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11. Moving to Brussels

Brussels at a Glance

Moving to Brussels

Expatriates move to Brussels for many reasons.

Most expats moving to Brussels find it relatively easy to settle in this international city, which is not only the capital of Belgium, but also one of the “EU capitals”. With many international as well as intergovernmental organizations moving to Brussels since the end of WW2, the city has become a major center for international politics. Numerous journalists, diplomats, politicians, military personnel, and civil servants from across the globe move to Brussels every year, creating a metropolitan flair in this city of just over a million inhabitants.

Moving to Brussels: General Overview

The weather in Brussels is not fantastic: People moving to Brussels will encounter a temperate climate, with relatively cool summers and winters, although temperatures rarely drop below zero. However, expats moving to Brussels should be prepared for quite a lot of rain all year round. While it is not the greenest city in Europe, Brussels does have quite a few public gardens, parks, and forests, to be enjoyed on a sunny day.

Foreigners moving to Brussels should be aware of the city’s bilingual status, which is reflected in its complicated system of government and administration. As one of Belgium’s three administrative regions, the Brussels Capital Region unites 19 municipalities, most of which are predominantly French-speaking.

Brussels is also the administrative seat of both the French and the Flemish Communities: This causes confusion not only to foreigners moving to Brussels, but also to long-standing residents. Public administration is organized on various levels, as competencies are spread across regional, communal and municipal bodies, or sometimes a mixture of all three. New-comers should allow spending some time after their move on finding their way through the bureaucratic maze.

Move to Brussels: Visa Requirements

EU citizens (including the Swiss) do not require a visa to move to Brussels. Most other nationalities probably require a visa when moving to Brussels, although certain countries benefit from a visa waiver agreement. To find out whether you need to apply for a visa before you move to Brussels, please check with the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

Application forms for both long-term and short-term visaneed to be completed and sent to the nearest Belgian mission in advance of your move to Brussels. Please note that additional documents must be submitted with your application, depending on the type of visa you need for moving to Brussels.

Moving to Brussels: Schengen Visa

A Schengen visa grants third-state nationals limited access to all 25 member states of the Schengen area. These include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden plus Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland.

“Limited access” means that one’s stay in the Schengen area is limited to 90 days. There are, however, no restrictions to the purpose of your stay. A Schengen visa can be used both for business and vacation.

Moving to Brussels: Applying for a Schengen Visa

Together with your application form, you need to submit your passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond the duration of your stay), 2 passport photographs, a travel or health insurance certificate and evidence of sufficient financial means to support yourself. For business visits, a letter of invitation from a Belgian company outlining the purpose and duration of your stay is also required.

It takes 3 to 4 weeks to process a Schengen visa application, and you must pay an administration fee of €60. Once the visa has been granted, you will be asked to present a valid return ticket for your journey.