Working or living abroad
Wat is your story?
Living or working abroad: with KidsLife you are certain to receive all the Child Benefits you’re entitled to. Submit your application online, and we will set to work! Quick and easy!
What are the P12, E401 and E402 forms and how do I complete them?
Find the answers on this page below!
I live in Belgium and work abroad
I'm already receiving Child Benefits or Groeipakket in Belgium, and I begin working abroad
Then please notify us immediately!
Your entitlement to Child Benefit from Belgium must be reassessed. We update your situation, and depending on the country you work in:
- you'll receive child benefit from the child benefit fund in that country
- and/or your region in Belgium compensates the difference between the amounts paid abroad and the Belgian amounts
We will contact the foreign fund to find out how much child benefit you receive there. You will receive the Belgian child benefit depending on the date we receive this information. You may need to be patient.
Ben and Ella live with their 2 children in Antwerp and receive Child Benefits. Ella is a housewife. Wim is due to start a new job in Poland in January. He applies for Child Benefits in Poland. He’ll be entitled to Polish Child Benefit in Poland starting from January. Then Belgium will only be able to pay the difference between the Belgian and Polish amounts in the event that the Polish amounts are lower than the Belgian ones.
Ben & Ella
21/03/2023
I work abroad and I'm coming to live in Belgium
Welcome to Belgium! You probably have a lot on your to-do list.
Check our handy summary 'administrative steps to come to Belgium'
KidsLife will guide you to get all the benefits to which your child is entitled.
Simply submit an application using our online tool or complete the application forms. Be sure to have your national register number and those of your family members at hand when submitting your application. Don’t have these (yet)? Then please supply us with the names and dates of birth of your family members.
You may have received or may still be receiving Child Benefit abroad.
For a quick application, inform us of:
- the name of the foreign Child Benefit Fund in charge of the payment
- your file number
- if the Fund has stopped paying you: the last date you received family allowances (Do you have a document that proves this? In that case, save time and send it to us!)
Please note: If you live in Brussels or Wallonia, then you must also have a professional activity (such as being employed or receiving unemployment benefits) in order to receive Child Benefits.
View all Child Benefits payment amounts here
Karl and Barbara are moving to Antwerp with their 2 children in January. They both work in the Netherlands and receive Child Benefit there. They also applied for Child Benefit in Belgium. Since the Netherlands have priority for paying Child Benefits, Belgium will only pay the difference between the Belgian and Dutch amounts from January, if the Dutch amounts are lower than the Belgian ones.
Karl and Barbara
21/03/2023
I work in Belgium but I live abroad
Simply submit an application using our online tool or complete the application forms. Be sure to have your national register number and those of your family members close at hand when submitting your application. Don’t have these (yet)? Then please supply us with the names and dates of birth of your family members.
To save time, let us know:
- is another (foreign) fund (still) paying you or have you ever received child benefit abroad?
- what is or was your file number?
- when was the last time you received child benefit?
Quentin and Klara are moving with their 4 children from Köln to Liège on January 1st. Quentin starts working in Belgium on that same date, whilst Klara continues to work in Germany. Since they have a place of residence and employment in Belgium from January, Belgium has priority for paying their Child Benefits. Germany will check whether they can add a supplementary payment for the difference between the Belgian and German amounts, in the event the Belgian amounts are lower than the German ones.
Quentin and Klara
21/03/2023
Once your application done, you will receive 2 documents if you live in the EU
E401 form: please have it filled in by the local authorities in the municipality where you live. We need it to know your family composition, and it gives you the right to child benefits. Depending on the country you live in, this form may also be sent directly to the fund abroad to be completed.
P12 form: please fill it in yourself to inform us of your family's professional activities or a change in your family situation.
You’ll be required to complete both of these documents every year
They allow you to update your family and professional situation and to quickly receive the family allowances provided for your family.
My children live abroad
In a country within the EEA or in Switzerland?
KidsLife will check your entitlement to Child Benefits. Regardless of your circumstances, you must have a professional activity.
The EEA countries are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Croatia, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Czech Republic and Sweden.
Temporarily living in a country outside the EEA?
Then you can still receive Belgian Child Benefits if one of the following conditions is met:
a) The child is studying abroad but remains a Belgium resident
- secondary studies abroad: entitles you to Child Benefit for a period of 1 year.
- higher education abroad:
- in Wallonia and Flanders: child benefit is paid for the duration of the studies. For example: After graduating from secondary school in Belgium, Alex goes to Canada to pursue higher education. He stays in Belgium. He receives child benefit for the duration of his studies in Canada.
- in Brussels: the child benefit is paid for a maximum of 1 year.
Everything about studying abroad
b) The child finished school but remains a Belgium resident
In Belgium, after completing his or her studies, the young job seeker begins a 12-month period during which he or she can still receive family allowances under certain conditions.
c) The child lives abroad temporarily but remains a resident of Belgium
Providing your child doesn’t reside abroad for more than 2 months, you’ll retain your Child Benefit entitlement. For a longer stay, please contact us.
My child lives abroad with a parent working as seconded employee
Are you living abroad on behalf of a Belgian employer? Then you remain subject to the Belgian Social Security and you will retain your Child Benefit entitlement for the child travelling with you for a maximum of 1 year. If you have another child during that 1-year period, this child will also be entitled to Child Benefit.
My child lives abroad for medical reasons
Your child might be staying abroad for medical reasons, for example to undergo a specific treatment. It can be on the part of your child, yourself (as a parent) or your partner. You’ll keep receiving Child Benefits for a maximum of three years. Please note: you must be able to prove (by means of a medical certificate) that returning to Belgium is not an option.
My child is raised in a country Belgium has concluded a treaty with
Belgium has agreements with several countries and this allows us to pay family allowances. As the conditions are different in each country, we advise you to contact us!
Here is the list of countries concerned: Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Israel, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Morocco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Tunisia and Turkey.
to more info about bilateral agreements
My child was abducted and taken abroad
You’ll receive Child Benefits until the child has reached the age of majority (18 years old).
International forms
What are the P12, E401 and E402 forms and how do I complete them?
If you live abroad, then we’re unable to view your family composition via the Belgian National Register (database containing the personal details of Belgian residents). We therefore send you the E401 document on an annual basis. This document must be completed by the Population Department of the city or municipality in which you live and is confirmation of your family composition abroad. It serves as proof that you still live at the same foreign address and lists all of the people who reside with you at this address. Depending on the country you live in, this document may also be sent directly to the competent foreign Child Benefit Fund for completion.
If you live abroad, then we’re unable to view your professional situation via the Belgian databases. We therefore send you the P12 document on an annual basis. You must complete this document yourself. You use the P12 document to specify any changes to your professional situation or family circumstances in the past year. It’s important that we’re kept up to date on your professional activities abroad, as this may affect which country is responsible for paying your Child Benefit. Please indicate any change in employment status for the year indicated on the form.
If your child has reached the age of majority and is studying abroad, each year, we will send you a certificate of attendance to be completed by the school.
Do you live or work in Flanders?
In Belgium, Child Benefits are different in the 3 regions. In Flanders, The Child Benefit is called 'The Groeipakket'. It has it's own amounts and conditions.
Do you live or work in Brussels or Wallonia?
In Belgium, Child Benefits are different in the 3 regions. The amounts and conditions will be different if you live (or work) in Brussels or in Wallonia. In addition, you must have a professional activity in order to receive Child benefits in Brussels and Wallonia (such as being employed, or receiving unemployment benefits).
The expert for your personal situation
We hope that you have found the answers to your questions on this page. Whatever your personal situation, KidsLife has more than 80 years of expertise in serving families abroad, for all regions in Belgium. Our motto is: Every child has the right to happiness! Welcome to KidsLife!