Belgium EU free movement

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may live and work in Belgium without a visa; a stay beyond 3 months must be registered with the municipality within 3 months of arrival. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13}

Requirements

• Citizens of EU and EEA states and of Switzerland may live in Belgium under EU free movement rules. ^{11 1 8 9}
• Stays of up to 3 months need only a valid national ID card or passport. ^{11 1}
• A stay of under 3 months is reported to the municipality within 10 days of arrival. ¹¹
• Beyond 3 months, workers and self-employed persons may stay while they work. ^{11 4}
• Beyond 3 months, persons not working need sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance. ^{11 3}
• A valid national ID card or passport is needed. ²
• Proof of employment, self-employment, enrolment, or sufficient means of subsistence is submitted with the registration. ¹¹
• Register with the municipality where you stay within 3 months of arrival if staying more than 3 months. ¹¹
• The municipality issues an Annex 19 pending-application proof, then checks the residence address. ¹¹
• Submit proof of your status within 3 months of the Annex 19; you then receive the registration certificate (Annex 8) or E card. ¹¹
• Not applying within 3 months of arrival may bring an administrative fine of 200 euros. ¹¹
• Permanent residence is acquired after 5 years of continuous residence, and can be certified (Annex 8bis or E+ card). ^{13 5}

Stay

• No time limit while the conditions are met; register with the municipality within 3 months of arrival (registration certificate normally valid 5 years).
• First 3 months up to 3 months: Valid ID card or passport only.
• After 3 months: Worker, self-employed person, student, or person with sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance.

Nationality

Citizens of the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

Work

Employees and self-employed persons may work in Belgium without a work permit; some public-authority posts may be reserved for nationals.

Family

Family members who are EU citizens register in the same way; family members who are not EU citizens apply to the municipality for a residence card (F card).

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Residence rights when living abroad in the EU · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
2. Registering residence abroad after the first 3 months · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
3. Residence rights for economically inactive EU citizens · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
4. Workers: residence rights · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
5. Permanent residence (after 5 years) for EU nationals · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
6. Working abroad · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
7. Work in the public sector abroad · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
8. Free movement of EU nationals · European Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion · checked 2026-10-10
9. Free movement of persons (Switzerland and the EU) · Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs · checked 2026-10-10
10. Your non-EU spouse and children's residence rights in the EU · European Union - Your Europe · checked 2026-10-10
11. Registration and reporting obligation (general) · Belgian Federal Public Service Home Affairs (Immigration Office) · checked 2026-10-12
12. Period of validity of the registration certificate for an EU citizen · Belgian Federal Public Service Home Affairs (Immigration Office) · checked 2026-10-10
13. Right to permanent residence of EU citizens and their family members · Belgian Federal Public Service Home Affairs (Immigration Office) · checked 2026-10-10