Moving to Belgium – household goods free of import duties, transport from a single source

The conditions set by the FÖD Finanzen (Federal Public Service Finance) for duty-free removal goods are listed above. Less well known is that in Belgium not everything is handled by the same office, and that the exemption must be expressly applied for. Knowing this lets you separate household goods and vehicles more effectively in terms of timing and prevents a single document from holding up the entire move at the end.

Apply for the exemption rather than receiving it automatically

According to the Belgian government portal, you can usually import your personal belongings without paying duties, but you must apply for the exemption from taxes and customs duties. For ordinary household goods, the head of the customs office at the place of import is generally responsible. The inventory list is therefore not just a formality but the basis of this application.

If anything changes during the restriction period – for example because a piece of furniture is to be sold or lent out – the FÖD Finanzen requires, according to its guidance, that customs be informed in advance.

Car, motorbike, motorhome, boat: regional responsibility

For motor vehicles and their trailers, motorbikes over 50 cc, motorhomes, leisure boats, light sport aircraft and other goods with special import conditions, belgium.be states that the director of the regional centre for customs and excise is responsible – specifically the centre for the area in which you have your new residence.

For your move, this means two separate procedures: household goods are cleared at the customs office of import, while the vehicle goes through the regional centre at your new place of residence. If you are bringing a motorhome or boat, it is best to clarify the procedure before the date for the furniture transport is fixed.

Commune, pets and protected species

According to the FÖD Finanzen, you must register with a Belgian commune (municipality) within 8 days of arrival. The commune can then issue a document confirming your move – for example to present to customs. Plan your visit to the commune early, so the proof is available when customs asks for it. Also keep the deregistration confirmation from your Swiss municipality of residence; together, the two documents show without any gaps when your residence changed.

For pets and for plants or animals of protected species, the Belgian health service refers to CITES documents when moving from outside the EU. On the Swiss side, the BLV (Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office) lists a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a pet passport for dogs, cats and ferrets.

Checklist for Belgium

• Apply for the household goods exemption at the customs office of import, enclosing the inventory list.
• Register vehicles, motorhome or boat with the regional centre for customs and excise at your new place of residence.
• Register with the commune within 8 days and ask for the confirmation of your move.
• Clarify CITES documents in advance for protected animal and plant species.
• In Switzerland, declare the export during opening hours at a customs office that handles commercial goods (BAZG).

During the free on-site survey we also clarify the vehicle size and the parking space at your new home. The information from the FÖD Finanzen is authoritative; check details with Belgian customs in advance. For neighbouring countries, see removals to Luxembourg or removals to the Netherlands.

Frequently asked questions

Who packs household goods for Belgium so that customs can follow the contents?
Our packing service, for the whole household if you wish. We pack room by room, note the room and contents on every box and transfer this directly to the list for customs. That way the paperwork and the load match, in case someone in Belgium wants to look inside individual boxes.

How do furniture and a motorhome travel separately to Belgium without holding each other up?
By keeping the two routes apart from the outset: the removal van takes the household goods to the customs office of import, while your motorhome, boat or motorbike goes through the regional centre at your new Belgian residence. We only fix the loading day once you know the vehicle appointment, so nobody in Brussels or Ghent is left waiting for a missing document.

Where does the removal van park outside a city flat in Antwerp, Ghent or Liège?
As close as possible to the building entrance, planned on the basis of your details about the street, floor and lift. If the street is narrow or the way to the door is long, we allow for a smaller vehicle, a longer carrying distance or, if necessary, a furniture lift. We protect the stairwell and floors in the Belgian flat just as we do when moving out.

What matters most when my first working day in Brussels is already fixed?
Planning backwards from your start date: first the delivery day in Brussels is set, then the loading day, export and the start of packing. If the new flat is not yet available, your household goods stay in our dry, alarm-protected warehouse until then. On request we hand over the Swiss flat cleaned while you are already settling in at your new workplace.

When is it wiser not to take a piece of furniture to Belgium at all?
If you plan to sell, lend or rent it out in Belgium soon. Goods imported duty-free are tied up there for a certain period, and you would have to notify customs of any changes in advance. It is simpler to sort out such items while still in Switzerland: we take them away on moving day and dispose of them properly, which also saves loading space.

What applies to a piano moving from Switzerland to Belgium?
We transport it as part of your move using piano dollies, tension straps and protective blankets; in Switzerland piano transport starts from CHF 250.–, and for Belgium we quote the effort individually. The instrument appears on the inventory list, and we handle customs clearance on both sides completely.

What budget certainty is there for a move to Belgium – cost ceiling or flat rate?
Both, depending on your preference. With a cost ceiling, we charge according to actual effort but never exceed the agreed maximum amount. The flat rate is a total amount agreed in advance for the defined scope. Both are fixed after the free survey, once volume, floors and access in Switzerland and Belgium are known.