ExpatWomen thanks Expatriate Online for supplying the following Settling In Tips for Belgium . This is only a small summary to help you get acquainted with your new country.
Nationals from the European Economic Community countries can enter and live in the country without a visa. Nationals from Andorra , Iceland , Liechtenstein , Malta , Monaco , Norway , San Marino and Switzerland (who are not visiting Belgium to take up an economic activity) may enter and exit the country as they wish and do not require a visa. An ID card or passport is enough to allow a person to enter Belgium and remain there provided his or her stay is regularized with the municipal authorities.
A national of a non-European Union country who wishes to remain in Belgium for over three months requires a visa.
To get a visa to Belgium, one must visit the Belgian consulate in the last country of residence and get an application form. There is a list of documents required and usually these documents must be translated by a certified translator. There is also a visa application fee .
Please contact the Belgian Embassy in your country to ensure you have the correct paperwork to enter and live in the country.
You must register at your local city hall - within eight days of arrival for EU citizens and three days of arrival for non-EU citizens. There is a list of documents required and usually these documents must be translated by a certified translator. There is a registration fee. Once registered, you will receive a Belgian Identity card, which must be renewed annually. It is essential that you carry it or a copy with you at all times, as the police may ask to see it.
Please contact the Belgian Embassy in your country to ensure you have the correct paperwork to register with the authorities.
Living costs on average in Belgium are not that much different from the United States and Canada and are considerably less than the UK and a number of other European countries.
Most residential phones are connected to the Belgacom or the Telenet system which charge by the minute for all local and regional calls. Although their long distance rates are continually being reduced as the market becomes more competitive, many expatriates subscribe to a specialized long distance services. One long distance service that has been in business since the telephone industry was deregulated in 1999 is Phone-Plus. The GSM market in Belgium is very competitive with three major suppliers competing for the market.
There are annual taxes for television and radio in Wallonia but they are slowly being discontinued. Cable television and Sky Digital satellite services are available.
The Belgian postal service ( La Poste / De Post) is very reliable. A first class letter is usually delivered the next day to any address in the country.
The market for electricity and gas has recently been deregulated similar to the way that the telephone market was deregulated a few years ago. However the former monopolies of Electrabel and Sibelgas are still the main providers of these services.
Houses and apartments are available for rent and for purchase.
The best neighborhoods in the Brussels Region are generally considered to be in Uccle and the Woluwe communes although excellent housing can be found in most communes of Brussels Region. The most popular communes for expatriates outside Brussels are Waterloo , Overijse and Kraainem near Brussels and Schilde and Brasschaat outside of Antwerp .
Most expatriates chose to rent rather than purchase their home or apartment. Monthly rent can run from €500 for a basic studio apartment to €8-€10.000 for a 4 or 5 bedroom executive home. The best way to get a feel for the type of housing available and the cost is to visit a housing site such as www.immoscan.be and search for properties where you think you would like to live. Many of the descriptions are in English. It should not be difficult to find suitable accommodation.
There are numerous temporary accommodation facilities or flat hotels located primarily in the Brussels Region.
Three official languages: French, Flemish (which is similar to Dutch) and German. English-speakers should have no problem, as English is widely spoken. It is preferable to speak English to Flemish-speaking people and not French.
The best way to exchange money is at a bank or foreign exchange office. It is important to carry some cash with you as some places do not accept credit cards. Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) are available at all major banks.
Common forms of payment:
Cash
Cash cards (Proton cards)
Debit cards (Mister Cash/Bancontact)
Credit cards (Visa, Eurocard, Diners Club, American Express)
The most common card in Belgium is the Mister Cash/Bancontact card, which is a card linked to your current bank account. This card is accepted at department stores, supermarkets, gas stations and restaurants. The Mister Cash/Bancontact is a good complement to other cards as there are many places in Belgium that do not accept credit/debit cards.
Your bank card can also be used as a rechargeable electronic purse and may be used to pay for items such as newspapers and cigarettes, as well as items in the supermarket or bakery. It can also be used to pay for gas and parking. The card is recharged via a cash dispenser using a four-digit PIN code. You can load the card with up to 1240 euros, which are taken from your current bank account.
Pre-authorized debit is an efficient way of paying gas, water and electricity bills. By this method, your bills are automatically deducted from your bank account. The various utility companies can help you with the arrangements.
Additionally, a bank transfer/payment slip (red and white) - found at the bottom of almost all Belgian bills - is filled in, signed and handed in at your bank before the due date of the bill.
All of the major banks have an Internet banking facility.
There are many international schools where English is the main language for learning (from preschool to University level). Parents who speak French at home may choose an international school, French-speaking private school or a French-speaking local school for their children.
People drive on the right hand side. The legal driving age is 18. If you have an EU driver's license, you can exchange it for a Belgian one at your local city hall.
A US driver's license is acceptable if you are staying less than 90 days. Certain countries, including the United States and some provinces of Canada , have reciprocity agreements with Belgium whereby citizens can exchange their local driving license for a Belgian license. In this case, no test either written or driving is required. Otherwise, you may have to pass a driver's test to get a license in Belgium.
Brussels has a good motorway system. There are no toll roads in the country.
It is quite easy for an expat to get automobile insurance in Belgium. If you have a good driving record in your most recent country of residence, you should request a copy of your record from your insurance company so that you can get the best rate in Belgium.
Brussels has an extensive public transportation system covering the entire city. A single ticket covers the metro, bus and tram system. A commuter train ticket into the city also includes the bus, tram or metro to get you to your ultimate destination.
Belgium has an extensive railway network and the trains have been known to run on time fairly often. Although it is the most sensible way to commute to Brussels and Antwerp , the system is not used as much as it should be resulting in major rush hour traffic problems in both cities. The Thalys high speed train is a faster and less expensive way to travel to Paris and Amsterdam than by air. The Eurostar runs from Brussels to Waterloo station in London with a stop in Lille , France.
For the most part, groceries cost about the same in Belgium as in North America and most other countries. Most of the products that are available in your country are probably available in Belgium. Some of the major grocery stores maintain an ethnic section where specialty foods are stocked. Also there are a number of ethnic specialty stores located throughout Belgium. One store, Makro, is the Belgian equivalent of Sam's Warehouse or the Price Club in the United States and can generally is counted on to have the lowest prices in Belgium.
Grocery Stores: Carrefour, GB, AD Delhaize, Aldi and Nopri.
Household Stores: IKEA, Hema, Blokker, Casa, Habitat and Maison Boulanger.
There is no specific dress code for men, women or children in Belgium. Certain religious schools may have a school uniform requirement. Casual dress at work is probably more common than in the United States .
Household help is readily available in Belgium ranging from housekeepers to foreign nannies to au pairs. Gardening services are also readily available.
Brussels is well known for having the headquarters for NATO and the European Union. There are many multinational corporations with offices in Belgium.
A spouse is permitted to work if he or she has a work permit. You do not need a work permit if you are from an EU-member state or EEA country (except Switzerland ) or you are married to a citizen of an EU-member state.
Obtaining a work permit is not very easy. Spouses are most likely to find work with the help of an employment agency or through personal contacts.
There are over 150 organizations in Belgium that welcome expatriates as members.
Belgian cuisine is considered by many to be better than French cuisine. There are numerous restaurants in every price range and cuisine. Eating out is a very popular pastime in Belgium.
The most popular sports are soccer (referred to as football in Europe ), tennis, swimming and horseriding. There is a U.S. style baseball league in Belgium as well as numerous North American football and rugby teams.
It is seldom too cold or too hot. The average temperature is between 0 to 6 degrees Celsius (32 to 43 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter and 13 to 21 degrees Celsius (54 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer.
Expatriate Clubs
American Women's Club of Brussels http://www.awcb.org/club/awcb/index.cfm
The objective of the AWCB is to organize a center for philanthropic, social and cultural activities for its members; to engage in welfare and cultural activities which will contribute to closer Belgo-American understanding; and to foster fellowship for the American women resident in Brussels and environs.
American Women's Club Antwerp http://www.awcantwerp.org/
The American Women's Club of Antwerp was set up to create a center for social, cultural and philanthropic activities for American women in the Antwerp area.
Antwerp British and International Women http://www.abiw.org/
The Antwerp British and International Women was founded to provide a centre for expatriates to participate in social, cultural and charitable activities. Our aim is to provide a friendly meeting place for English-speaking women. In addition, members are able to learn something about Antwerp and assist others who have recently arrived.
British and Commonwealth Women's Club of Brussels http://www.bcwcb.org/
The BCWCB was founded in 1963 and has over 450 members. It provides opportunities for its members to meet each other, to pursue hobbies and interests or, to take up new ones and to help newcomers settle into their new community.
International Women's Contact Antwerp http://www.iwca.be/
IWCA is an international club which was founded by ladies who had lived abroad and knew from experience the importance of friendship. The "club language" is English. The club is non-political, non-religious and non-commercial. IWCA provides activities for its members such as art classes, book discussion, bridge, cinema visits, coffee mornings, conversation, craft, cuisine, excursions, gardening, mah-jong, needlework, swimming, walking/cycling and yoga.
Irish Club of Belgium http://www.irishclub.be
To promote Ireland in Belgium and to serve the Belgo Irish Community
THE WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL CLUB OF BRUSSELS http://www.wicbrussels.com/
Founded in 1981 in Brussels, the Women's International Club seeks to foster goodwill, friendship and understanding amongst members of all countries through cultural and recreational activities and to welcome and assist newcomers to Belgium.
General Links
AWAY Magazine http://www.awaymagazine.be
Magazine for international families living in Belgium. Magazine available in hard-copy, but website also has lots to read.
Belgium expats http://www.xpats.com/
Expatriates living in Brussels have at least two sites that I know of to choose from.
Expatica http://www.expatica.com
Living in, moving to, or working in Belgium, plus Belgian news in English
Professional Women International - Brussels http://www.pwi.be/
Professional Women International (PWI) is a Brussels-based, multi-national networking forum for women in business. Founded in 1991, PWI is a non-profit, dynamic organisation dedicated to fostering professional and cultural contacts for businesswomen with different national, cultural and professional backgrounds.
ufbe Union francophone des Belges à l'étranger http://www.ufbe.be/ L'association au service des Belges francophones à l'étranger. Le site de la mobilité internationale des Wallons et Bruxellois expatriés et de ceux qui envisagent l'expatriation.
Local News in English
Looking for Work
Looking for Work in Belgium
Looking for work in another country requires more than just the obvious CV translation. You will be confronted with issues
that probably didn't even cross your mind when you decided to go for an international career, but don't underestimate
the big impact they can have on the outcome of your adventure! Think for example about the different rules and
habits regarding immigration, job application procedures, the selection procedures and the management culture.
Immigration/Visas and Permits
Accommodation 
