Moving to Brussels:
the complete expat guide
Brussels is the capital of the EU and one of Europe's most international cities — and one of its most bureaucratic to land in. These guides walk you through the order things actually happen: registering with your commune, getting your National Register Number, finding a flat, opening a bank account, joining a mutuelle, and understanding what you really take home after Belgium's famously high taxes.
Free tool · 2026
Brussels Salary Calculator
First steps
Arriving
A place to live
Housing
Money & tax
Banking & Money
Staying well
Healthcare
Work & career
Work & Career
Everyday life
Daily Life
Schools & study
Education
For your community
Country-Specific Guides
More on the way
More Brussels guides are being added — utilities and tenant rights, itsme and transfers, choosing a commune, freelancing, and international schools. Our Nordic relocation guides cover the same ground for Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland.
Send money home without the bank markup
Most Belgian banks add a 3–5% hidden margin on the exchange rate when you send money abroad. Wise uses the real mid-market rate with a small, transparent fee shown upfront — so more of your money actually arrives.
- ✓ Hold EUR, GBP and 40+ currencies in one account
- ✓ Get a euro IBAN the day you sign up — before your Belgian bank is open
- ✓ Wise debit card works in Belgium and across the EU
Referral link — we may earn a reward if you sign up. It doesn't affect your fees.
Cover the gap before your mutualité cover starts
Healthcare in Belgium runs through a mutualité / ziekenfonds you join after registering with your commune — your cover does not start the day you arrive.SafetyWing covers that gap with affordable travel-medical insurance you can start before you arrive and cancel once you're in the system.
- ✓ Covers the gap before your mutualité cover begins
- ✓ Monthly subscription — cancel anytime once you're covered
- ✓ Designed for remote workers and new arrivals abroad
Affiliate link — we earn a small commission if you sign up. It doesn't affect your price.