Why can't British Citizen move to Belgium?
Sep 26th 2007, 8:40 pm
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 28
Why can't British Citizen move to Belgium?
Why can't British Citizen move to Belgium?
Hi all
First post around here.
I am a British Citizen (Born in England) with UK passport. 41 years old.
I want to move to Belgium, but after reading around the various web sites it would appear that I would not be allowed to live there.
I'm somewhat confused as I thought EU countries were pretty much a free-for-all for other EU members; not so.
There are a few issues that I've been reading that will prevent me ever being able to settle down in Belgium and make a life there.
Such as, a tiny (and I do mean tiny) police record from years ago; trafic offense and another small GBH incident (self-defence, but broke a guys finger). The police gave me a record for both of them. With this record I cannot get a 'letter of good character' from the police.
Then there is tax issues. I'm self employed and have been building up my business for the past 12 months and have not yet got any tax-return papers that I can show.
There also seems to be a ton of red-tape with regard to English people wanting to settle in Belgium.
I'm somewhat upset over this situation. I'm going to call the Belgium Embassy in London tomorrow to see if they can help.
Can anyone advise me if my hopes of living in Belgium are a total non-starter?
Thanks all.
Hi all
First post around here.
I am a British Citizen (Born in England) with UK passport. 41 years old.
I want to move to Belgium, but after reading around the various web sites it would appear that I would not be allowed to live there.
I'm somewhat confused as I thought EU countries were pretty much a free-for-all for other EU members; not so.
There are a few issues that I've been reading that will prevent me ever being able to settle down in Belgium and make a life there.
Such as, a tiny (and I do mean tiny) police record from years ago; trafic offense and another small GBH incident (self-defence, but broke a guys finger). The police gave me a record for both of them. With this record I cannot get a 'letter of good character' from the police.
Then there is tax issues. I'm self employed and have been building up my business for the past 12 months and have not yet got any tax-return papers that I can show.
There also seems to be a ton of red-tape with regard to English people wanting to settle in Belgium.
I'm somewhat upset over this situation. I'm going to call the Belgium Embassy in London tomorrow to see if they can help.
Can anyone advise me if my hopes of living in Belgium are a total non-starter?
Thanks all.
Sep 29th 2007, 4:48 pm
#2
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Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Valdovino, Galicia
Posts: 489
Re: Why can't British Citizen move to Belgium?
Dunno, Can't say I've ever looked into it.
Good luck with the embassy though.
Good luck with the embassy though.
Sep 29th 2007, 5:08 pm
#3
Senior Moment
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: On the edge
Posts: 20,460
Re: Why can't British Citizen move to Belgium?
Im not sure I understand your post.
You can theoretically move where you want in the EU. There were no police checks or such on me when I moved here to Spain and I know of people who have moved to Holland with no checks either as well as France and Portugal
Are you not allowed to move there because of your record, and if so how do the authorities there know you have one?
Theres a lot of red tape here also when you move here, but it doesn't mean you cant
It would be a little ironic to say the least if Belgium, the seat of the EU, were going against EU policy :-))
You can theoretically move where you want in the EU. There were no police checks or such on me when I moved here to Spain and I know of people who have moved to Holland with no checks either as well as France and Portugal
Are you not allowed to move there because of your record, and if so how do the authorities there know you have one?
Theres a lot of red tape here also when you move here, but it doesn't mean you cant
It would be a little ironic to say the least if Belgium, the seat of the EU, were going against EU policy :-))
Last edited by Mitzyboy; Sep 29th 2007 at 5:10 pm.
Oct 1st 2007, 6:45 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: May 2007
Location: Tielt-Winge.
Posts: 55
Re: Why can't British Citizen move to Belgium?
Why can't British Citizen move to Belgium?
Hi all
First post around here.
I am a British Citizen (Born in England) with UK passport. 41 years old.
I want to move to Belgium, but after reading around the various web sites it would appear that I would not be allowed to live there.
I'm somewhat confused as I thought EU countries were pretty much a free-for-all for other EU members; not so.
There are a few issues that I've been reading that will prevent me ever being able to settle down in Belgium and make a life there.
Such as, a tiny (and I do mean tiny) police record from years ago; trafic offense and another small GBH incident (self-defence, but broke a guys finger). The police gave me a record for both of them. With this record I cannot get a 'letter of good character' from the police.
Then there is tax issues. I'm self employed and have been building up my business for the past 12 months and have not yet got any tax-return papers that I can show.
There also seems to be a ton of red-tape with regard to English people wanting to settle in Belgium.
I'm somewhat upset over this situation. I'm going to call the Belgium Embassy in London tomorrow to see if they can help.
Can anyone advise me if my hopes of living in Belgium are a total non-starter?
Thanks all.
Hi all
First post around here.
I am a British Citizen (Born in England) with UK passport. 41 years old.
I want to move to Belgium, but after reading around the various web sites it would appear that I would not be allowed to live there.
I'm somewhat confused as I thought EU countries were pretty much a free-for-all for other EU members; not so.
There are a few issues that I've been reading that will prevent me ever being able to settle down in Belgium and make a life there.
Such as, a tiny (and I do mean tiny) police record from years ago; trafic offense and another small GBH incident (self-defence, but broke a guys finger). The police gave me a record for both of them. With this record I cannot get a 'letter of good character' from the police.
Then there is tax issues. I'm self employed and have been building up my business for the past 12 months and have not yet got any tax-return papers that I can show.
There also seems to be a ton of red-tape with regard to English people wanting to settle in Belgium.
I'm somewhat upset over this situation. I'm going to call the Belgium Embassy in London tomorrow to see if they can help.
Can anyone advise me if my hopes of living in Belgium are a total non-starter?
Thanks all.
Where have you read that you are not allowed to live in Belgium. Being a EU citizen you can in theory live anywhere in the EU.
I moved here properly last month and had no problems whatsoever - although i have a job here already and this question was asked when i registered with the local commune (do you have a contract of employment to work in belgium).
With regards to the police record, i have never been asked about criminal records or convictions (for the record - i do not have any). Yes the police do come to check on you after you have registered with the local town offices to get a residence permit, but this is only to check you gave the correct details.
Regarding the tax, i dont know. I got a professional company to take care of all my taxation.
I have had no red tape.
Hope you get success.
Dave
Oct 3rd 2007, 6:05 pm
#5
Senior Moment
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: On the edge
Posts: 20,460
Re: Why can't British Citizen move to Belgium?
Isnt it bloody annoying when someone asks a question and then doesn't bother to come back
Oct 3rd 2007, 8:28 pm
#6
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Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Oct 4th 2007, 7:07 am
#8
RETIRED ;-))
Joined: Jul 2003
Location: Benalmadena Pueblo,Spain
Posts: 20,156
Oct 4th 2007, 11:15 am
#10
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Brussels
Posts: 887
Re: Why can't British Citizen move to Belgium?
Hey , guyz and dolls :
I am a British Citizen , living in Belgium ( since 1999. ) ;
what seems to be The Problem ?
1 ) No one ever indicated that Brit can't live in BelgoLand ; Brits are generally well-liked by most Belgians and enjoy particularly good treatment by the likes of police and public servants ; the local authorities always were ( and remain still ) extremely cooperative e.g. in granting us first : temporary , then : permanent residence status etc ;
2 ) The health-care , the beers , the grub , the choccies here , all are : second to none !
3 ) The border crossings in and out of Belgium ( into Germany , Luxembourg , The Netherlands and France ) are usually not attended by any officials , on either side/s ; the main motorway Aachen-Liege-Bruxelles-Ghent-Bruges-Calais doesn't even have any provisions , nor buildings , for such staff ...
...so : Enjoy !
I am a British Citizen , living in Belgium ( since 1999. ) ;
what seems to be The Problem ?
1 ) No one ever indicated that Brit can't live in BelgoLand ; Brits are generally well-liked by most Belgians and enjoy particularly good treatment by the likes of police and public servants ; the local authorities always were ( and remain still ) extremely cooperative e.g. in granting us first : temporary , then : permanent residence status etc ;
2 ) The health-care , the beers , the grub , the choccies here , all are : second to none !
3 ) The border crossings in and out of Belgium ( into Germany , Luxembourg , The Netherlands and France ) are usually not attended by any officials , on either side/s ; the main motorway Aachen-Liege-Bruxelles-Ghent-Bruges-Calais doesn't even have any provisions , nor buildings , for such staff ...
...so : Enjoy !
Oct 4th 2007, 11:18 am
#11
Senior Moment
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: On the edge
Posts: 20,460
Re: Why can't British Citizen move to Belgium?
Hey , guyz and dolls :
I am a British Citizen , living in Belgium ( since 1999. ) ;
what seems to be The Problem ?
1 ) No one ever indicated that Brit can't live in BelgoLand ; Brits are generally well-liked by most Belgians and enjoy particularly good treatment by the likes of police and public servants ; the local authorities always were ( and remain still ) extremely cooperative e.g. in granting us first : temporary , then : permanent residence status etc ;
2 ) The health-care , the beers , the grub , the choccies here , all are : second to none !
3 ) The border crossings in and out of Belgium ( into Germany , Luxembourg , The Netherlands and France ) are usually not attended by any officials , on either side/s ; the main motorway Aachen-Liege-Bruxelles-Ghent-Bruges-Calais doesn't even have any provisions , nor buildings , for such staff ...
...so : Enjoy !
I am a British Citizen , living in Belgium ( since 1999. ) ;
what seems to be The Problem ?
1 ) No one ever indicated that Brit can't live in BelgoLand ; Brits are generally well-liked by most Belgians and enjoy particularly good treatment by the likes of police and public servants ; the local authorities always were ( and remain still ) extremely cooperative e.g. in granting us first : temporary , then : permanent residence status etc ;
2 ) The health-care , the beers , the grub , the choccies here , all are : second to none !
3 ) The border crossings in and out of Belgium ( into Germany , Luxembourg , The Netherlands and France ) are usually not attended by any officials , on either side/s ; the main motorway Aachen-Liege-Bruxelles-Ghent-Bruges-Calais doesn't even have any provisions , nor buildings , for such staff ...
...so : Enjoy !
Only a problem for XDCam it seems
we're all with you
