Checklist for moving to Belgium: Opening a bank account before you arrive is one job to tick off already!

If moving home is one of life’s major stresses, then relocating abroad adds another level of anxiety to the intricate process.

The mountain of paperwork to scale risks dimming the excitement about the prospect of living a new country. That’s why research, spreadsheets and checklists all become necessary aids to easing the administrative burden.

Explaining Belgium

Belgium may be a small and relatively young country, but it is notoriously complex. Founded in 1830, it is divided up geographically and politically, principally along its language borders.

There is a federal government, three regional governments (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels) and three “community” governments - one for each language group (French, Dutch and German).

While there is a common royal family, national football team, army, justice system and a few federal institution, the two main regions of Flanders and Wallonia largely live in different, almost parallel universes. Meanwhile, bilingual Brussels consists of 19 municipalities, each with their own mayor, their own town halls and their own city councils.

Brussels as the capital is the second most cosmopolitan city after Dubai with a melting pot of cultures thanks to being home to the European Union, NATO and numerous multinational companies. The country’s second metropolis Antwerp also boasts a large international community as a major port city with a long heritage of multinational trade.

Importantly, due probably to its history of being occupied by successive European powers, Belgium is famously hospitable to its influx of expats. Although French, Dutch and German are the country’s three official languages, its unofficial fourth language is undoubtedly English. Now this doesn’t necessarily mean that your local municipality will necessarily speak English. It all depends on who’s behind the counter. In Brussels at least, you can officially choose between French or Dutch.

Setting up a bank account

In addition to deciding where to live and finding a new home, there are a number of steps you can tick off in advance of your move to Belgium. At ING Belgium you can set up a bank account from your home country with foreign ID if you have a work contract of minimum six months and you plan on moving to Belgium within 90 days. You’ll need to provide proof of identity, which could be documents from your home country, as well as an attestation from your employer in Belgium. On arrival, visit a local branch to sign the paperwork.

If you are coming from the Netherlands, France, Germany, Luxemburg or Spain it is even simpler. Download the ING Banking app and open a Do More or Do Basic pack in a few easy steps.

The ING Do More pack is an all-in-one banking solution which comes complete with the following:

• Current account, insurances, up to two contactless debit cards and an optional free VISA classic card for a year
• Innovative app with 24/7 chat function and more than 50 services
• Mobile payments via Apple Google/Pay and Wero
• Advice on savings and investments
• ING + deals: Current account- ING Do More pack - ING Belgium

Obtaining residency

Once you have moved into your new permanent address, you need to register with your local municipality. Your passport is verified and your fingerprints are taken. It is mandatory for a local police officer to visit you in your new home to ensure that you live there. This is a vital step as obtaining a Belgian ID card is necessary to access all services and systems, including health insurance via a mutual fund and signing up for utilities and telecoms.

There is also an obligation to carry in public a national passport of ID card in Belgium for anyone over the age of 15. The resident card that is issued to foreigners in Belgium looks similar to a national ID card but is legally different and does not serve as a legal ID for travel within Europe.

Insurances

Among the various insurances required in Belgium are insuring your home (including mandatory tenants’ liability), personal liability, car (if applicable), travel and additional health cover if you wish. ING Belgium offers insurance policies for your home and your car, which are accessible via the Do More Pack.

Read more about banking with ING here.

More information about the legal conditions of bank accounts and credit cards here.

Photos: (main image) ©Darya Chernokova/Visitbrussels; Royal Palace ©Belgian Monarchy; ING Belgium