The Expat Welcome Desk provides administrative assistance to the international community in Brussels through a dedicated and customized service. The EWD team is an independent public service offering a one-stop-shop for expats as part of commissioner.brussels.

Why work with us

We help international Brusselers resolve the administrative challenges they face in their daily lives. Our multilingual services are free, and we work with both new arrivals and those who have lived in Brussels for some time. You can discuss your issues with us by email, on the phone, or during a face-to-face appointment at our office near Schuman or our antenna in the European Parliament.

The EWD does not offer formal legal advice or representation, but we have deep knowledge of Brussels and a useful network of administrative contacts at local, regional and federal level. The most common issues that people contact us about are:

· Rental contracts

· Personal income tax

· Registering with the municipality

· Import of vehicles

· Family reunification

· Work permits

· Visas

· Social security issues

· Second resident tax

We arrange presentations and visits to large employers in the international sector, such as the EU Institutions, but all expats and employers in Brussels can contact the EWD directly. We also offer seminars and webinars on topics relevant to expat life throughout the year and we send a monthly newsletter with tips and tricks for life in Belgium.