Working or living abroad
Wat is your story?
Living or working abroad: with KidsLife you are certain to receive every Child Benefits to which you’re entitled. Submit your application quickly and easily online, and we will set to work!
I live in Belgium and work abroad
You already are receiving Child Benefits or the Groeipakket in Belgium, and begin working abroad
Then please notify us immediately!
Working abroad may give you right to more Child Benefits abroad. In this case, your entitlement to Child Benefit from Belgium will be reassessed. It’s also possible that Belgium will only be able to pay the difference between the Belgian and foreign amounts in the form of a supplement.
We will ask the foreign Child Benefit Fund about the amounts paid abroad via the E411 document. This procedure will happen on a six-monthly or annual basis (depending on the country). You’ll therefore no longer receive a payment from KidsLife on a monthly basis, but rather on a six-monthly or annual basis. It all depends on when we receive the completed E411 document back from the foreign Child Benefit Fund.
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 the Netherlands on January. He applies for Child Benefits in the Netherlands. He’ll be entitled to Dutch Child Benefit in the Netherlands from January. Then Belgium will only be able to pay the difference between the Belgian and Dutch amounts in the event that the Dutch amounts are lower than the Belgian ones.
Ben & Ella
09/01/2023
You work abroad and are now coming to live in Belgium
Welcome to Belgium! You probably have a lot on your to-do list. KidsLife will guide you to get all the benefits to which your child is entitled.
Simply submit an application using our handy online tool or complete the application forms. Be sure to have the national register numbers of you and your family members to 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 still be receiving Child Benefit abroad. Regardless your circumstances, please notify us of the name and address of the competent foreign Child Benefit Fund in question.
- If the foreign Child Benefit Fund has ceased paying your Child Benefit, then we’ll request confirmation to this effect from the Child Benefit Fund in question. Already have such a confirmation in your possession? Then please add it to your application to save time!
- If the foreign Child Benefit Fund is still paying your Child Benefit because you still work abroad, then an investigation will first be initiated to determine which country has primary responsibility for paying your Child Benefit.
Please note: If you live in Brussels or Wallonia, then you must also have a profesionnal 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 applies for Child Benefit in Belgium. Since the Netherlands has 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
09/01/2023
I work in Belgium and live abroad
Simply submit an application using our handy online tool or complete the application forms. Be sure to have the national register numbers of you and your family members to 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 still be receiving Child Benefit abroad. Regardless your circumstances, please notify us of the name and address of the competent foreign Child Benefit Fund in question.
- If the foreign Child Benefit Fund has ceased paying your Child Benefit, then we’ll request confirmation to this effect from the Child Benefit Fund in question. Already have such a confirmation in your possession? Then please add it to your application to save time!
- If the foreign Child Benefit Fund is still paying your Child Benefit, then an investigation will first be initiated to determine which country has primary responsibility for paying your Child Benefit. The other country can then pay the difference between their own amounts and those from abroad in the form of a supplement. If you continue to receive payments abroad (because your partner still works there for example), then KidsLife will request the amounts paid via an E411 document on a six-monthly or annual basis (depending on the country). In the event that another country is able to make supplementary payments, KidsLife will issue certificates specifying the amounts paid in Belgium.
Quentin and Klara are moving with their 4 children from Köln to Liège on January. 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
09/01/2023
Application
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Documents
We’ll send 2 documents upon receipt of your application.
- The E401 document must be completed by the local authorities in the municipality where you live and serves as confirmation of your family composition.
- The P12 document assesses your professional activity abroad. You must complete this document yourself. You’ll subsequently be required to complete both of these documents on an annual basis.
You’ll be required to complete both of these documents every year.
My children live abroad
In a country within the EEA or in Switzerland?
KidsLife will check how many Child Benefits you may receive. Regardless of your circumstances, you must have a professional activity, such as being employmed, or receive unemployment benefits.
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 may still receive Belgian Child Benefits if one of the following conditions is met:
a) He-She is studying abroad but is still a resident of Belgium
Please note: a secondary education diploma has to be already obtained in Belgium.
- secondary studies abroad: entitles you to Child Benefit for a period of 1 year.
- higher education abroad: entitles you to Child Benefit for the study period.
Example: After completing his secondary education in Belgium, Nathan plans to pursue higher education studies in Canada. He retains his domicile address in Belgium. He’s entitled to Child Benefits for the entire duration of his Canadian studies.
Everything about studying abroad
b) He-She finished school but is still a resident of Belgium
A 12-month period begins after having studied in Belgium. If your child works as a volunteer abroad during this 12-month period or is pursuing a foreign internship that will help in their search for work, then you’re still entitled to Belgian Child Benefits providing you can submit a certificate from the National Employment Office (ONEM), Flemish Employment Agency (VDAB) or a volunteer organisation.
c) He-She finished lives temporarily abroad but is still a resident of Belgium
Providing your child doesn’t reside abroad for more than 2 months, you’ll retain your Child Benefit entitlement. You’re also entitled to Belgian Child Benefit if your child only resides abroad for the Easter, Summer or Christmas holidays.
Abroad with an expat parent?
Are living abroad on behalf of a Belgian employer? Then you remain subject to Belgian Social Security and 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.
Abroad for medical reasons?
Your child might be staying abroad for medical reasons, such as undergoing a specific treatment. It can be on the part of your child, you (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 demonstrate (by means of a medical certificate) that returning to Belgium is not an option.
Raised in a country with which Belgium has concluded a treaty?
Belgium has concluded a special treaty with a number of countries, such as Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. In this case, you’ll receive some Child Benefits from Belgium. However, the amounts defined in the treaty differ from the standard amounts. Payment is limited to a maximum of 4 children.
Abducted and taken abroad?
You’ll receive Child Benefits until the child has reached the age of majority (18 years old).
I gave birth abroad
In the following scenarios you can claim the Maternity Allowance and Child Benefits in Belgium. First of all, send us a copy of your child’s foreign birth certificate without delay.
Already receiving Child Benefits in Belgium for an older child?
- Yes, and your family lives in Belgium: you receive the Maternity Allowance if your child is registered in Belgium within 2 months.
- Yes, and your family lives abroad: we’ll send you a document about your new family composition and you have to ask the municipality where you live to fill it.
You will receive the Maternity Allowance providing you’re not paid a similar premium in your country of residence.
Is your child born in France or the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg?
In this case, the local authorities will pay the Maternity Allowance and not Belgium.
Are you an expat or civil servant living abroad?
In this case, you’re also entitled to the Maternity Allowance.
Everything about the Maternity Allowance
Not yet receiving Child Benefit in Belgium?
Just apply for your Maternity Allowance via our handy online tool or the application forms.
International forms: What are the E411, P12, E401 and E402 forms and how do I complete them?
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E401: family composition abroad |
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. |
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P12: professional situation for families living abroad |
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. |
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E411: overview of Child Benefit paid abroad |
If you receive Child Benefit abroad, Belgium can in some cases make supplementary Belgian Child Benefit payments. In this case, Belgium will pay the difference between the Belgian and foreign amounts. Of course, we can only calculate this difference if we’re aware of the amounts paid abroad. That’s why we send the E411 document to the foreign Child Benefit Fund on a six-monthly or annual basis (depending on the country). The foreign Child Benefit Fund enters the amounts paid in the E411 form and sends the completed document back to KidsLife. We can proceed to payment upon receipt of this document. |
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E402: school certificate for students abroad |
If you have adult children who are studying abroad, then an E402 document must be completed by the foreign school. The completed document serves as proof of the studies being pursued and must be completed each new school year. |
Child Benefits in Poland
Data exchange with Poland
If you live in Poland and work in Belgium or vice versa, you may receive Child Benefits in Belgium. The European documents are used to check the amount of Child Benefits you may receive. In Poland, the regional Voivodeship will complete these documents.
Theoretical amounts
If you’re entitled to Polish Child Benefit in Poland, then Belgium may pay the difference between the Belgian and Polish amounts. Of course, they can only do that if the Belgian amounts are higher than the Polish ones. If you’re theoretically entitled to Child Benefit in Poland, then Belgium must take this theoretical amount into account, even if you’ve never submitted an application for Child Benefit in Poland. In this case, Belgium will pay the difference between the Belgian amounts and the theoretical Polish amounts.
Family 500+ Allowance
A new Family Allowance was introduced in Poland on 1 April 2016: the Family 500+ Allowance or PLN 500 for raising a child. This allowance is awarded to parents or guardians of children up to the age of 18 based on the family income.
This benefit was made available to all children, regardless of their age and family income, from 01/07/2019.
From 01/07/2019, this Family 500+ Allowance must also be included when calculating the difference between the Belgian and Polish amounts. If you’re theoretically entitled to Child Benefit in Poland, then the Family 500+ Allowance must also be included in the calculation, even if you’ve never submitted an application for Child Benefit in Poland.
Child Benefits in France
Conditions in France
You receive Child Benefits in France depending on your income. You get a monthly basic allowance and could also receive potential supplements.
- If there’s only 1 child in your family, then you get Child Benefit until this child reaches 3 years of age (unless it concerns a child with a disability or an orphan, for example). You also receive annual ARS (Allocation Rentrée Scolaire or study allowance) payments until your child reaches 18 years of age.
- If there are several children in your family, then you may be entitled to Child Benefit up until 20 years of age.
Example: Camille and Nicolas have 1 daughter, Léa. Léa is entitled to Child Benefits until she reaches 3 years of age. At the age of 5, Léa has a little brother, Thomas. Both children are once again entitled to Child Benefit from Thomas’s birth. Once Léa turns 20, Thomas’s Child Benefit entitlement also ceases, because he’s now the only child in the family younger than 20 but older than 3 years of age.
Documents
KidsLife checks the amounts of Child Benefits you may receive using European documents. In France, the regional CAF (Caisse d’Allocations Familiales) will complete some of these documents.
Do you live or work in Flanders?
The Groeipakket (Child Befits name in Flanders) came into effect in Flanders on 01/01/2019. Prior to 2019, the Groeipakket was linked to a different legislation. Dont' worry, we’ll investigate your entitlement to both types of family allowance over the last 5 years.
Please note: the condition for entitlement prior to 01/01/2019 is a professional activity in Belgium. You might therefore be entitled to the Growth Package from 01/01/2019, but not to Child Benefit for the preceding period.
Do you live or work in Brussels or Wallonia?
In Belgium, Child Benefits are different in the 3 regions. The amounts 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).
Practical information to make your application go as quickly as possible
- Simply submit an application using our online tool.
- Be sure to know the national register numbers of you and your family members when submitting your application. Don’t have these (yet)? Then we’ll request the names and dates of birth of your family members.
- We need the bank account number to which you’d like us to make your payments. Don’t have a bank account (yet)? No problem! We’ll issue a circular cheque instead.
- If you received Child Benefits abroad, then we’ll also require the name and address of the Child Benefit Fund abroad. We’ll request confirmation that they’ve ceased their payments. Already have such a confirmation in your possession? Then please add it to your application to save time!
- If you still receive Child Benefit abroad, then we’ll also require the name and address of the competent foreign Child Benefit Fund. We’ll then communicate with this foreign Child Benefit Fund in order to determine which country is responsible for paying your Child Benefit.
- We check your right to Child Benefits over the last 5 years.
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. As we say, every child has the right to happiness!