Can you vote in Belgium?
Many internationals assume voting is only for citizens, so it comes as a surprise that you may already have the right to vote here. The good news is that if you are living in Belgium, you can often take part in some elections - it just depends on your nationality and which election it is.
This page explains which elections you can vote in, how registration works, and why voting here comes with an obligation attached.
Overview
Whether you can vote depends on your nationality and the type of election. EU citizens have broader rights than non-EU nationals, and national elections remain reserved for Belgian citizens. For the elections you are eligible for, voting is not automatic - you usually need to register first, and once you are registered, taking part is a legal duty rather than a choice.
Which elections you can vote in
Belgium holds several types of elections, and your eligibility differs for each:
- Local (municipal) elections - both EU and non-EU nationals can vote. EU citizens qualify as soon as they are registered residents; non-EU nationals need five years of uninterrupted legal residence in Belgium first. This is the election most internationals can take part in
- European elections - EU citizens living in Belgium can vote here for Belgian candidates instead of in their home country (you choose one; voting in both is not allowed)
- Regional and federal (national) elections - reserved for Belgian citizens
If national elections matter to you, this is one of the rights that Belgian citizenship unlocks - see Applying for Belgian citizenship.
Registering to vote
For the elections you are eligible for, you generally need to register on the electoral roll in advance - it does not happen automatically when you move here. Registration is done through your municipality or the official elections website, and there is usually a deadline months before election day, so it is worth checking early in an election year. The good news: registration is a one-time step - once you are on the roll, you stay registered for future elections of that type unless you deregister.
Is voting compulsory?
This is where Belgium differs from many countries - but the answer now depends on the election:
- Local elections in Flanders: no longer compulsory. Since 2024, the voting obligation for municipal elections has been abolished in Flanders. If you register, voting is a right, not a duty - no penalty if you stay home. (In Brussels and Wallonia, compulsory voting still applies locally.)
- European elections: still compulsory. If you register as an EU citizen to vote in European elections in Belgium, you are legally required to actually turn up and vote.
So think of registering for European elections as a real commitment, while registering for local elections in West Flanders simply gives you a voice in your own city or municipality - with no strings attached.
Voting in your home country's elections
Moving to Belgium does not necessarily mean losing your voice back home. Many countries allow their citizens abroad to vote in national elections - but the rules, and the effort required, vary enormously from country to country:
- Registration is almost never automatic - in most countries you need to register as an overseas voter, usually through your embassy or consulate in Belgium, and often for each election or within a set period after moving. Do this early, since deadlines typically fall months before election day
- How you vote differs per country - some let you vote in person at the embassy or consulate in Brussels, others by post, by proxy (giving someone at home your vote), or even online
- Some countries restrict expat voting - a few limit or remove your voting rights after a number of years abroad, or only allow voting for certain elections. Your embassy can tell you exactly what applies
Your first stop is the website of your country's embassy in Belgium - search for "voting from abroad" plus your nationality. Keeping your registration with your embassy up to date (including your Belgian address) also helps for passport renewals and consular services.
One rule for EU citizens: for the European Parliament you must choose - vote either in Belgium or in your home country, never both. For your home country's national elections, voting from Belgium is always allowed if your country permits it, regardless of what you do here.
Good to know: registration deadlines fall well before election day, often months ahead. If you want to vote in an upcoming local or European election, check your eligibility and register early in the election year rather than waiting for the campaign to start.
Sources
- Elections in Belgium - Flanders
- Federal elections service
- How to vote - Federal elections service
- VRT NWS - afschaffing opkomstplicht lokale verkiezingen
