Come to Belgium for the waffles, but stay for the lush green hills, rich Western European culture and beautiful architecture predating the country's Dutch rule. The official languages in Belgium are Dutch, German and French, making the country a true melting pot of European culture.
Whatever your reasons for relocating to Belgium, whether it's for employment, family or a change of scenery, you'll need to be properly prepared when entering the country through customs. Here's what you need to know when preparing to travel to Belgium from the United States:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
When you relocate to another country, the process of entering through customs and declaring your shipment of goods is more involved than if you were staying for a week or two. In addition to the usual documents required when traveling abroad (passport, visa, etc.) there are also several more important documents that you'll need if you're going to be relocating to Belgium:
- Passport (copy including the page with customer's signature)
- Work Permit
- Certificate of Residence (original) obtained from the local Belgian town hall
- Change of Residence Certificate (for Belgian nationality)
- Proof of cancellation of residence abroad
- Lease Contract or Renting Voucher
- Indemnity/insurance documents
- Inventory in English, French, Dutch or German
- Must be accompanied by an official statement for the Customs Administration (copy available from the destination agent upon request)
- Must be original and five copies, valued, signed and dated by customer
- Weapons must also be listed on the inventory with the manufacturer's name, type of weapon, serial number and caliber (customer should be able to produce permit issued in country of shipment)
- All electrical appliances must be noted, with serial numbers
- For shipments originating from a non-European Community country, a certificate is required stating that the customer has resided outside the European Community for at least 12 months prior to arrival in Belgium (certificate issued by the Belgium Consulate at the place of origin) or employer in country of origin or branch office in Belgium.
- For company moves, a signed and stamped declaration from the employer confirming that the transfer is required
- Contact address and telephone number of customer must be listed on documents
- If all documents are not available, a bank guarantee must be paid. (Refund of guarantee will be issued upon presentation of required paperwork within the next six months)
SHIPPING AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Customs regulations are always changing--if you're bringing a large shipment of household goods to Belgium, make sure that you're well-versed in the current rules and guidelines for people entering customs.
Here are some of the customs regulations currently in place for people entering Belgium:
- Non-European residents who intend to take up permanent residence in Belgium may import their household goods and personal effects including an auto, motorcycle, or pets duty and value added tax-free providing:
- The customer has lived at least 12 months consecutively out of Europe prior to the move
- The household goods and personal effects must have been owned and used a minimum of six months prior to the move
- Foreigners without a Certificate of Residence in Belgium must pay a warranty of 10% for Customs duties
- Used household goods may be imported in several separate shipments; however, the declaration of duty-free entry must be completed for all shipments at the time of the first importation.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Before you move to Belgium, take a moment to familiarize yourself with the prohibited items in the country. The following items are prohibited from entry into Belgium through customs and may be seized upon arrival:
- Ivory and other animal products; complete list must be obtained by customer from Belgian Consulate in advance of packing of shipment
- Drugs and narcotics
RESTRICTED ITEMS
While the items on this list are not completely prohibited from entering the country through customs, there may be a tax or duty placed on them upon arrival, or other restrictions. The following items are dutiable and/or restricted:
- Alcohol, tobacco products and foodstuffs
- New items (less than six months old) subject to duty
- Firearms and weapons (subject to a special license)
- Electronic/electrical equipment/appliances coming from non-European countries may require modifications in order to use them in Belgium
- Telephones and fax machines generally do not need modifications, but do require approval by Customs
- Plants and vegetable products must have Phytosanitary Certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture in the country of origin
- Presents and souvenirs subject to duty
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
If you're relocating to Belgium, you may want to have a car with you in your new country. If you already own a car and are considering shipping it to Belgium, you should pay close attention to the motor vehicle regulations.
If you will be shipping your car to Belgium, the following guidelines and regulations will apply:
- Duty-free entry if owner had possession of the vehicle for at least six months prior to entry into Belgium and if sales and value added tax were paid in country of origin
- Vehicle must meet Belgium specifications and all safety requirements
- Documents required:
- Original Registration or Title (specifying make, model, year, type, chassis, engine and license plate numbers)
- Original Purchase Invoice
- Original license plate from previous country
- Proof of payment of sales tax
- Valid European Green Liability Card
- Proof of insurance abroad valid for at least six months prior to arrival in Belgium
- Proof of European/Belgian insurance
- Copy of passport with signature page
- Proof of residence abroad for 12 months prior to arrival in Belgium
- Statement from owner that he will not sell or trade the vehicle for at least six months after final clearance
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
It always helps to have a companion by your side when you're beginning life in a new country--you can enjoy the comforts of home as you get accustomed to living abroad. However, first familiarize yourself with the pet regulations in Belgium, as well as the documents you'll need to clear customs:
- Certificate of Vaccination
- Certificate must be dated at least 30 days, but not more than one year before the entry into Belgium
INTERNATIONAL MOVES
International moves require much more preparation and planning than other moves. In addition to securing the services of an international moving company, packing your belongings and planning your moving budget, you must also consider the customs regulations that have been put in place by your destination country. These regulations often vary from country to country and are subject to change.
To help you prepare for your move, we've provided you with a few helpful links to help you learn more about the complicated international moving process: