Belgium

Western Europe

EuropeEUSchengen

A high-tax EU and Schengen member with a top-tier passport, widely spoken English and strong universities, but case-by-case immigration and tax rules.

Overall score

Good · 95% data coverage

Language

Dutch, French, German

Currency

EUR

Citizenship

5 years

Personal tax

Progressive, up to 50% plus local surcharge

Cost of living

€1,850 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

79Residence12%

76Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

69Salary and work12%

79Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

38Taxes7%

78Business8%

46Investment5%

Daily life

25%

86Quality of life18%

94Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

96Freedom6%

86Rule of law7%

Pros

A top-tier passport
Widely spoken English
Strong universities

Cons

Case-by-case immigration and tax rules

Best for

FoundersStudentsEnglish speakers

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Good

Migrant stock20.0% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality1.24 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Good

Years required	5 years
Dual allowed	Yes
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 5 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Excellent

191 / 198

Mobility

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free144
On arrival38
eTA9
Visa required7

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Good

Output per worker$146,630 PPP (2024)

Unemployment5.9% (2025)

Participation54.3% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees

Overall$6,141 · $7,543 PPP (2024)

Tech (IT & comms)$7,363 · $9,044 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Good

GNI / person$75,620 PPP (2025)

Consumption / person$33,387 PPP (2023)

Price level87 (US = 100) (2025)

Income inequality26.8 Gini (2023)

Inflation2.5% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Limited

Price level87 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	€1,850 / mo (single)
Cities	Brussels, Antwerp, Ghent

Economy

Economic strength

Excellent

Output & income

GDP$725.5B (2025)

GDP / person$60,750 (2025)

GNI / person$75,620 PPP (2025)

GDP growth1.1% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation2.5% / yr (2025)

Unemployment5.9% (2025)

Output per worker$146,630 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture0.7% of GDP (2025)

Industry18.6% of GDP (2025)

Services71.2% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

Chemicals & pharmaceuticalsLogistics & tradeDiamondsFood processingAutomotive assembly

Top exports

Pharmaceuticals & chemicalsVehiclesDiamondsMachinery

Type	High-income, trade- and services-led
Key sectors	Port of Antwerp logistics, Chemicals cluster, EU institutions & services
Summary	A small open trading economy with a major chemicals cluster, the Antwerp port and the EU's administrative hub.
Currency	Euro (eurozone member)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Limited

Personal	Progressive, up to 50% plus local surcharge
Corporate	25%; qualifying SME rate may be 20%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Low

Personal	Progressive, up to 50% plus local surcharge
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Low

Corporate	25%; qualifying SME rate may be 20%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Good

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality1.24 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness1.19 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Moderate

Market cap59% of GDP (2018)

Private credit68% of GDP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Moderate

Salary & work

Good

Business

Good

Investment

Moderate

Tax friendliness

Limited

Cost of living

Limited

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Good

Personal safety

Homicide rate1.1 per 100,000 (2021)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption1.47 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability0.12 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Excellent

Outcomes

Life expectancy82.3 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality3.7 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians3.57 per 1,000 (2022)

Hospital beds5.42 per 1,000 (2023)

Health spending$7,489 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Excellent

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure8.4 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress52.8% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Excellent

Digital infrastructure

Internet use95.8% (2024)

Internet resilience69 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed81 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed75 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access100.0% (2023)

Grid losses4.3% of output (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality4.10 / 5 (2022)

Rail density118.4 km / 1,000 km² (2021)

Air connectivity9,429 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Excellent

Attainment

Expected schooling19.0 years (2023)

Mean schooling12.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment82% gross (2023)

Education spending6.3% of GDP (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	€1,000–8,000 / yr
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Dutch, French, German
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Excellent

HDI0.951 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy82.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling19.0 years (2023)

Mean schooling12.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025