How to start a business in Belgium as a foreigner (2026)

Belgian company law places no nationality restriction on shareholders or directors, and 100% foreign ownership is permitted across sectors. Since 1 July 2023, however, non-EU investors acquiring ≥25% of voting rights (or ≥10% where the target had >€100m turnover) in Belgian entities active in sensitive sectors (defence, energy, critical infrastructure, health, digital, etc.) must file an ex-ante notification with the Interfederal Screening Committee.

The private limited company (BV in Dutch / SRL in French) is the standard vehicle and, since the 2019 Code reform, has no legal minimum capital — founders instead must file a substantiated two-year financial plan showing adequate starting equity. The public limited company (NV/SA) still requires €61,500 minimum share capital; branches of foreign companies are also available.

Standard sequence: (1) open a Belgian bank account and deposit any subscribed capital; (2) draft articles of association and the financial plan; (3) sign the notarial incorporation deed (the notary files it with the commercial court registry and the Belgian Official Gazette); (4) register the company at an accredited enterprise counter (guichet d'entreprises / ondernemingsloket) to obtain the 10-digit CBE/KBO enterprise number; (5) activate the VAT number with the FPS Finance; (6) affiliate with a social-insurance fund for the self-employed and obtain any sector-specific licences.

Nationals from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who wish to act as self-employed persons or as managers/partners of a Belgian company must obtain a regional professional card (beroepskaart / carte professionnelle) from Brussels, Flanders, or Wallonia. The initial card is generally granted on a probationary basis (often two years, renewable up to five), assessed on the project's economic, cultural or social value, and requires a business plan; standard fees are €140 for filing plus €90 per year of validity.

Once documents (articles of association, financial plan, bank certificate) are ready, notarial incorporation plus CBE and VAT activation is typically completed in 5–10 business days; full end-to-end formation of a BV/SRL usually takes 3–6 weeks. Notary and gazette fees for a straightforward incorporation commonly fall in the €1,600–€2,300 range, on top of ongoing accounting and social-insurance affiliation costs.

Companies must maintain a Belgian registered office (a domiciliation address is acceptable), appoint at least one director, keep double-entry accounts, file annual accounts with the National Bank of Belgium, and file UBO information with the Ultimate Beneficial Owners register at the FPS Finance. Sector-specific licences (e.g., FSMA authorisation for financial services, FASFC/AFSCA for food) apply on top of general company law.