---
title: Open a Bank Account in Belgium and Invoke the Basic Banking Service
country: belgium
service: "bank-account-opening-newcomer-basic-banking-right"
category: finance
difficulty: moderate
estimated_time: Account opening within 5 working days at KBC Brussels; up to 10 working days for a basic banking service decision
cost_range: "€0 to €4,25 per month at KBC Brussels for a commercial current account; statutory annual cap on the basic banking service set by the Code of Economic Law and indexed annually to consumer prices"
last_verified: 2026-05-27
canonical: https://publicservices.guide/belgium/bank-account-opening-newcomer-basic-banking-right/
status: current
confidence: low
tags:
  - banking
  - finance
  - "basic-banking-service"
  - belgium
  - newcomer
  - iban
  - kbc
  - belfius
sources:
  - https://www.febelfin.be/en/services/request-a-basic-banking-service-for-individuals
  - https://www.wikifin.be/nl/budget-betalen-lenen-en-verzekeren/zichtrekening/de-basisbankdienst
  - https://economie.fgov.be/nl/basisbankdienst-voor-0
  - https://www.kbcbrussels.be/retail/en/products/payments/current-accounts/open-plus-account-for-expats.html
  - https://www.kbcbrussels.be/retail/en/products/payments/current-accounts/open-a-basic-account.html
  - https://www.belfius.be/retail/nl/producten/betalen/diensten/basisbankdienst/index.aspx
  - https://www.nbb.be/en
---

# Open a Bank Account in Belgium and Invoke the Basic Banking Service

**Country:** 🇧🇪 Belgium  
**Last verified:** 2026-05-27  
**Estimated time:** Account opening within 5 working days at KBC Brussels; up to 10 working days for a basic banking service decision  
**Cost:** €0 to €4,25 per month at KBC Brussels for a commercial current account; statutory annual cap on the basic banking service set by the Code of Economic Law and indexed annually to consumer prices

## Required documents

- **Valid passport or EU/EEA national identity card** *(paspoort / passeport / Reisepass)*
  - Where to get: Issued by the home-country passport or ID-card authority
  - Required: Original document, unexpired. Passport for third-country nationals; national ID card or passport for EU/EEA nationals.
  - _Note:_ KBC Brussels accepts a valid identity document at signup and confirms that newcomers who do not yet have Belgian citizenship or a permanent address can still apply online for a current account.
- **Belgian residence permit if already issued** *(verblijfsvergunning / titre de séjour)*
  - Where to get: Issued by the commune of residence after registration with the Immigration Office (Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken / Office des Étrangers)
  - Required: Electronic A card or B card for third-country nationals; Annex 8 (registration certificate) or Annex 19 for EU/EEA nationals. The account can be opened before the permit is issued and updated later.
  - _Note:_ KBC Brussels states applicants must bring along their identity card and residence permit when collecting the debit card in branch on arrival in Belgium.
- **Proof of address**
  - Where to get: Recent utility bill, lease agreement, or an official letter dated within the last three months
  - Required: Some banks accept a foreign address for remote opening; others require a Belgian residential address
  - _Note:_ Asylum seekers and refugees may not be refused the basic banking service on the ground of a temporary address.
- **Belgian national-register number once issued** *(rijksregisternummer / numéro de registre national)*
  - Where to get: Assigned by the commune of residence on registration in the population register
  - Required: Not required to open the account; supplied to the bank once the commune assigns it. Used for tax reporting and for the Centraal Aanspreekpunt / Point de Contact Central register maintained by the National Bank of Belgium.
  - _Note:_ Banks open the account before the national-register number is issued for newcomers and update the file once it is received.
- **Asylum-application or registration proof (statutory route)** *(enclosure 26 / 25 / 15, oranje kaart, carte orange)*
  - Where to get: Issued by the asylum authority or commune of residence
  - Required: Acceptable identity proof for the basic banking service when a standard residence permit is not yet held. Febelfin lists enclosure 26, enclosure 25, enclosure 15, the carte orange / oranje kaart registration certificate, a provisional residence certificate, and (in exceptional cases) a foreign passport.
  - _Note:_ Banks must not refuse the basic banking service on the ground of temporary address for asylum seekers or recognised refugees.
- **Belgian mobile number and email**
  - Where to get: Personal email account; Belgian SIM from Proximus, Orange, Telenet/BASE, or another local provider once on the ground
  - Required: Required for app-based identity verification (itsme), one-time-password delivery, and bank notifications
  - _Note:_ KBC and KBC Brussels accept identity verification by the itsme app, by eID card reader, or by manual entry plus a scanned ID copy.

## Costs

- **KBC standard current account — monthly fee:** 2.5 EUR — Published on the KBC Brussels Basic Account product page (https://www.kbcbrussels.be/retail/en/products/payments/current-accounts/open-a-basic-account.html). Includes 24 free withdrawals per year at non-KBC ATMs inside the eurozone.
- **KBC Brussels Expat current account — monthly fee:** 4.25 EUR — Published on the KBC Brussels expat account product page (https://www.kbcbrussels.be/retail/en/products/payments/current-accounts/open-plus-account-for-expats.html): 'Monthly fee: €4,25 a month from 01-01-2026'. Credit card included at no separate cost, subject to approval.
- **KBC — second debit card per month:** 0.75 EUR — Published on the KBC Brussels Basic Account product page.
- **KBC — personalised debit card, one-time:** 10 EUR — Published on the KBC Brussels Basic Account product page.
- **KBC — cash withdrawal at non-KBC ATM after the 24-free-per-year quota:** 0.5 EUR — Published on the KBC Brussels Basic Account product page: '€0,50 from the 25th transaction onward'.
- **KBC — counter cash withdrawal or paper-based transfer:** 2 EUR — Published on the KBC Brussels Basic Account product page.
- **Basic banking service — statutory annual cap:** 20.34 EUR — The 2026 statutory maximum is €20,34 per year, published by Wikifin (FSMA consumer-finance portal). The 2025 maximum was €19,86 per year. The cap is indexed annually to the consumer price index and codified under Articles VII.56/1 to VII.59/3 of the Code of Economic Law / Wetboek van economisch recht.

## Steps

### 1. Decide between the commercial route and the basic banking service

- The commercial route is a direct application to a Belgian retail bank for one of its standard current-account packages — KBC, Belfius, BNP Paribas Fortis, or ING Belgium for the four dominant retail names, with Argenta and Crelan as alternatives.
- The statutory route is the basic banking service codified under Articles VII.56/1 to VII.59/3 of the Code of Economic Law. Every consumer-account bank must offer it on application; no prior refusal is required.
- Most newcomers start with the commercial route — it is the faster path when eligibility is straightforward — and fall back to the basic banking service only if a commercial application is refused or if the four narrow refusal grounds do not apply.
- If the applicant already holds a current account elsewhere with €6.000 or more, or holds €6.000 or more in outstanding credit, the basic banking service is not available; only the commercial route remains.

> **Tip:** The statutory route is a backstop, not a replacement. It guarantees a payment account with basic services to anyone legally resident in an EU member state, capped at a statutory maximum annual fee — but the commercial route at KBC Brussels or Belfius is usually a smoother onboarding for a newcomer who can produce a passport and an address.

### 2. Apply at a retail bank for a commercial current account

- Choose a bank. KBC and KBC Brussels publish substantive product pages and accept remote applications from newcomers; Belfius opens its Beats Pulse digital account online and also offers in-branch opening.
- Apply online at the bank's product page or in branch. KBC and KBC Brussels accept identity verification by the itsme app, by eID card reader, or by manual entry with a scanned identity document.
- Submit the document bundle — a valid passport or EU/EEA national ID, a residence permit if already issued (electronic A or B card, or Annex 8 / Annex 19), proof of address (some banks accept a foreign address for remote opening), and a Belgian mobile number and email for one-time-password delivery.
- Wait for the account decision. KBC and KBC Brussels open the account within five working days of receiving a manual-entry application; verification via itsme or an eID card reader can be near-instant.
- Collect the debit card in branch on arrival in Belgium. KBC Brussels states applicants must bring their identity card and residence permit when collecting the card.

> **Tip:** Some retail-bank product pages did not load reliably at remote access — BNP Paribas Fortis returned HTTP 503 and ING Belgium returned HTTP 403. Both remain operational Belgian retail banks; visit a branch or call the bank for current pricing rather than relying on third-party fee summaries that may be out of date.

> **If this fails:** If the bank's online application fails identity verification, retry with better-lit photos of the ID document, or switch to in-branch opening with the original passport and residence permit. KBC Brussels states the in-branch path is the default for collecting the physical debit card in any case.

_Links:_
- [KBC Brussels — Expat current account](https://www.kbcbrussels.be/retail/en/products/payments/current-accounts/open-plus-account-for-expats.html)
- [KBC Brussels — Basic current account](https://www.kbcbrussels.be/retail/en/products/payments/current-accounts/open-a-basic-account.html)
- [Belfius — Basisbankdienst product page](https://www.belfius.be/retail/nl/producten/betalen/diensten/basisbankdienst/index.aspx)

### 3. Supply the national-register number once the commune issues it

- Register with the commune of residence after arriving in Belgium. The commune enrols the applicant in the population register and assigns a rijksregisternummer / numéro de registre national.
- Notify the bank with the national-register number. The bank updates the customer file and reports the link to the Centraal Aanspreekpunt / Point de Contact Central register maintained by the National Bank of Belgium.
- The national-register number is also used by the bank for tax reporting under Belgian and EU rules.

> **Tip:** Do not delay supplying the national-register number once the commune issues it. The Central Point of Contact register is consulted by tax authorities, and an account opened without the number reported is flagged for follow-up.

### 4. Invoke the basic banking service if the commercial route is closed

- Confirm eligibility: legal residence in an EU member state; no other current account elsewhere with €6.000 or more on balance; no outstanding credit of €6.000 or more; no anti-money-laundering bar.
- Choose any Belgian credit institution that offers current accounts to consumers — every such bank is statutorily required to offer the basic banking service on application. No prior refusal is required.
- Submit a fully completed basic banking service application form to the chosen bank. Acceptable identity proofs include a passport, a Belgian residence permit (A or B card), an Annex 8 / Annex 19 registration certificate, an enclosure 26 / 25 / 15 asylum-application proof, an oranje kaart / carte orange commune registration certificate, or a provisional residence certificate.
- The bank must notify acceptance or refusal within ten working days of receiving the completed application form, stating the grounds and the available complaints and out-of-court resolution procedures. The exception is refusal on anti-money-laundering grounds, where the bank is not required to explain.
- On acceptance, the basic banking service includes a debit card, online and mobile banking access, transfers, standing orders, direct debits, and up to 36 manual counter transactions per year. The annual fee is capped by the statutory maximum published by FOD Economie / SPF Économie.

> **Tip:** The basic banking service is a right, not a favour. The applicant does not need to have been refused first — every consumer-account bank in Belgium must offer it on application provided the four eligibility tests are met. Wikifin, the FSMA consumer-finance portal, frames the entitlement as open to "every consumer who legally resides in an EU member state".

> **If this fails:** If the bank refuses the basic banking service or terminates an existing one without lawful ground, file a written complaint with the bank's own complaints department first. If no solution is proposed within a reasonable timeframe, escalate to Ombudsfin (https://www.ombudsfin.be/), the financial-sector ombudsman. The FOD Economie Directorate General Economic Inspection supervises compliance.

_Links:_
- [Febelfin — Basic banking service for individuals](https://www.febelfin.be/en/services/request-a-basic-banking-service-for-individuals)
- [Wikifin — De basisbankdienst (FSMA portal)](https://www.wikifin.be/nl/budget-betalen-lenen-en-verzekeren/zichtrekening/de-basisbankdienst)
- [FOD Economie — Basisbankdienst](https://economie.fgov.be/nl/basisbankdienst-voor-0)
- [Ombudsfin — financial-sector ombudsman](https://www.ombudsfin.be/)

### 5. Escalate if the bank does not respond or refuses on bad grounds

- First, file a written complaint with the bank's own complaints department. Belfius lists this as 'Dienst klachtenbeheer Belfius Bank' on its product page; the equivalent department exists at every Belgian bank.
- If the bank does not propose a solution within a reasonable timeframe, escalate to Ombudsfin (Ombudsfin vzw), the out-of-court complaints body for retail financial services.
- The FOD Economie / SPF Économie Directorate General Economic Inspection supervises compliance with the basic banking service and may be addressed in parallel.
- Silence beyond the ten-working-day deadline on a basic banking service application is itself a ground for complaint; the deadline is a statutory obligation under the Code of Economic Law.

> **Tip:** Keep written records of every step — application submission date, bank correspondence, complaint reference numbers. Ombudsfin and the Economic Inspection both rely on a documented timeline when assessing whether the bank has met its obligations.

## FAQ

### How many banks must refuse me before I can ask for the basic banking service?

None. The individual basic banking service is a statutory product every Belgian bank that offers consumer current accounts must provide on application. The applicant applies directly to any qualifying bank — no prior refusal required. The three-refusal rule that appears in some trade press belongs to the enterprise route under the Royal Decree of 16 December 2022, which is administered by the Chamber of Basic Banking Services and applies to companies, non-profits, and diplomatic missions, not individuals.

### Which statute governs the individual basic banking service?

Articles VII.56/1 to VII.59/3 of Book VII of the *Code de droit économique* (CDE) / Wetboek van economisch recht (WER) — the Code of Economic Law. References to Article VII.55 in secondary sources are imprecise; the operative article range for the individual right begins at VII.56/1. Article VII.55 governs the enterprise route only and applies separately.

### What is the maximum the bank can charge me for the basic banking service?

The cap is set each year by FOD Economie / SPF Économie and indexed to consumer prices. The 2026 maximum is €20,34 per year and the 2025 maximum was €19,86 per year, both published by Wikifin (FSMA consumer-finance portal). The cap is a ceiling: banks may price the basic banking service freely below it. Check the bank's Informatiedocument betreffende de vergoedingen (Fee Information Document) for the actual rate.

### Can I open the account before I arrive in Belgium?

At KBC Brussels, yes. The KBC Brussels expat product page states that applicants who do not yet have Belgian citizenship or a permanent address can apply online for a current account. Identity verification can be done remotely via the itsme app or by sending a scanned ID with manual entry. The physical debit card is collected in branch on arrival, with the applicant's identity document and residence permit if already issued.

### How long does it take to open a commercial current account?

At KBC and KBC Brussels, the online application opens the account within five working days when identity is verified manually with a scanned ID copy. Verification via the itsme app or an eID card reader can be near-instant. Belfius opens its digital Beats Pulse account online and also offers in-branch opening.

### What if the bank does not respond on my basic banking service application?

The bank must notify acceptance or refusal within ten working days of receiving a fully completed application form. If ten working days pass with no response, escalate immediately to Ombudsfin (https://www.ombudsfin.be/), the financial-sector ombudsman. The FOD Economie / SPF Économie Directorate General Economic Inspection (Algemene Directie Economische Inspectie) supervises compliance. The Belfius product page sets out the same three-step complaints route: the bank's own complaints department, then Ombudsfin, then FOD Economie.

### On what grounds can a bank refuse the basic banking service?

Only on four narrow grounds set out by FOD Economie: the applicant already holds a basic banking service or another current account at the same or another bank; the applicant holds €6.000 or more on a current or savings account at another bank; the applicant has credit agreements totalling €6.000 or more; or the application would breach the anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing law (Wet van 18 september 2017). Temporary address is not a refusal ground for asylum seekers or refugees.

### Are asylum seekers eligible for the basic banking service?

Yes. Febelfin states that all private individuals are entitled to the basic banking service and that asylum seekers and recognised refugees also qualify, even with temporary addresses. The accepted identity proofs include enclosure 26, enclosure 25, or enclosure 15 application proof, the carte orange / oranje kaart commune registration certificate, a provisional residence certificate, and (exceptionally) a foreign passport.

### Do I need a Belgian national-register number to open the account?

No. The account can be opened before the commune assigns the national-register number (*rijksregisternummer* / numéro de registre national). Once it is issued, supply it to the bank. The bank then reports the link to the Centraal Aanspreekpunt / Point de Contact Central register held by the National Bank of Belgium, which centralises records of all Belgian payment accounts and is consulted by tax authorities.

## Sources

- [Febelfin (Belgian Financial Sector Federation)](https://www.febelfin.be/en/services/request-a-basic-banking-service-for-individuals) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — Febelfin's consumer-facing page on the basic banking service for individuals states that all private individuals are entitled to the basic banking service and that asylum seekers and recognised refugees also qualify, even with temporary addresses. Lists acceptable identity documents for applicants without a standard residence permit: electronic residence card, registration certificate from the commune (carte orange / oranje kaart), asylum-application proof (enclosure 26, 25, or 15), provisional residence certificate, and (exceptionally) a foreign passport.
- [Wikifin (FSMA consumer-finance portal)](https://www.wikifin.be/nl/budget-betalen-lenen-en-verzekeren/zichtrekening/de-basisbankdienst) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — The entitlement to the basic banking service is open to every consumer who legally resides in an EU member state. The 2026 statutory maximum fee is €20,34 per year, indexed annually to the consumer price index. The basic banking service includes a debit card, online and mobile banking, transfers, standing orders, direct debits, and up to 36 manual counter transactions per year. The complaints escalation route runs through the bank's own complaints department, then Ombudsfin, then FOD Economie.
- [FOD Economie / SPF Économie](https://economie.fgov.be/nl/basisbankdienst-voor-0) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — Statutory grounds for refusal of the basic banking service: the applicant already holds a basic banking service or another current account at the same or another bank; the applicant holds €6.000 or more on a current or savings account at another bank; the applicant has credit agreements totalling €6.000 or more; the application would breach the Wet van 18 september 2017 (anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing law). The bank must notify acceptance or refusal within ten working days of receiving a fully completed application form. The 2025 maximum fee was €19,86 per year. Collective debt settlement does not bar the basic banking service.
- [KBC Brussels Bank & Insurance](https://www.kbcbrussels.be/retail/en/products/payments/current-accounts/open-plus-account-for-expats.html) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T2_ — KBC Brussels Expat current account product page. Monthly fee €4,25 a month from 01-01-2026. Applicants who do not yet have Belgian citizenship or a permanent address in Belgium can still apply online for a current account. Identity verification via itsme, eID card reader, or manual entry with a scanned ID copy. The applicant collects the debit card in branch on arrival in Belgium and must bring along their identity card and residence permit. Credit card included at no separate cost, subject to approval.
- [KBC Brussels Bank & Insurance](https://www.kbcbrussels.be/retail/en/products/payments/current-accounts/open-a-basic-account.html) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T2_ — KBC Brussels Basic Account product page. Monthly fee €2,50; second debit card €0,75 per month; personalised debit card €10 one-time; cash withdrawals at non-KBC ATMs €0,50 from the 25th transaction onward in the eurozone; counter cash withdrawals €2,00 per transaction; paper-based transfers €2,00 per transaction. The account includes 24 free ATM withdrawals per year at non-KBC terminals. Online opening within five working days when identity is verified via scanned ID.
- [Belfius Bank](https://www.belfius.be/retail/nl/producten/betalen/diensten/basisbankdienst/index.aspx) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T2_ — Belfius basic banking service product page. The basic banking service includes a payment account, a debit card, access to Belfius Direct Net and Belfius Mobile, transfers, standing orders, and direct debits. The complaints route runs through the Belfius Dienst klachtenbeheer, then Ombudsfin vzw, then FOD Economie - Algemene Directie Economische Inspectie. The average annual positive balance across the applicant's accounts must not exceed €10.239,43 for eligibility. Belgian citizens residing outside the EU remain eligible provided they have not been erased from the Belgian population register for more than ten years.
- [National Bank of Belgium (Nationale Bank van België / Banque Nationale de Belgique)](https://www.nbb.be/en) — accessed 2026-05-26 — _T1_ — The National Bank of Belgium is the prudential supervisor of credit institutions in Belgium and operates the Centraal Aanspreekpunt / Point de Contact Central — the Central Point of Contact for bank accounts — on which every Belgian payment account is registered. The register is consulted by tax authorities for tax-compliance purposes.

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Verification pending — see the canonical page for the latest trust state.
Canonical: https://publicservices.guide/belgium/bank-account-opening-newcomer-basic-banking-right/