Leaving Belgium and Liège

Moving towards new horizons after a fruitful research stay in ULiège? Don't forget the few administrative formalities before you leave. For some of them (taxes, social security) it is adviseable to start early (one month before departure).

• Activity report

It is likely that the institution or foundation which has funded your research stay will ask for a report concerning the outcomes of this stay. Do not forget to send this report to your ULiège host as well.

• Letter of recommendation

If you would like to obtain a letter of recommendation for your CV or as a reference for future employers, ask your supervisor at the host department or lab of ULiège to provide you with one before you leave.

• Certificate of Services Rendered

If you are an EU national OR if there is a bilateral social security agreement between your home country and Belgium, you should ask your administrative file manager at  the Human Resources Department for a Certificate of Services Rendered (showing your pension contributions) : the name of the person you should contact is mentioned at the bottom of your monthly pay slip.   

• Residence permit

If you return your residence permit to the town hall prior to departure, you will receive a ‘Model 8’ form confirming that you have deregistered. The customs authorities may ask to see this document when you leave Belgium. If you do not return your residence permit to the town hall prior to departure, you need to write to the town hall (enclosing a copy of your residence permit) and ask to be deregistered. Make sure that you inform the town hall of your new address and of your permanent address in your home country.

If you had your residence in Liège,  you may visit a  Mairie de quartier in person to deregister. You have to do this at least the day before your departure . Take with you your Belgian ID /residence permit and those of your family members. Or you may use the E-guichet, see their website for the adresses and links (all in French). Please note that for deregistering from Liège you will have to pay 11 € per person (fee 2020).

• Welfare rights

It is important that your social welfare rights are maintained while you move from one country to another, in particular regarding unemployment, healthcare, etc.

• Unemployment benefits

If you are an EU national OR if there is a bilateral social security agreement between your home country and Belgium, you should obtain a U1 document from ONEM/RVA (the Belgian National Employment Office), so that you can try to claim unemployment benefits in your home country. In order to obtain the U1 document, you will need a C4 document issued by the Human Resources Department at ULiège (ARH). You will find the name of your administrative file manager at  the ARH at the bottom of your monthly pay slip.   

If you are and remain a member of Uliège staff do not forget to record your mission abraod in the MODUS database. 

• Mutuality (mutual health insurance fund)

Do not forget to terminate your affiliation to the mutuality with which you were registered.

• Income tax

It is possible for you to complete your tax return in advance, prior to your departure from Belgium. In order to do so, you must:

• contact your financial file manager at the Human Resources Department(ARH)  from ULiège  (see his/her name and telephone number at the bottom of your monthly pay slip) and request a provisional remuneration certificate. The definitive individual detailed account will be sent to you by email at the latest at the end of May with a summary of salary payments for the preceding year.
• contact the local tax office for your municipality of residence and request an ‘exercice spécial Revenus de 20xx’ (Special tax return for the year 20xx). The form will be sent to your home address in Belgium and you will have 1 month to complete and return it. The email adress of hte office depends of your place of residence in Belgium. You can find it via this link : http://ccff02.minfin.fgov.be/annucomp/main.do. The email adress for the people with a residence in Liège is : p.liege.div.gestion@minfin.fed.be

If you do not complete your tax form in advance, it will be sent around May by post to the address you gave to the town hall when you deregistered.

• Bank account

If you wish to keep your bank account in Belgium provisionally open after your departure, contact your branch and ask for an email address at which you can contact them when you wish to close your account.

• Housing arrangements

• Make sure that you give notice of your intention to leave your apartment well in time! In Belgium, notice must generally be given by registered letter 3 months before the expected departure date or the end of rental contract. It is essential to inform the landlord of your intention to leave the apartment even if you have a 1 year rental contract. If you do not do so, your contract will be automatically renewed. Schedule the exit inspection with your landlord to get back the rental deposit, and transfer water, gas and electricity meters to the landlord’s name or the new tenant’s name. Cancel TV, phone and internet contracts.

• Only for Belgians who are going abroad

You will find useful advice on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs:
http://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/services/services_abroad/registration/moving_abroad

For information about social security,see:
http://www.leavingbelgium.be/

• Children

If your children are going abroad with you, check that you are in order as regards compulsory education regulations. Children are subject to compulsory education in Belgium between the ages of 6 and 18, whether they are attending school in Belgium or abroad. You must be able to prove that your children have received schooling. More information and contact details

If you are and remain a member of Uliège staff do not forget to record your mission abraod in the MODUS database. 

Here you can also  find some advice about what to do before leaving Belgium.