7/29/2019 How to Set Up an Npo in Brussels

1/2

Disclaimer : http://www.investinbrussels.com/en/index.cfm/legal-disclaimer/

Update : 1/10/2012

HOW TO SET UP AN NPO IN BRUSSELS

1) Once you have decided to set up in Belgium, the first step is to choose the legal form of your

association. You have the choice between a Belgian ASBL (not-for-profit association, associationsans but lucratif), an AISBL (international not-for-profit association, association internationalesans but lucratif) and an operations center of a foreign association.

The AISBL has to have an international target and it has a more flexible internal regime. It is amore prestigious legal form but the process for setting it up is more complicated. The AISBL filemust be presented to the Federal Department of Justice (Service Public Fdral de Justice - SPFJ).

The ASBL administrative request must be presented to the Commercial Court of your district.

There also exists the possibility of creating of a foreign association in Belgium in the CommercialCourt of the Brussels district where the association has its address.

2) As the addressof the association must be in Belgium, finding a location is a prerequisite to theregistration procedure of the association.

3) This is a resume of the administrative procedurefor setting up an association in Belgium:

AISBL:

1. Go to a notary in order to write the chart of the association. The chart can be written inDutch, French.

2. Go to the SPFJ in order to obtain the government agreement through a Royal DecreeArrt Royal. The publication of this act containing the recognition of the association takesapproximately 6 months.3. Go to the Commercial Court bureau to publish the chart of the association in the BelgianOfficial Gazette.

4. Register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (for obtaining your company numberand, if necessary, VAT number).

ASBL:

1. Go to the Commercial Court for the publication of the chart (target, address, activities,composition). The chart can be written in Dutch, French.

2. Register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (for obtaining your company numberand, if necessary, VAT number).

Operations center:

1. Translate bylaws of the foreign NGO + decision to create the Belgium operation centerand to appoint a legal representative + the annual accounts to French or Dutch language.

2. Go to the Commercial Court for the publication of the chart, its address, targets,activities, the operations center and the representative of the association. The bylaws can bewritten in Dutch or French.

3. Register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (for obtaining your company numberand, if necessary, VAT number).

7/29/2019 How to Set Up an Npo in Brussels

2/2

Disclaimer : http://www.investinbrussels.com/en/index.cfm/legal-disclaimer/

Update : 1/10/2012

2

4) Contacts:

For AISBL:Service Public Fdral Justice - SPFJ International Associations serviceBoulevard de Waterloo, 1151000 BruxellesTl. : +32 (0)2 542 69 78Tl. : +32 (0)2 542 66 97Site Internet :http://justice.belgium.beE-mail : info@just.fgov.be

For ASBL operation center:Greffe du Tribunal de CommerceBoulevard de la Deuxime Arme Britannique, 148

1190 BruxellesTel: +32 (0)2 346 03 33

5) Regarding the opening of a bank account, once you have asked for the publication of the chartof the association in the Belgian Official Gazette, you can go to a bank office and open an account.This bank account must own exclusively to your association and be different from any privateaccount of its members.