Moving to Brussels from the UK in 2026 is a short trip on the map, but since Brexit it is an international move with customs, residence registration and a border check on the way. Here are seven practical tips from our removals and customs team to help your move to Brussels run smoothly.
1. Check your right to live in Belgium before you book the van
UK citizens are now non-EU nationals in Belgium. A visit is limited to 90 days in any 180 under Schengen rules. If you are moving to work, study or join family, you will usually need a long-stay D visa from the Belgian embassy before you travel. Sort this first: your removal date should follow your visa, not the other way round.
2. Register at your commune within 8 days
Brussels is made up of 19 communes, and each one runs its own registration desk. Non-EU nationals must report to the commune where they live within eight days of arrival (some communes count working days, so check yours). Bring your passport with visa, your lease and passport photos. A local police officer will visit to confirm your address, and you are then entered in the foreigners’ register and given a residence card.
Keep the certificate of residence the commune gives you. You will need it for customs relief on your household goods.
3. Use transfer of residence relief to avoid duty and VAT
Your belongings can enter Belgium free of import duty and 21% VAT if you are moving your normal residence from outside the EU and you meet the conditions:
- you have lived outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months;
- you have owned and used the goods for at least 6 months;
- the goods are for your own personal use;
- you import them within 12 months of setting up residence in Belgium.
Alcohol (beyond a small personal stock), tobacco, commercial vehicles and equipment for your trade are not covered. New items under 6 months old may be charged duty and VAT.
4. Prepare a proper inventory
Belgian customs expects a signed, dated and valued inventory of everything in the load, with serial numbers for electrical items. Add your passport copy, the certificate of residence from your commune and proof that you lived in the UK for the last 12 months (a tenancy agreement, council tax bill or employer letter). Without these papers, customs can ask for a guarantee until the documents arrive. Our customs inventory guide shows what to list.
5. Plan the crossing and the EES check
Most removal loads to Brussels cross Dover–Calais or the Channel Tunnel and reach Brussels in around 4 hours from the French coast. Since the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) started, non-EU travellers have their fingerprints and photo taken at the border on the first crossing, so allow extra time if you travel with the van. Read our European removals after Brexit checklist for the full list of documents.
6. Book parking and check access in your street
Many Brussels streets are narrow, with trams, cycle lanes and limited loading space. Your commune can issue a temporary parking reservation for the removal van, usually with a few days’ notice. If you live in an older townhouse or an upper-floor flat, ask about stairs, lifts and whether a furniture lift is needed. This keeps moving day on schedule and avoids parking fines.
7. Choose the right load size
A one-bedroom flat often fits a shared part load, while a family home usually needs a dedicated van or a van and trailer. Part loads are cheaper but follow a set route and timetable. A dedicated van gives you a fixed collection and delivery date. If you are unsure, read part load or full van to Europe or ask us for a quote with both options.
Moving to Brussels with MoveDay Removals
MoveDay Removals moves homes between the UK and Belgium, door to door, and prepares the customs paperwork for your belongings in the same booking. Tell us your address, your Brussels commune and your moving date, and we will send you a free quote. See our international removals and customs for removals pages, or request a free quote.
Official sources: GOV.UK – Living in Belgium, FPS Finance – moving from a non-EU country to Belgium.
Website: https://movedayremovals.com
Phone: 07378 626882
Email: office@movedayremovals.co.uk