Belgium is a realistic move from Australia if you match a residence route to your situation early. The short version: a one-bedroom rents for about €950 a month in the bigger cities, typical net salaries run around €2,300, personal taxes sit at 25-50%, and permanent residence usually takes about 5 years of legal stay. Here is how the move actually works for Australian citizens.
Getting in: your route options
As Australian citizens you can enter visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180, which makes scouting trips easy. Living in Belgium is a separate matter: you need a residence permit tied to a reason.
- Remote work: Belgium has no dedicated digital nomad visa. No nomad visa; self-employed professional card is the main route.
- Work: a job offer plus a work permit; for higher-paid qualified roles ask employers about the EU Blue Card, which speeds up residence across most of the bloc.
- Study: university admission converts into a student permit, usually with part-time work rights and a post-graduation job-seeker option.
- Family and ancestry: joining an EU spouse or partner, or claiming citizenship by descent if you have an EU-citizen parent or grandparent.
What life in Belgium costs
Budget roughly €950 for a one-bed plus about €980 for essentials and transport, per person. English friendliness scores 70/100 here, and everyday taxes for employees run at 25-50%: see the full picture on the taxes in Belgium page, including freelancer regimes and company rates.
The long game
Permanent residence in Belgium takes about 5 years of legal residence, and citizenship about 5 years from arrival, subject to language and integration requirements. If an EU passport is part of your plan, weigh this timeline against neighbouring countries before you commit.