Check the conditions to start an enterprise in Belgium

In order to exercise a self-employed activity, you must meet certain prerequisites regarding:

  • Individual legal requirements
  • Nationality and the exercise of a specific profession in Belgium
  • The activities you wish to perform in your enterprise

Conditions regarding the individual

  • You must have the legal majority of 18 years of age.
  • You must not be declared legally incompetent or placed under judicial supervision.
  • You must enjoy civil and political rights.
  • You must not have been banned from performing acts relating to a self-employed professional activity.

Conditions regarding nationality and the exercise of a specific profession in Belgium

  • If you are a professional from an EU Member State, the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you do not need a professional card to exercise your activity in Belgium. However, given that certain professions are regulated, you will, first, need to check whether your professional qualifications are recognized in those professions.
  • If you do not have Belgian nationality, the nationality of one of the Member States of the European Economic Area or Swiss nationality, you must be in possession of a professional card to be able to exercise a self-employed activity in Belgium (unless you are exempt).

Conditions relating to the activity