Moving to Brussels involves a specific sequence of administrative tasks. Do them out of order and each step gets harder. Here's the most logical sequence, with what you'll need for each.
1. Find housing first
Everything else — bank accounts, registrations, mobile plans — requires a Belgian address. Sort your apartment before anything else. If you need a fully furnished, all-inclusive option with a flexible lease, look specifically for providers who allow domiciliation.
Note: standard Brussels leases run a minimum of one year (often three). If you're here for a temporary assignment, look for furnished rental operators who offer 3-month minimums with English-language contracts.
2. Register at your commune (domiciliation)
Within eight days of your arrival, submit a registration request at your local commune. You'll need your passport or national ID, your lease, proof of health insurance, and proof of status (employment contract, traineeship letter). Book your appointment immediately — wait times run up to three months in some communes.
3. Open a Belgian bank account
Schedule an appointment with a Belgian bank: BNP Paribas Fortis, Belfius, KBC, or ING are the main options. You'll need your passport and lease agreement. Your NISS number (from domiciliation) will also be required — another reason to start that process first.
4. Get a mobile plan
Belgian providers include Orange, Proximus, Scarlet, Base, and Mobile Vikings. Most require a passport and lease. Mobile Vikings and Base tend to offer the most competitive rates for international SIM cards.
5. Sign up for health insurance
Health insurance (mutualité/mutualiteit) is mandatory in Belgium. Major providers: Partenamut, Mutualité Socialiste, Mutualité Chrétienne. If you come from an EU country, your EHIC card provides temporary coverage, but you'll need to register with a Belgian mutualité for long-term stays.
6. Explore and settle in
Once the administration is handled — which typically takes two to four weeks from arrival — you can focus on actually getting to know Brussels. The city rewards curiosity: the neighbourhoods, the food, the cycling infrastructure, the cultural calendar.
Rent indexation
If you sign a traditional Belgian lease, be aware that rents are index-linked and typically increase annually. All-inclusive furnished apartments often provide more predictable costs over a stay's duration.
