Belgium is home to one of Europe's longest-established Turkish communities: the Schaerbeek and Saint-Josse districts of Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent, Liège and the Limburg region have been welcoming people from Turkey for decades. Today that flow is joined by professionals working at the EU institutions and NATO, students at the universities of Leuven and Ghent, and logistics staff around the port of Antwerp. Moving household goods from Turkey to Belgium is a document-driven process built on EU customs standards; prepared correctly, your belongings arrive at your new home tax-free within 5-9 days. In this guide we explain the relief conditions, the documents, the delivery details specific to Brussels and Antwerp, and the process from start to finish.
EU Duty-Free Relief: How Belgium Applies It
Belgian customs (Douane et Accises / Douane en Accijnzen) applies the EU Duty Relief Regulation: anyone transferring their normal residence from outside the EU to Belgium may import their used household goods without paying customs duty or the 21% VAT. The conditions are the same as in other EU countries:
- Normal residence outside the EU for the last 12 months,
- Goods used for at least 6 months,
- Import within 12 months of the date of settlement,
- No transfer of ownership for 12 months.
A note specific to Belgium: the relief application is supported by your municipal registration (inschrijving / inscription) and your residence document (annexe/bijlage or ID card); our customs broker lodges the application through the PLDA system.
Required Documents
- Passport and Belgian D visa, residence card (A/B card) or, for EU-institution staff, the special ID card
- Municipal registration or tenancy agreement + employment/school contract
- Proof of residence in Turkey for the last 12 months
- Item list (in English, French or Dutch; box number, contents, quantity, value)
- Power of attorney (for the export formalities in Turkey and the import formalities in Belgium)
- Invoices for any new items
For EU-institution and NATO staff, an "attestation" issued by the employer is also added to the relief file; with this document the process moves faster.
The Process from Turkey to Belgium and Transit Times
- Survey and quote — an item list or a video survey.
- Document preparation — relief file, item list, power of attorney.
- Packing and loading — at your address in Turkey.
- Export from Turkey and T1 transit — Kapıkule – the Balkans – Austria – Germany – Belgium.
- Belgian customs — relief declaration at the Antwerp, Brussels (Zaventem) or Liège customs office; 1-2 working days.
- Delivery — delivery to your door, furniture assembly and removal of packing materials.
5-9 days by groupage, 4-6 days with a dedicated vehicle. Regular departures on our Belgium route; our Frankfurt warehouse serves as a staging point for Belgian distribution.
Delivery in Brussels and Antwerp
- External furniture lift (lift / monte-meubles): The staircases in Brussels' old "maison de maître" townhouses and Antwerp's narrow terraced houses are too tight for large furniture; an external lift is planned during the survey.
- Parking permit: In Brussels each commune (Schaerbeek, Ixelles, Saint-Gilles…) issues its own no-parking sign permit (panneaux d'interdiction de stationnement), applied for 1-2 weeks in advance. In Antwerp and Ghent a "parkeerverbod" is obtained from the city.
- LEZ (low-emission zone): Vehicles must be registered in Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent; our fleet is registered and compliant.
- Language: Brussels is bilingual, Flanders is Dutch-speaking and Wallonia French-speaking; we prepare the paperwork in the relevant language.
Who Needs Which Documents? Three Typical Profiles
EU-institution / NATO staff
The attestation issued by the employer and the special ID card form the basis of the relief file; municipal registration is not usually required. In Brussels districts such as Etterbeek, Ixelles and Woluwe, the no-parking sign permit is obtained from the commune. This profile has the fastest process.
Professionals arriving on a work visa
The application is made with a single permit or D visa, an employment contract and a tenancy agreement; the municipal registration (inschrijving) is completed within 1-4 weeks and added to the file. Lift and parking problems are rare in the new-build developments of Antwerp and Ghent; townhouses may need an external lift.
Students
For students heading to the universities of Leuven, Ghent, Brussels (ULB/VUB) and Liège, a student visa, admission letter and kot (student room) contract are sufficient. Since the volume is usually 3-8 m³, groupage is the most economical option; for hall-of-residence deliveries, times are arranged with the hall management.
Moving Timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 6 weeks before | Item list, quote, choice of mover; copies of visa/permit documents |
| 4 weeks before | Relief file, loading date; parking permit application to the commune |
| 2 weeks before | Packing, setting aside prohibited items, recording electronic devices |
| Loading week | Empty and defrost appliances; keep documents and valuables with you |
| Arrival | Municipal registration, being present at delivery, delivery report |
What Determines the Cost?
- Volume (m³) and the choice between groupage and a dedicated vehicle
- Professional packing
- Delivery conditions: external lift, parking permit, floor level
- Customs services: export declaration, T1, Belgian relief declaration
- Insurance and interim storage
Prohibited and Restricted Items for Belgium
- Prohibited: Meat and dairy products, fresh food, plants/soil, weapons, fireworks.
- Restricted: Alcohol and tobacco (outside the relief), prescription medicines, dry food in limited quantities.
- Electricity: 230V/50Hz, Type E sockets; Turkish plugs are compatible.
Case Study: A Family Moving from Gaziantep to Brussels
A family starting work at an EU agency in Brussels wants to bring the contents of their four-bedroom home in Gaziantep. The relief file is prepared with the employer's attestation, the tenancy agreement and the D visa; the item list is drawn up in French. Volume 27 m³, dedicated vehicle. Loaded at our Gaziantep warehouse, the vehicle lodges its declaration at Brussels Zaventem customs on day four; on day five the goods are delivered to the flat in Etterbeek using a no-parking permit obtained from the commune and an external lift. Tax due: zero.
Why REG Transport?
- More than 12 years of experience; regular departures on the Belgium route.
- Our own vehicle fleet; warehouses in Istanbul, Gaziantep, London and Frankfurt.
- We prepare the relief file and the multilingual item list ourselves.
- A single point of contact, a transparent quote, CMR cover plus optional full-value insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
I haven't completed my municipal registration yet; can I still ship my belongings?
Yes; the application is made with your tenancy and employment contracts, and the registration certificate is added later.
How long does it take to ship household goods from Turkey to Belgium?
5-9 days by groupage, 4-6 days with a dedicated vehicle.
My home in Antwerp is on the 4th floor and the staircase is narrow.
Furniture is brought in through the window with an external lift; it is planned at the survey and shown separately in the quote.
I also want to bring new furniture.
It travels in the same vehicle; new furniture requires 21% VAT and a separate declaration (0% customs duty with an A.TR certificate).
Let's Plan Your Move to Belgium
Send us your item list and receive a written quote the same day. Service details: international household removals, and more guides on our complete guide to moving household goods abroad.
