Moving to Belgium: Customs Registration & Formalities
Customs and formalities
Duty-free across the border – obligations only after moving in
Customs, registration, car
A move to Belgium needs no customs papers at the border: Germany and Belgium are EU members, and for private household goods there is neither a customs declaration nor import duty. The actual formalities begin after moving in – registration with the municipality, a home visit from the police, health insurance and, if applicable, registering the car. We come from Berlin and bring your household goods as a long-distance move to Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent or smaller towns; you attend the appointments with the authorities yourself.
We pack, transport and assemble; we are liable for your belongings under § 451e HGB at €620 per cubic metre, and additional insurance is available. You do not need an inventory list for customs, but you do for liability and unpacking. On request we store your household goods in Berlin if the new flat is not yet available. What else counts for moves abroad is explained under international move.
Request a fixed price for your move to Belgium
Survey, fixed price, no customs papers
Arrange a survey for your move to Belgium and then receive a fixed-price quote: by phone on 01625978461. We clarify volume, destination and date and tell you which deadlines run after moving in.
Quotes available individually based on workload, scheduling and the desired scope of services.
What we take care of – and what stays with you
Transport by us, paperwork by you
We come from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) and take care of packing, dismantling, transport and assembly for your move to Belgium. We do not have a branch in Belgium. You handle registration with the municipality, the residence check, health insurance and vehicle registration yourself – we tell you in advance in which order these come up. We calculate the furniture transport at a fixed price after a survey. Further destinations can be found in the Locations overview.
Packing Service
Office Move
Senior Move
Furniture Transport
Our range of services
Transparency, reliability and care with your property apply to every move to Belgium: a fixed price after a survey, dates in writing and clear notes on the deadlines after moving in.
No customs stop
Papers in your hand luggage
A clear order
Stay reachable
Storage if there is a gap
Doorbell label on
Move affordably with a part load
For smaller loads we offer a shared load: your belongings travel together with other consignments towards Belgium – also without customs papers. This saves costs but requires some flexibility on the delivery day – ideal for a room in a shared flat, individual pieces of furniture or boxes that follow later.
From
the border crossing to the EU card
When it comes to a move abroad, many people first ask about customs papers – within the EU none are needed. More important are the steps afterwards: how does registration with the municipality work, when do the police come, and what applies to the car and health insurance? We align the transport date with the start of your tenancy so that you can meet the deadlines from moving in.
Planning safe and relaxed
Furniture, boxes, transport routes
Costs, timing and special cases
Frequently asked questions about customs and formalities in Belgium
Customs when moving to Belgium: what really applies
Since Belgium is a member of the EU, there is neither a customs declaration nor import duty for private household goods from Germany. You do not need a list of removal goods for customs; it is still useful for liability and unpacking, especially for valuables. For dogs and cats, the EU pet passport with a microchip and valid rabies vaccination applies within the EU. If you bring a car, you declare it to Belgian customs (e705) after being entered in the National Register, followed by a technical inspection and registration with the DIV.
Register promptly with the municipality of your new home, as this is a prerequisite for the other official procedures; as an EU citizen you receive the registration certificate (Annex 19) and, after the police check, the electronic EU card. A detailed customs declaration with proof of value only concerns moves from non-EU countries.
Process and costs of your move to Belgium
An international move begins with a free survey in which we estimate your moving volume and then give you a fixed price. We then plan packing, the transport date and, if necessary, interim storage in Berlin. The costs of a long-distance move to Belgium depend on volume, the route – around 730 to 800 km from Berlin – and additional services such as furniture assembly. Further details can be found under long-distance moves.
On moving day we pack, transport with two drivers or an overnight stop and assemble in your new flat. You know the price in advance; we state the town's fees for the parking space separately depending on the destination. You transfer phone, internet, electricity and official appointments yourself; we tell you which deadline runs from moving in and which documents you need in your hand luggage.
Price transparency for your move
| Number of rooms | Costs from |
|---|---|
| 1 | €365 |
| 2 | €589 |
| 3 | €889 |
| 4 | €1,269 |
| House/villa | individual quote |
| Long-distance move/km | €3.90 |
All prices are guide prices – for your personal quote, use our free survey.
Factors for the moving price calculation
The decisive factors are above all volume, distance (from €3.90/km), floor as well as a lift and a parking restriction zone. Additional services such as furniture assembly or a shared load increase the total price slightly.
These are the services we offer
The services we offer
For your move to Belgium you can book these services individually or together.
- House clearance (house clearance) – professional clearing
- Shared load (shared load) – flexible and affordable
- Company relocation (company relocation) – for businesses of every size
- Furniture transport (furniture transport) – securely packed and transported
- Private move (private move) – personal and individual
- Move with assembly (move with assembly) – dismantling, transport and set-up
Long-distance moves from Berlin
We plan your move from Berlin (Stromstraße 21) – within Germany and to neighbouring countries such as Belgium, the Netherlands or Luxembourg. In our locations overview you will find places with their own pages, and routes from Berlin under long-distance moves.
Registering in Belgium: municipality, eight working days, police visit
According to the Federal Public Service Interior, anyone who moves their main residence to a Belgian municipality must report this to the municipal administration of the new place of residence within eight working days of the day they actually move in. For households, only the contact person reports, and only if all household members are moving.
The main residence is determined by the actual situation. Factors taken into account include where you return to after work, where your children go to school, where you work, where electricity and telephone are used and where your family usually lives.
As an example of the process for a change of address, the City of Brussels states:
- You report the new address online via "Mon Dossier", via an online form or at the counter without an appointment. Reporting in advance is not possible.
- A police officer then checks on site whether you actually live there.
- The address on your ID card or residence permit is then updated, which according to the city takes about four weeks.
- The city states a fee of 6 euros for this.
When moving in from abroad, further steps may be added; ask your destination municipality. All the steps before and after the move can be found in the checklist for moving to Belgium, and notes on Brussels in the Brussels guide.
Belgium: health insurance, vehicle and taxes after the move
After registration, further official procedures follow. The Flemish government portal summarises for newcomers:
- Health insurance: it is compulsory if you live in Belgium. Anyone legally resident can join a health insurance fund of their choice (mutualité/ziekenfonds). The coming2belgium.be tool explains your social security entitlements.
- Taxes: if Belgium is your main residence, you are subject to Belgian income tax and must file a tax return every year. Anyone who owns property or registers a vehicle in Belgium pays additional annual taxes.
- Work: you should check whether you need a work permit; according to the portal, EU citizens usually do not.
- Integration: newcomers in Flanders are entitled to an integration course.
- Removal goods: the portal points out that import duties depend on the country of origin and the type of goods, and that items for personal use are usually exempt if you can provide proof.
For the car, according to the EU platform Your Europe: on a permanent move, you register the vehicle in the new country and pay vehicle taxes there. Each country sets its own deadlines. Anyone who registers late or does not pay the taxes risks a fine. Clarify the Belgian deadline before the moving date.
Over longer distances we plan the timing of loading and unloading with you so that the end of the tenancy and the key handover fit together. Price factors and the schedule are explained in the guide to costs and planning.
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