Your first steps in Belgium, without the guesswork.
Registration, permits, a health fund, a home you can actually register at. Moving to Flanders comes with a to-do list nobody hands you. We did, and when you get stuck, you can talk to someone who knows the system from the inside.
Sound familiar?
The first free appointment at the commune is five weeks away.
And your deadline is eight days.
Nobody told you about the police visit.
Until there was a note in your letterbox.
You still don’t have a GP.
You just hope nothing happens.
Your partner is home alone all day.
And the novelty is wearing off.
Your free account puts it all in one place: what to do, in what order, and a reminder before anything expires.
Never miss an expiry date again
Your own Expat Buddy dashboard. Free, no credit card, ready in two minutes.
Reminders before it’s too late.
Add the expiry dates of your residence card, passport, driving licence and work permit, and we remind you in time. Also for your car insurance and energy contract.
Practical how-to guides.
Registering at the town hall, joining a health insurance fund, opening a bank account: step by step, in plain English.
A Flemish word every week.
What it means, how to say it, and sentences you can actually use.
Working for a company that uses The Expat Buddy? Ask HR for your invite.
Expat Admin Session
Stuck on a step? In one hour, we look at your situation, sort out what's blocking you, and you leave with a clear plan.
€95 · 60 minutes · online · one-on-one
With Nathalie, who handled more than 10,000 work permit and residence files.
What we can help with
Permits and residence.
Single permit, visa, residence card, renewals.
Registration.
Your commune, the police visit, your national register number.
Health and insurance.
Choosing a health fund, finding a GP, the insurance you actually need.
Housing.
Rental contracts, deposits, the inspection report.
Family.
Your partner’s options, school registration, child benefit.
Everything else.
Driving licence, taxes, itsme, and the letters you don’t understand.
How it works
Book and pay online
Pick a time that suits you.
Tell us what’s blocking you
A few questions when you book, so the hour goes to your situation, not to background.
Your session
60 minutes, online. Within 5 working days, you receive a short written summary of your next steps.
Free cancellation or rescheduling up to 24 hours before your session.
Built around your whole journey, not just the first week.
Settling in doesn't happen in a month. Everything we do follows the four phases you'll actually go through.
BE Ready
Before you move. Documents, housing for your registration, expectations.
What you can do now: Free First 90 Days checklist, Expat Admin Session
BE Connected
Your first six months. Registration, healthcare, banking, your first local network.
What you can do now: Free account with how-to guides, Expat Admin Session
BE Engaged
Month seven to year three. Language, belonging, support for partners.
What you can do now: Word of the week, the expat newsletter
BE Home
Year three and beyond. Long-term stability and reasons to stay.
What you can do now: Expiry reminders for your documents and contracts
Built by someone who knows the system from the inside.
Nathalie De Langhe spent ten years in international employment and handled more than 10,000 work permit and residence files. The Expat Buddy exists for everything that comes after the paperwork.
She knows where files get stuck, which documents the commune will ask for, and which small mistakes cost weeks. That's what she puts to work in every session.
Questions expats ask us
Is this legal advice?
No. It’s practical guidance based on ten years of experience with Belgian permits and administration. If your situation needs a lawyer, for example an appeal against a refused permit, we’ll tell you, and point you in the right direction.
Can my employer pay for the session?
If your employer works with The Expat Buddy, they can book and pay for your session directly. Ask your HR contact. Otherwise, you book and pay yourself, and you receive a receipt you can hand in if your employer reimburses it.
Can my partner join?
Of course. Many questions involve the whole family, so it often helps if you’re both there.
What if one hour isn’t enough?
Most questions are sorted in one session. If yours needs more, we’ll say so at the end, and you can book a follow-up.
In which language are the sessions?
English or Dutch.
What’s your cancellation policy?
Free cancellation or rescheduling up to 24 hours before your session. After that, the session can’t be refunded. See our Terms and Conditions for the full details, including your right of withdrawal.
Is the free account really free?
Yes. No credit card and no trial period. Paid plans with document uploads and personal support are coming later, and you decide if you want one.
Can my employer see my free account?
No. If you create your account yourself, your employer can’t see it. Read more in our privacy policy.
Learn one Flemish word a week
Every week, one Dutch or everyday Flemish word, with an English meaning, two example sentences and how to say it.
Word of the week · Week 45
Sint-Maarten
Saint Martin (11 November)
In Aalst brengt Sint-Maarten de cadeautjes.
In Aalst, Saint Martin brings the presents.
Komt Sint-Maarten bij jullie of Sinterklaas?
Does Saint Martin visit you, or Sinterklaas?
In Aalst, Ieper, the Kempen and Limburg, Sint-Maarten brings children presents. A great question for colleagues.
Every two weeks in your inbox: the latest Flemish words and what’s coming up in Flanders.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.
Want all previous words? Create a free account
Free resources: First 90 Days checklist · Flanders Calendar 2027
Does your employer support international hires beyond the first week? If not, send them our way. We help companies keep people like you. → For companies
Start with your free account.
Your own Expat Buddy dashboard. Free, no credit card, ready in two minutes.