Updated in October 2026.

Moving to Belgium, your checklist

Settling in Belgium means many small steps, and some depend on others. Done in the right order, they take much less time. Here is the checklist we use.

Before you arrive

• Gather your passport, birth and marriage certificates, translated if needed
• If you come from outside the EU, check your visa or residence authorisation
• Find housing and get a rental contract signed by both parties
• Keep copies of your diplomas and your employment contract

In your first week

• Book your appointment at the commune and register
• Put your name on the letterbox for the police visit
• Open a Belgian bank account

In your first month

• Join a mutuelle and give it your bank account
• Choose a general practitioner and open your medical file
• Set up electricity, gas and internet in your name, and note your meter readings
• Take out the home insurance your lease asks for
• Check whether you need to exchange your driving licence

Later on

• Collect your residence card and its PIN codes
• Register your children at school or nursery
• Keep a folder with every official letter, they come in French or Dutch

Taxes and residence permits are handled by accredited professionals and the immigration office. We do not cover them.

This guide gives general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees can differ between communes, so always check your commune's website.

Practical guides

• Commune registration in Belgium
• How to get mutuelle reimbursements in Belgium