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Helpinformation fromfor theBritish Belgiancitizens government

For any questions about moving to or living in Belgium,Belgium. youRead mayabout behow ableour toconsulate get help from the:

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Read thegeneral travelguidance adviceon formoving Belgium to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visitretiring Belgium.abroad.

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Belgium recognisesYou dualshould citizenshipcontinue with the UK.process Thisto meansget thatyour ‘M’ card if you do not yet have toit.

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• contact your localcommune/gemeente municipalityif (‘commune’you orhave ‘gemeente’)
• contactstarted the Belgianapplication Embassyprocess inbut London

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application.

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Residency88 if80 you moved to Belgium before 1 January 2021

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If youyour movedapplication tois Belgiumsuccessful, beforeyou 1will Januaryreceive 2021,your and‘M’ havecard, beenvalid legallyfor living5 thereyears. sinceIf then, you andalready your family members have rightspermanent underresidency, theyour Withdrawal‘M’ Agreement.

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years.

‘M’ cards

IfYou youmust movedrenew toyour Belgium before 1 January 2021, make sure you have an ‘M’ card.card Thiswhen showsit thatexpires. youContact haveyour rightscommune/gemeente under the Withdrawal Agreement. Read the Belgian government’s Brexit guidance for more information. information.

UnderTo thebe newexempt digitalfrom Entry/Exitregistering Systemwith (EES),the you’llEU’s needEntry anExit MScheme card(due orto otherstart validin residenceAutumn document2024) whenBritish enteringresidents orin leavingthe Belgium.EU Annexwill 22be ofrequired theto Schengenshow Bordera Codeuniform-format (PDF,biometric 1062KB)card explains which residenceis documentslisted areas accepted.

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If area.your Withoutapplication one,is yourefused, mayyour berefusal wronglyletter, identifiedknown as overstaying‘annexe/bijlage in59’, thewill Schengentell areayou andhow denied entry to Belgiumappeal.

If oryou otherhave Schengena countries.

‘P’ andor ‘S’ cards

card

If you were resident in Belgium with a special‘P’ residenceor permit‘S’ (‘P’card or(a ‘S’special card)residence permit) before 1 January 2021, you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Agreement. You can choose to register with your localcommune/gemeente municipality (‘commune’ or ‘gemeente’) and getobtain athe new M‘M’ residency card.

Read the Belgian government’s guidance on special residence permit holders.

IfLate youapplications

The dodeadline notfor haveapplying afor residencethe document

If‘M’ youcard werewas living31 inDecember Belgium2021. beforeYou 1can Januarystill 2021,apply butif doyou not have areasonable residencegrounds document,for youmissing mustit, applyand forshould ado residenceso card.as You’llsoon needas topossible. submitContact evidenceyour commune/gemeente to proveask thatabout youthe metprocess. theApplications residencywill criteriabe atconsidered theon time. an individual basis.

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IfYour yourclose applicationfamily ismembers successful,continue you’llto getbe aable residenceto cardjoin calledyou anand Msettle card.

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• travelusing urgentlyyour withoutEU youror BritishEFTA passport

passport.

If you havestay in Belgium with a Belgian residence cardpermit or long stay visa, thethis time you spend in Belgium does not count towards theyour 90-day visa-free periodlimit youfor can spend in the Schengen area.

AlwaysIf carryyou yourvisit passportother andSchengen residencearea cardcountries whenoutside entering,Belgium, leavingmake orsure travellingyou withindo the Schengennot area.exceed Ifthe you’revisa-free asked90 todays showin yourany passport180-day atperiod. borderYou control,are makeresponsible surefor youcounting alsohow showlong youryou residencestay cardunder orthe otherSchengen evidencevisa ofwaiver, residenceand status.you Yourmust passportcomply maywith beits stampedconditions.

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EuropeanThe EU Entry/Exit System (EES)(EES)

UnderIn Autumn 2024, the EU will introduce a new digital Entry/Exit System (EES)(EES). Non-EU therenationals, areincluding newUK rulesnationals, forvisiting entering,the leavingEU orwill travellingneed withinto the Schengencreate area.a Non-EUdigital nationalsrecord willwhen needentering tothe haveEU’s theirSchengen photoZone. andThis fingerprintsincludes takenproviding orbiometric verifieddata (fingerprints and facial image) at the border.

If Thisyou dataare willa beUK storednational with residency rights in athe digitalEU recordSchengen andZone usedyou towill monitorbe howexempt longfrom EES registration, visitorsif you have spentthe incorrect documentation. View the SchengenEU’s area.frequently asked questions about the EES.

BritishIn nationalsBelgium, legallydocuments residentthat inallow Belgium,exemption andinclude whoall haveforms aof valid residence cardcards oras otheragreed residenceunder document,the doterms notof needthe toWithdrawal registerAgreement with(M Cards) or the EES.Schengen Border Code. You can find the list of documents for Belgium in Annex 22 of the Schengen Border Code. (PDF,Any 1062KB)other explainsvalid whichresidency residencepermit documentsissued by any other EU member state will also mean that you are accepted.

exempt. If you arehave legallyone residentof inthese Belgiumdocuments, butyou dowill not haveneed ato residenceregister document,for contactthe yourEES localwhen municipalitytravelling.

If (‘commune’you orwere ‘gemeente’)living forin informationBelgium onbefore how1 toJanuary get one.

2021

ForWhen moreyou informationtravel, aboutcarry theyour EES,residence read:

• EUcard guidance(‘M’ oncard) theor EES
• guidancefrontier onworker thepermit EES(‘N’ forcard) UKissued nationals

Healthcareunder the Withdrawal Agreement, in Belgium

addition to your valid passport.

ReadYou ourmust guidanceproactively onshow moving,your livingresidence document, or retiringother abroad.evidence Thisof coversresidence howstatus, to:

• planif you are asked to show your healthcare
• takepassport medicineat abroad

Asborder acontrol. resident,If you musthave registerapplied withfor, abut healthnot insuranceyet fundreceived, (‘mutuelle’your orresidence ‘ziekenfonds’)card, toshow accessyour certificate of application (annexe/bijlage 56 for the healthcareresidence systemcard inor Belgium.annexe/bijlage 57 for a frontier worker permit).

To findbe outexempt howfrom toregistering getwith medicalthe treatment:

• readEU’s guidanceEntry onExit healthcareScheme (due to start in BelgiumAutumn and2024) healthBritish residents in Belgium
• read the BelgianEU government’swill guidancebe onrequired healthto andshow sociala securityuniform-format entitlements
• findbiometric English-speakingcard medicalwhich facilitiesis andlisted doctorsas fora Britishresidency nationalsdocument inunder Belgium

Workingthe inWithdrawal Belgium

ReadAgreement. ourFor guidanceresidents onof moving,Belgium livingprotected orby retiringthe abroad.Withdrawal ThisAgreement, coversthat workingcard abroad,is includingthe documentsM-Card.

If you maycannot needprove fromthat theyou UKare government.

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lawful residence.

ThisIf is because you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

ToAgreement, applyyou forcan enter and exit Belgium with a job,valid youpassport. mayYou do not need toany provideadditional a:

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• Belgianthe criminalpassport recordsbeyond certificate,the dates on which you canare requesttravelling.

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Ifform youof liverecognised inID, Belgiumsuch as an EU ID card) and wereyour regularlyresidence commutingdocument towith workyou inat another EU orall Europeantimes. FreeM Tradecards Associationare (EFTA)not countryconsidered beforeID 1documents. JanuaryMake 2021,sure readyou guidancehold foryour frontieroriginal workers.

Recognitiondocuments ofand qualifications

Ifnot youjust wanta tocopy. workYou inmay Belgium,be fined if you maydo neednot tohave getthese yourdocuments foreignwhen qualificationsasked recognised.by the authorities.

Driving in BelgiumHealthcare

Read our guidance on moving,healthcare livingin Belgium and retiringmake abroad.sure Thisyou coversare howcorrectly to:registered for your circumstances.

• drive

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• getcover drivinghealthcare licencecosts letters

if you live overseas.

TheYou Federalmust Publicregister Servicewith ofa Mobilityhealth andinsurance Transportfund provides(mutuelle/ziekenfonds) informationto onaccess drivingthe healthcare system if you are resident in Belgium,Belgium. includingIf howyou to:

• exchangeare working, both you and your drivingemployer licence
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mutuelle/ziekenfonds.

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Working in Belgium

YouIf cannotyou replaceare orplanning renewto anymove ofto theseBelgium licencesand ifwork, you livemay need a visa. Read the Belgian government’s guidance on working in Belgium.

ExchangingBelgium as a UK,foreign Gibraltarnational orand Islehow ofto Manget drivinga licence

visa.

To continueapply drivingfor aftera 185job days, you mustmay exchangeneed yourto drivingprovide licencea:

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YouIf canyou applywork forin theBelgium, exchangeeven beforeif theyou 185work daysfor isa over.UK-based Applicationscompany, this may takeaffect timewhere toyou process,pay andNational you’llInsurance-type needcontributions. yourRead Belgianthe licenceNational toinsurance driveand legally. social security contributions section for more information.

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Professional qualifications

IfYou thismay isneed theto case,get your professional qualification recognised if you canwant applyto forwork in a Belgianprofession licencethat asis aregulated non-EUin national.Belgium.

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• recognition of professional qualifications
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• how

If toyou getwere aliving drivingin licenceBelgium before 1 January 2021

If the relevant regulator in Wallonia

howBelgium toofficially recognised your professional qualification before 1 January 2021, or you started the recognition process by this date, make sure you understand the terms of your decision. You should get aadvice drivingfrom licencethe inrelevant Brusselsregulator.

Studying capitalin region

Belgium

YouIf willyou needplan to passstudy ain theoryBelgium, andyou practicalmust drivingmeet test.all visa requirements before you travel.

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YouContact maythe berelevant ablehigher education provider in Belgium to applycheck for:what fees you may have to pay.

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If you were living in Belgium before 1 January 2021

You have athe UKsame Blueright Badgeto andaccess liveeducation in Belgium,Belgium youas mustBelgian returncitizens itas tolong theas originalyou UKwere issuinglawfully authority.resident before 1 January 2021.

Tax

ReadThe ourstudying guidancein onthe moving,European livingUnion orguidance retiringincludes abroad.information Thisif coversyou tax,were includingalready payingliving UKin taxBelgium andbefore National1 Insurance. January 2021.

Tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Belgium so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact Ask the Federalrelevant Publictax Serviceauthority Financeyour for any questions about double taxation relief.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in BelgiumBelgium.

Read guidance on:

• tax if you leave the UK to live abroad.
• tax Toon doyour this,UK findincome anif English-speakingyou lawyerlive abroad
• tax if you get a pension and live abroad
• paying income tax in Belgium.

• EU factsheet on buying goods online from UK websites

Declaring your assets

All residents must declare assets outside Belgium, including:

• including bank accounts
• securities
• insurance
• accounts, securities, insurance, annuities
• property

and property. The declaration is separate to the annual tax return.return, Thereand there are severe penalties and criminal charges if you do not do this.comply.

All non-residents musthave a legal obligation to file an annual Belgian tax return if they receive income, including a pension, from Belgium.

National Insurance

insurance and social security contributions

CheckNational ifInsurance-type youcontributions need(NIC) toare paycalled National‘social Insurancesecurity contributions’ (SSC) in Belgium. Find out if you’reyou goingneed to workpay National Insurance in the EU,UK Gibraltar,or Iceland,social Liechtenstein,security Norway,contributions orin Switzerland.Belgium.

Pensions

Claiming

If youryou UKplan pension

Readto ourmove guidanceto onBelgium moving,and livingwork, oreven retiringif abroad.you Thiscontinue covers:

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ClaimingUK aworking Belgianin pension

Contact the FederalEEA Pensionsor ServiceSwitzerland

You tocan findcheck outyour whetherUK youNational canInsurance claim a pension in Belgium.record

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving,entitlement livingto orUK retiringbenefits abroadand pensions. Thiswhile coversyou howare toliving claimin Belgium.

Check which UK benefits abroad,you includingcan Childclaim Benefit. while abroad and how to claim them.

YouMany canincome-related alsobenefits readsuch guidanceas onpension benefitscredit and pensionshousing forbenefit UKcannot nationalsbe inpaid theto EU,you EEAif oryou’re Switzerland.abroad for more than 4 weeks.

Claiming Belgian benefits

You may be entitledeligible tofor some Belgian benefits.

To findFind out if you’reyou eligibleare entitled to Belgian benefits and how to claim:claim them:

• read theabout Belgian government’s guidance on social security in Belgiumbenefits
• read guidance on the BelgianEuropean socialUnion’s securityguidance systemon (inclaiming English,benefits French,in Germanan andEU Dutch)country
• contactspeak to a social worker (assistant social/maatschappelijk werker) at the public welfare centre of your local municipality (‘commune’(commune/gemeente) or ‘gemeente’)(CPAS/OCMW)

Buying and renting property in BelgiumPensions

Read our guidance on moving,entitlement livingto orUK retiringbenefits abroadand pensions. Thiswhile coversyou buyingare andliving rentingin property abroad.Belgium.

ContactRead anState English-speakingPension lawyerguidance if you have lived in BelgiumAustralia, ifCanada you’reor consideringNew buyingZealand propertyand you are claiming or land.

Votingwaiting into Belgium

claim your UK elections

State Pension.

ReadIf ouryou guidanceretire onin moving,Belgium, livingyou can claim:

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Children

Read ourbefore guidancebeing onable moving,to livingexchange oryour retiringdriving abroad.licence. You Thiscan coverscontinue movingto abroaddrive with children,your including:

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licence.

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ForRead morethe information,EU read guidance on howthe to:EU parking card for people with disabilities.

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ChildcareDriving outside Belgium with a Belgian licence

EachYou can use your Belgian communitylicence governmentwhen isvisiting responsiblethe forUK. earlyKeep childhoodup-to-date educationwith andthe careUK Highway Code.

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Voting

YouIf canyou alsohave readbeen theresident Europeanin Commission’sBelgium guidancefor on:more than 5 years, you can vote in local elections if you:

• earlyregister childhoodon educationthe andmunicipal careregister inwhere theyou Flemish communitylive
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• earlyconfirm childhoodyour educationstatus every 2 to 5 years to remain registered and carebe able to vote

You cannot vote in thefederal German-speakingor communityregional elections in Belgium or European Parliament elections.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Belgium, you can register the birth with the BelgianUK authorities.authorities Readin guidanceaddition onto birthsregistering inlocally. Belgium.

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• register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
• apply for youra child’s first British passport
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Deaths

ReadIf oursomeone guidancedies onin moving,Belgium, livingread orour retiringguidance abroad. This covers:on:

• what to do after someone dies abroad
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You may also need:

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Marriages

the andBritish civilCharitable partnerships

Fund

Pets

ReadIf ouryou’re guidancemoving onto moving,Belgium livingwith oryour retiringpet, abroad.read Thisthe coversguidance howand toensure getyou marriedcomply orwith formthe a civil partnership abroad. regulations:

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• marriagetaking inyour Belgiumpet abroad
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Divorce

To andvisit separation

Readother ourcountries guidancewith onyour moving,pet, livingcheck orthe retiringrules abroad.for Thisthe coverscountry howyou’re travelling to. Contact your vet to get athe divorcetravel ordocuments endyour apet civil partnership.needs.

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Emergencies

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If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Brussels.

Returning to the UK

Tell the Belgian and UK authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently.

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently. Thiswhich includes information onon, bringingamongst familyother membersthings, backbringing tofamily themembers, UK, tax and access to services.

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