Business travellers and other foreign nationals arriving in Belgium for a stay of up to 90 days no longer have to queue at the local town hall to register their presence. A 4 October notice on the TLScontact visa-application portal confirms that the arrival declaration—legally required within three days unless the visitor is staying in a hotel, hospital or prison—can now be completed entirely online through the “My Address in Belgium” (MAB) platform. The change builds on the European Entry/Exit System (EES), which became fully operational on 10 April 2026 and already captures biometric data at the external border. Under the new procedure, travellers log into the MAB portal with the reference number on their Schengen visa (if applicable) or with passport details and complete a short form listing contact information and the Belgian address where they will be staying. Confirmation is generated instantly and can be stored on a smartphone or printed as proof of compliance. Municipal administrations will still accept paper declarations for those unable to use the digital channel, but processing times are expected to be longer. For companies moving staff into Belgium on short assignments, the online declaration eliminates a frequent administrative pain-point: getting employees to city halls that often have limited appointment slots. Immigration advisers say the digital tool should reduce the risk of fines—currently up to €200—for late or missing registrations. It also creates an auditable record that can be supplied during social-inspection audits. The MAB upgrade is another step in Belgium’s broader digital-by-default drive. Since July the Immigration Office has required that Single Permit renewals be filed through the Working in Belgium portal, and Brussels Airport has installed 61 self-service kiosks that feed data directly into the EES back-end. Taken together, the measures are designed to give authorities real-time visibility of non-EU nationals’ movements while offering travellers a smoother experience. Practically, employers should update their arrival check-lists and instruct travelling staff—especially those staying in private apartments or with colleagues—to submit the MAB form immediately after entry. Failure to comply remains a breach of the Aliens Act and can complicate future visa or permit applications.
Source: TLScontact (Belgium visa portal)
