Transfer of registered office in Belgium: procedure, costs and CBE formalities

Key takeaways

• A transfer of registered office within the same linguistic region can be decided by the management body alone, without a general meeting (unless the articles provide otherwise).
• The articles of association need only mention the region or municipality, not the full address: a transfer within the same region may not require a statutory amendment.
• The company number (CBE number) does not change after a transfer.
• A transfer to another linguistic region requires a general meeting decision and an amendment of the articles of association.
• The Belgian Official Gazette publication and CBE update are done through an accredited enterprise counter.

Changing the address of your company's registered office is a relatively common operation: growth, change of premises, cost optimisation or change in domiciliation provider. The transfer of registered office in Belgium is regulated by the Companies and Associations Code (CAC), and the procedure varies depending on whether the transfer takes place within the same linguistic region or crosses a regional border. This guide describes the steps, costs and consequences of a transfer of registered office.

What the articles of association say about the registered office

A frequently overlooked point: since the reform of the CAC, the articles of association of a Belgian company are no longer required to mention the complete address of the registered office (street, number, postcode). They may be limited to:

• the linguistic region in which the registered office is located (French-language region, Dutch-language region, German-language region or bilingual Brussels-Capital region)
• or simply the municipality where the registered office is located

This distinction is fundamental for the transfer procedure. If the articles only mention the region, a transfer within the same region — even from one city to another — does not require a statutory amendment. The management body (manager or board of directors) can decide this alone, without convening an extraordinary general meeting (AGM).

Procedure depending on the type of transfer

	Articles mention region only	Articles mention full address
Move within same region	No statutory amendment — management body decides alone	Statutory amendment — management body decides alone (no AGM required)
Move to another region (same linguistic regime)	Statutory amendment — management body decides alone	Statutory amendment — management body decides alone
Change of linguistic regime	Specific procedure — consult a notary	Specific procedure — consult a notary
Belgian Official Gazette publication	Only if statutes amended	Yes
CBE update	Via enterprise counter	Via enterprise counter

Transfer within the same region (no statutory amendment, or amendment by management body)

This is the most common case. The manager of an SRL — or the board of directors of an SA — decides to move the registered office to a new address within the same linguistic region. Under the CAC, the management body can also amend the articles for this specific point (registered office) without calling a general meeting.

1. 1

   Management body decision

   Day 1

   Minutes of the decision to transfer the registered office, drawn up according to the formalities provided for in the articles of association.

2. 2

   Declaration to the CBE via enterprise counter

   Within a few days

   The new address is declared to the CBE through an accredited enterprise counter. Cost: approximately €111 for the modification.

3. 3

   Publication in the Belgian Official Gazette

   Within 2 to 4 weeks

   The enterprise counter transmits the information to the Belgian Official Gazette, which publishes the amendment in the Annexes.

4. 4

   Notification to business partners

   As soon as possible

   Inform banks, FPS Finance (VAT), NSSI and key business partners of the new address.

Transfer involving a change of linguistic regime

When a transfer entails a change of applicable linguistic regime (for example from a bilingual Brussels-Capital municipality to a Flemish Region municipality), the procedure is more complex. The CAC's simplification — management body decides alone — does not apply in this case. Consult a notary or legal adviser before initiating this type of transfer.

What does not change after a transfer

Elements that remain unchanged after a transfer of registered office

• Company number (CBE number)

  The company number assigned at incorporation remains permanently. It does not change following a transfer of registered office, a change of legal form or a change of management.

• VAT number

  The VAT number is derived from the company number and does not change. However, the new address must be communicated to the FPS Finance.

• NSSI registration (for self-employed)

  The NSSI registration is not automatically affected. A notification of the new address to the social insurance fund is recommended.

• Existing contracts

  Contracts already signed mention the old address, but they remain valid. A transfer of registered office is not a cause for breach of contract. In practice, inform your business partners.

• Banking relationships

  Bank accounts and mandates are not automatically modified. Notify your bank of the new address to update your file.

What may change after a transfer

While the company number and main obligations remain unchanged, a transfer to another region has several consequences to anticipate.

Language of documents: if you transfer from a French-speaking region to Flanders, official company documents (articles of association, deeds, correspondence with administrations) must henceforth be drafted in Dutch.

Competent court: the competent enterprise court is that of the judicial district of the registered office. A transfer may therefore change the competent jurisdiction for commercial disputes.

Applicable regional rules: certain regional aids, tax incentives or regulatory obligations vary by region. Transferring to another region may open new rights or close old ones.

Costs of a transfer of registered office

The costs vary considerably depending on the type of transfer.

Type of transfer	Approximate cost
Same region (no deed)	~€111 (CBE modification)
Same city, statutory amendment, SRL	~€500 to €1,000 (notary + CBE)
Same city, statutory amendment, SA	~€1,000 to €2,000 (notary + CBE)
Cross-regional transfer (translation + deed)	~€2,000 to €5,000 depending on complexity

These are indicative amounts. Notary fees are fixed by royal decree but may vary according to the complexity of the deed, the translation and the formalities to be completed.

Change your registered office address

Monsiegesocial provides a professional domiciliation address registered with the FPS Economy, with mail management and CBE support.

View our addressesIncorporate my company

Further reading

• Domiciliation or home address: which registered office to choose?: the alternative to a rented address, for the initial choice or after a transfer.
• Company domiciliation in Wallonia: rules, cities and PSP formalities for a Walloon address.
• CBE update: official portal of the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises for consulting and modifying company data.