Book your home internet before you move, and keep your current phone working until you have a Belgian number. Those two steps prevent the most common problem when moving to Belgium: weeks without a proper connection. The rest follows in a fixed order: register at your commune, get a Belgian SIM card or eSIM, then set up itsme, the app Belgians use to log in to their bank and government services. Each step unlocks the next one, because your national register number, your Belgian phone number and your identity card all depend on each other. This checklist puts every step in the right order and tells you what to bring.
Your checklist at a glance
Step | When | What you need |
|---|---|---|
Keep your current phone working | Arrival day | EU roaming or a travel eSIM |
Register at your commune | First days or weeks | Passport or ID card, rental contract |
Get a Belgian SIM card or eSIM | First week | Passport or ID card |
Book home internet | 2 to 5 weeks before you move in | Your new address |
Set up itsme | After you receive your Belgian card or bank account | Belgian card or bank account, Belgian number |
Step 1: Keep your phone working on arrival day
Keep your current SIM active for your first weeks in Belgium. You will need it for bank codes, messages from your employer and your landlord, and the map to your new home. With a plan from another EU country, the roam like at home rules let you use it in Belgium at no extra charge, but only for periodic travel, so a provider can add surcharges once you actually live here. From outside the EU, roaming can be expensive from the first megabyte. In that case, install a travel eSIM before you fly. An eSIM is a digital SIM card that gives you mobile data on a local network, while your usual number stays active next to it.
Step 2: Register your address at the commune
Register at the commune, or gemeente in Flanders, where you live. This is where you receive your national register number, the personal number Belgian banks, employers, doctors and many telecom providers ask for. The deadline depends on your nationality and your permit, so check it with your commune. After you register, a local police officer usually visits to confirm you live at the address, and you then receive your Belgian identity card or residence card. This can take several weeks, which is exactly why your phone and internet setup should not wait for it.
Step 3: Get a Belgian SIM card or eSIM
Get a Belgian number in your first week. You do not need a national register number for that. A prepaid SIM card in Belgium is sold in supermarkets, newsagents and provider shops, and you can identify yourself with a passport or European ID card, because Belgian law requires every prepaid card to be linked to an identity document. Most providers also offer an eSIM, which you install by scanning a QR code, so you do not have to wait for a card in the mail.
A subscription usually comes later, because many providers ask for more before you can sign up:
What to compare | Prepaid SIM card or eSIM | Subscription |
|---|---|---|
What you need | Passport or European ID card | Often a Belgian address, a Belgian bank account or your national register number |
When | Your first week | Once you are registered |
Commitment | None, you top up when you want | A monthly bill, sometimes a fixed contract period |
When you compare offers, look at more than the monthly price: check how much mobile data you get, which countries are included when you travel, and how long you are committed to the contract.
Step 4: Book your home internet early
Contact internet providers two to five weeks before you move in, and earlier if the building has never had a connection. A technician usually has to visit to connect the line, and a brand new connection can take six to eight weeks. When you compare internet providers in Belgium, first check which networks reach your exact address, because that decides which offers you can actually choose from.
Use mobile data until the line is ready
Use your phone as a hotspot while you wait. Light use needs far less data than most people expect:
What you do | Typical data use |
|---|---|
3 to 5 MB per hour | |
Under 1 KB | |
Email and web browsing | 50 to 100 MB per hour |
WhatsApp video call in HD | Up to 480 MB per hour |
Streaming a film in HD | About 3 GB per hour |
Daily total: maps, messages, two hours of browsing, one hour of video calls | About 700 MB |
Weekly total | Roughly 5 GB |
Streaming is what quickly uses up your data, so keep films and series for when your home internet is installed.
Step 5: Set up itsme
Set up itsme once you have your Belgian identity card or residence card, or a bank account at a Belgian bank that supports it. itsme is not available in the week you land with only a foreign passport. You also need a mobile number to receive the activation code, and a Belgian number is the standard option, which is another reason to get one early. After that, one app gives you access to your bank, your tax return, your health insurance fund and most government websites.
Moving house within Belgium?
Use the same checklist with fewer steps. Report your new address to your commune within eight working days of moving, then tell your internet provider two to five weeks in advance, so the line at your new address is ready when you arrive. Your gsm number does not change when you move, but it is a good moment to check whether your plan still fits your needs. You can keep your number when you change mobile providers, and for home internet the Easy Switch procedure lets your new provider cancel the old contract for you.
Setting up should be the easy part
Sort your connection first, because every other step in a new country depends on it. Firsty is building telecom that works for you, not against you: no SIM card to swap, no bundle to buy before you travel, no roaming setting to remember and no surprise bill, with the same number wherever you are. Every connection Firsty sells also connects someone in Belgium who needs it, not as charity, but as how the business works. Things are moving, so keep an eye on what Firsty is building and discover more at Firsty.app.
FAQ
Can I get a Belgian SIM card without a national register number?
Yes. You can buy a prepaid SIM card or eSIM in Belgium with a passport or European ID card, because the law only requires your identity to be registered. Subscriptions often ask for a Belgian address, bank account or national register number.
What is the national register number in Belgium?
The national register number is the personal identification number every registered resident of Belgium receives. You get it when you register at your commune, and it appears on your Belgian identity card or residence card. Banks, employers, doctors and many telecom providers ask for it.
Do I need a Belgian phone number for itsme?
In practice, yes. itsme sends an activation code by text message, and a Belgian number is the standard option, although some foreign numbers can work. You also need a Belgian identity card or residence card, or an account at a supported Belgian bank.
How long does it take to get home internet in Belgium?
Usually two to five weeks from your request, depending on the provider and whether a technician has to visit. If your address has never had a connection, allow six to eight weeks, so contact providers as soon as you know your new address.
Does my foreign phone plan work in Belgium?
A plan from another EU country works in Belgium at no extra charge under the roam like at home rules, but only for periodic travel, not permanent use. A plan from outside the EU can be expensive in Belgium, so a travel eSIM or a Belgian prepaid SIM is the better option for your first weeks.
Can I use an eSIM in Belgium?
Yes. All major Belgian mobile providers offer eSIM, and most recent smartphones support it. Check first that your phone is on the list of eSIM supported phones.
How much mobile data do I need while I wait for home internet?
About 5 GB a week covers maps, messages, web browsing and a daily video call. Streaming films or series in HD uses around 3 GB per hour, so leave that for when your home internet is installed.
