Residency by investment in Belgium is not awarded according to a minimum investment value or a very specific programme with conditions for company innovation or real estate investments, as may be the case in other European states. Instead, foreign entrepreneurs have the option of making an investment such as opening a company and creating jobs, with a value that can vary.
The Belgian programme for acquiring residence following investment is also influenced by the area in which the foreign national will choose to establish the business or make the investment itself. This is because the country is divided into three regions (Brussels-Capital, Wallonia and Flanders) that may impose their own conditions and will evaluate the investment proposal.
Working with our Belgium immigration lawyer is relevant in the context of residency by investment, perhaps even more so than in other situations, such as when seeking employment. Understanding the conditions for foreign investment and company formation (when applicable) is relevant in this case and, together with these, the foreign entrepreneur must also comply with the visa and the Belgium residence permit application requirements.
For those interested in moving to Belgium permanently in 2024, an investment such as opening a accompany or starting a self-employed business that offers essential services, can be a gateway towards acquiring Belgian citizenship after the minimum residency time has elapsed.
In this article, our team summarizes the main issues to take into consideration when interested in residency by investment in Belgium. For more details, or information on a particular business or investment project and its value, please reach out to our Belgium immigration specialists.
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What are the ways to acquire residency by investment in Belgium?
As previously mentioned, a unified residency by investment programme is not formally in place in Belgium. However, foreign investors enjoy the same rights as local ones and are allowed to open a company or make a significant investment in an existing Belgian business, thus proving their investment ties with the country and being eligible for a type D visa, the one that allows foreign nationals to reside in the country for long-term purposes.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Special residence permit dedicated to investors (Yes/No) | No |
| Types of investments permitted in Belgium for foreign entrepreneurs | The Foreign Direct Investment regime is welcoming, subject to a screening regime. Our team can give you more details. |
| Investment sectors restricted to foreign investors | Certain sectors such as defence, telecoms, transport, critical infrastructure, etc. |
| Time needed to obtain the B Card residence permit for non-EU citizens | 15 days or more |
| Temporary residence permit validity | 1 year or more |
| Documents for obtaining temporary residence | General documents (passport, proof of sufficient income, accommodation) and visa-specific documents (proof of qualifications, investment, etc.) |
| Mandatory registrations with state authorities (i.e. with the population/municipality register) | Yes |
| Dependents can join the temporary permit holder | Family members apply in person for a family reunification visa. |
| Minimum temporary residence before applying for permanent residence | 5 years of continuous residence |
| Documents for obtaining permanent residence | Proof of meeting the lawful minimum residence requirements (previous residence permits) identification documents, photographs, etc. |
| Naturalization requirements | Proof of minimum legal residence, proof of language knowledge (one of the three official languages), proof of integration and social participation in Belgium, proof of economic participation. |
| Citizenship after permanent residence | Subject to meeting the requirements for acquiring Belgian nationality ( |
| Dual citizenship permitted (Yes/No) | Yes |
| Personal income tax rate | Progressive rates between 25% and 50% of the taxable income. |
| Visa free travel to other countries (approx.) | > 120 |
Some of the ways in which investors can acquire residency by investment in Belgium in 2024 are the following:
- Open a company: registering a new company in Belgium is a preferred manner of acquiring residency through investment; there are several business forms available and investors can choose one that will suit their needs.
- Invest in a Belgian company: an alternative to opening a new business is to acquire shares in an existing Belgian company, thus establishing a commercial link.
- Self-employment: an investor starting his own business can choose to do so in the form of a sole trader, the simplest business type; he can then provide services such as business consulting or others.
- Others: investments can also be made in real estate in Belgium, thus establishing the investment ties and proving that the purchased real estate will be further developed, for example, used for renting.
Please keep in mind that these are only examples of the ways in which a foreign national may choose to invest in the country and then apply for a Belgium residence permit based on this business link. Our Belgium immigration lawyer can provide you with more details if you are considering applying for residency by investment in the country.
Gaining citizenship, after residency through investment, can be the main goal of many foreign nationals who invest in the country. Our team can give you complete information about the minimum lawful residence, the conditions concerning one’s financial stability and social integration, as well as other general requirements for citizenship in Belgium, among which we mention language knowledge.
What are the main conditions for foreign investors in Belgium?
In some cases, the value of the investment can be essential for acquiring residency by investment in Belgium. This is especially important when opening a new business in 2024, as there will be numerous costs associated with establishing the legal entity. Below, our Belgium immigration agents list a number of possible investment values:
- 18,550 euros: the minimum share capital for the private limited liability company; please keep in mind that this is to be abolished once the new Companies Code enters into force; we recommend reaching out to our Belgium immigration lawyers for more information;
- 61,500 euros: the minimum capital for the public limited company, a business form suited to larger companies.
Please keep in mind that these costs are only approximate ones and that a substantial investment for residency by investment in Belgium could amount to higher amounts.
How can our Belgium immigration lawyers assist you?
Professional legal aid is often recommended when opening a new business and this is also true for Belgium. The company formation stages, as well as the minimum capital requirements, remain the same throughout the three regions, however, depending on where they choose to base the company, investors will find that the formalities will be handled in either French, Dutch, or German (the three official languages). Our team of Belgium immigration lawyers can help assist you during the necessary submissions with the authorities as well as after the company is incorporated or when you need to renew the residence permit. Foreign investors who have chosen to reside in the country for a minimum number of years to run their business can apply for Belgian citizenship.
According to Statistics Belgium, the country’s non-financial businesses amounted to 721,040 enterprises and 2,989,482 individuals employed. Other data shows that:
- 57% of enterprises and 49% of employees operate within the service sector.
- Trade was the second-largest sector, with 20% of businesses and 22% of jobs.
- Companies in the industry sector were the least numerous, at 6%, but they employ 18% of the workforce;
- As far as the country’s population is concerned, on January 1st, 2023, the total legal inhabitants numbered 11,697,557 individuals;
- The year 2022 saw a pronounced population growth driven by a positive international migration balance (partly due to a large number of Ukrainian immigrants).
Our team offers complete assistance for acquiring a residence permit for Belgium, irrespective of one’s purpose for a medium or long-term stay in the country. Understanding the particular conditions before submitting the application can, in most cases, represent the distinction between having one’s application accepted or rejected for incompleteness. You can reach out to us for more details.
Please contact us for more information on how to apply for residency by investment in Belgium in 2024. Our team can help you apply for the right type of residence permit and then assist you in following through with the investment application.
