultural differences can make settling into a new life a little more difficult.

Belgium is a multilingual country with three official languages. You’ll find Dutch, German and French spoken. Dutch is the most common language (59% of the population), but it is mainly found in the north of the country. French is spoken by approximately 40% of the population and is most common in the south. German makes less than 1% and is often found in the east. Expats will be pleased to know that English is widely spoken, with Belgium ranking 6^th out of 112 countries for English proficiency. However, regional disparity is evident.

Immersing yourself in Belgian culture is essential for a smooth integration. Punctuality and planning are expected. Failing to be punctual or just arriving at someone’s house is seen as rude. In conversation, most Belgians are reserved and chatting about personal or intimate issues is unlikely. You may also need to avoid jokes that make fun of someone. Pointing, hands in pockets when standing and keeping sunglasses on during conversation are also seen as rude and may take some getting used to.

Etiquette is important in Belgium. From how to greet people to how best to conduct yourself at the dinner table, Belgians take pride in their behaviour around others.

When greeting people, a handshake is perfect for the first encounter, but once you are more familiar with the person, three kisses on the cheek are commonly accepted. You’ll also have to ensure the conversation steers away from wealth or earnings, as it can be seen as boastful.

At dinner time, there can be a lot of waiting. You should always wait to be seated, wait for drinks to be offered and wait for the host to start eating (unless they say everyone can start). You should also only load your plate with an amount you know you can eat. Just be prepared to leave a few scraps. In Belgium, eating every morsel is considered gluttonous!

You might also find that retail staff or customer service employees don’t put on much of a façade. Their focus is standards, not smiles. For many, this may come across as rude, especially by those accustomed to believing the customer is always right.

Belgium ranks highly as one of the best countries in the world for work-life balance. The 2025 Global Life-Work Balance Index shows employees work an average of 34.1 hours per week. The focus is very much on “working to live” with an emphasis on ensuring families get time together. Four weeks’ paid holiday is normal, and since 2022, employees can opt to work longer days to have a four-day work week. Furthermore, the “Right to Disconnect” means employees are not expected to answer calls or reply to emails outside their normal working hours.

Many first thoughts of Belgium are that it’s wet, grey and cold, and they would be correct. Belgium has a moderate climate without any extremes in seasonal changes. Rain can be frequent any time of year, and even the warmest months are mild at best.

There are currently ten public holidays in Belgium when most businesses and offices are closed. For 2026, they are listed as: