Belgium (BE)
Belgium is a small but densely populated federal kingdom at the crossroads of Western Europe, split across three linguistic regions — Dutch-speaking Flanders, French-speaking Wallonia, and bilingual Brussels — and famed for its medieval cities, world-class beer and chocolate, and its role as the de facto capital of the European Union.
Capital: Brussels
Region: Europe
Language: Dutch
Currency: EUR (€)
Cost of living: Expensive (index 72)
Emergency: 112
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Professional Services
Finding lawyers, accountants, doctors and other professionals in Belgium.
Belgium's professional services sector is well-regulated. All lawyers, accountants, notaries, and doctors must be registered with their respective professional bodies. When in doubt, verify a professional's registration before engaging. For complex situations involving multiple Belgian regions, ensure your advisor is familiar with the relevant community (Flemish, Walloon, Brussels).
Language options: Dutch, French, and German are the official professional languages in Belgium. Most professionals in Brussels and Flanders speak excellent English. International law firms in Brussels operate primarily in English. For court proceedings, translation/interpretation can be provided by the court for those who do not speak the language of proceedings.
Tax advisor / Accountant
Annual tax return filing: €200–600 for individuals; complex returns (expat regime, foreign accounts): €400–1,200. Business accounts: €1,500–5,000/year. How to find: Find a registered tax advisor (belastingconsulent / conseiller fiscal) via ITAA (itaa.be — Institute of Tax Advisors and Accountants) or the Belgian Chamber of Tax Consultants. Recommendations from the expat community are very valuable. Many Brussels-based firms specialise in international tax and expat returns.
ITAA (itaa.be)IBR/IRE (Institute of Registered Auditors)IFA Belgium (international fiscal)
💡 For your first year as a Belgian resident, strongly consider using a professional accountant — the Belgian tax system is genuinely complex. Expat tax advisors can ensure you benefit from the expat tax regime (30% allowance) if you qualify. Cost is usually deductible as a professional expense.
Lawyer / Legal advisor
€100–350/hour. Free legal aid (pro-deo) is available for those below income thresholds — apply at the Bureau d'Aide Juridique at any courthouse. How to find: The Belgian bars (orde van advocaten / barreau) maintain official registers: advocate.be (Flanders), avocats.be (French). For expat-specific legal needs: the Association des Juristes Internationaux de Bruxelles (AJIB) and many EU-area law firms specialise in expat, employment, and immigration law.
Advocate.be (Flemish bar)Avocats.be (French bar)CCBE (Council of European Bars)
💡 For rental disputes, use the justice of the peace (vredegerecht) — a simple, affordable system. For employment disputes, the Labour Tribunal (arbeidsrechtbank) is fast and cheap with union support.
Notary
Fees are set by royal decree and are degressive: approximately 1–1.5% of the transaction value for property sales. Fixed fees for wills and company deeds. How to find: All notaries are regulated by the state and charge fixed fees. Find a notary at notaris.be (Flanders) or notaire.be (French-speaking). Most notaries in Brussels work in both Dutch and French; some also in English.
Notaris.be (Flemish notarial council)Notaire.be (French notarial council)FEDNOT (Belgian national notarial federation)
💡 You do not need to use the same notary as the seller in a property transaction — appoint your own. You receive a separate notary at no extra cost (fees are shared). For company formation (BV/SRL), the notary is mandatory.
Immigration lawyer / relocation consultant
€150–300/hour for legal advice. Relocation packages (commune registration, school search, housing): €1,500–5,000 depending on scope. How to find: Immigration lawyers specialising in expat and non-EU matters are available in Brussels. The Ciré (for non-EU non-profit assistance), ADMIT (Brussels), and commercial relocation firms such as Crown World Mobility, BGRS, and Cartus operate in Belgium.
EuroDroit (EU immigration law)IAMM (International Association for Migration Matters)
💡 Non-EU nationals going through the Single Permit process benefit significantly from professional help — the process involves multiple regional and federal authorities and can take 4–8 months.
Financial adviser / wealth planner
€150–400/hour for independent advice; ongoing fee-based retainer: €2,000–6,000/year. How to find: Independent financial advisers in Belgium must be registered with the FSMA (Financial Services and Markets Authority — fsma.be). Many Brussels-based firms specialise in expat financial planning, international pension transfers and cross-border investments.
FSMA — Autorité des services et marchés financiers (fsma.be)IFA Belgium (international tax and financial planning)
💡 Belgium has a complex system of investment income taxation and wealth planning. Particularly important for UK/US pension transfers, stock options from multinational employers, and cross-border inheritance planning. Always verify FSMA registration before engaging — unregistered "advisers" cannot legally offer investment advice in Belgium.
Sworn translator / interpreter
€60–150 per document page depending on language pair and urgency How to find: Find a sworn translator registered with a Belgian court at just.fgov.be (Justice portal) — search by language pair. Sworn translations are legally recognised in Belgium.
CITl (Chambre belge des Traducteurs, Interprètes et Terminologues)
💡 Only translations by court-registered sworn translators have legal standing in Belgium. Essential for birth certificates, marriage certificates, diplomas, and other official documents from non-Dutch/French/German-speaking countries.
Professional Services
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