Where I Can Live
Flag of Belgium

Europe · Dutch, French, German · updated 2026-10

Moving to Belgium: visas, cost of living & citizenship

A single person needs about $2,400 a month to live in Brussels, and a family of four about $5,300, including rent. Belgium usually lets you apply for permanent residence after 5 yrs, with citizenship after 5 yrs, and dual citizenship is allowed. You can move here without a job offer through the Professional card.

Monthly budget
$2,400
Moderate cost
Safety
66
Safe
Stability
73
Stable
Family
78
Excellent
Main city
Brussels
Language
Dutch, French, German
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed
Digital nomad visa
Yes
What can your passport do in Belgium?Pick your nationality to see your exact access, visit rules and personal score.
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Cost of living in Belgium, per month in US$

One person
$2,400
Family of four
$5,300
RentGroceriesTransportUtilities & internetEating out & leisureOther
1-bed flat, Brussels centre
$1,100
Estimate
3-bed family flat
$2,050
Estimate
Price level
87
US = 100
Income per person
$4,958
GNI ÷ 12, World Bank

Safety

Safety score
66
Safe
Homicides per 100k
1.08
US 5.8 · UK 1.0 · Japan 0.2

Political stability & governance

Political stability+0.17
Rule of law+1.27
Control of corruption+1.36
Government effectiveness+1.32
−2.5 weak0strong +2.5

Worldwide Governance Indicators, World Bank. Stable overall (73/100).

Family-friendliness

Family score
78
Excellent
Child outcomes (HCI)
0.76
Health & schooling, 0–1
Under-5 mortality
3.7
per 1,000 births
Life expectancy
82.3 yrs
at birth
Health spending
$5,931
per person / year
Education spending
6.3%
of GDP

Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

Visa & residence routes

Remote work
Professional cardSelf-employed residence for viable business plans.
Job offer
Single permit (highly qualified)Regional salary thresholds, roughly €50,000–60,000+ a year.
Job offer
EU Blue CardDegree and a qualifying salary.

Who gets easier access to Belgium

EU/EEA free movement: you can live and work here with simple registration.

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Visiting: 93 passports can visit visa-free, 0 with an electronic travel authorisation, 0 get a visa on arrival, 0 can apply for an eVisa and 105 need a visa in advance (Passport Index dataset).

Road to permanent residence & citizenship

ArrivePRCitizen024681012+ yrs
Permanent residence
5 yrs
Citizenship
5 yrs
Dual citizenship
Allowed

Last checked 2026-10. Official source: dofi.ibz.be/en

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to live in Belgium?

About $2,400 a month for one person and $5,300 for a family of four in Brussels, including rent. A city-centre 1-bedroom flat costs around $1,100 a month and a 3-bedroom around $2,050. Prices are 87% of US levels. Belgium is the 57th cheapest of the 76 countries in the index.

Is Belgium safe to live in?

Belgium scores 66/100 for safety (safe), ranking 43rd of 76. The homicide rate is 1.08 per 100,000 people (US 5.8, UK 1.0, Japan 0.2).

Is Belgium politically stable?

Belgium scores 73/100 for stability (stable), ranking 24th of 76, based on the World Bank's indicators for political stability, rule of law, control of corruption and government effectiveness.

Is Belgium good for families?

Belgium scores 78/100 for family-friendliness (excellent), ranking 25th of 76. Life expectancy is 82.3 years and under-5 mortality is 3.7 per 1,000 births. Spouse and children can join on most work and residence permits, and spouses can usually work. Public schooling is free; international schools are common in the capital.

How long does it take to get permanent residence in Belgium?

Usually 5 yrs of legal residence.

How long until I can become a citizen of Belgium?

Usually 5 yrs of residence. Dual citizenship: allowed.

Can I move to Belgium without a job offer?

Yes. Professional card: Self-employed residence for viable business plans.

Does Belgium have a digital nomad visa?

Yes: the Professional card. Self-employed residence for viable business plans.

Who can live and work in Belgium without a visa?

you can live and work here with simple registration. (EU / EEA free movement: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.)

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See also: cheapest countries to live · safest countries · most stable countries · best countries for families · where citizens of Belgium can move