Free workshop: Expat Financial Affairs seminar 3 October

Whether you’re seeking advice on buying real estate or are unsure about how to legalise your marital status in Belgium, the third edition of Expat Financial Affairs should answer at least some of your questions. Designed with expats in mind, this free one day seminar offers workshops and presentations by expert speakers, including representatives of the BNP Paribas Fortis, the largest bank in Belgium.

“This is a very unique event on the Belgian scene,” says Salvatore Orlando, head of expatriates at BNP Paribas Fortis. “On the same day you can get access to the best experts in the banking, financial and legal sectors. There is no other thing like it and we just couldn’t miss the opportunity to be a part of it.”

“In one of our workshops, we’ll be covering the tax and fiscal impacts of buying real estate in Belgium. We’re going to compare the three different regions and give advice on how best to go about buying new property. The real estate market is growing again, so this is a good time to do it.”

The focus will be on commercial real estate but it will not be limited to Belgium alone. “There will be a special session for international real estate investors,” Orlando says. “We’ll try to answer any questions they might have about buying properties abroad.”

In addition to the workshops on real estate, BNP Paribas Fortis will also offer advice on the financial and legal aspects of marriage. “It’s very important to make sure your marital status from another country is recognised when you move to Belgium,” Orlando says. “But imagine you’re a French national married to an Italian. What is the best legal regime to go with – the French, the Italian, or the Belgian? This can be very daunting.”

“We’ll explain how everything works. What you have to do upon arrival, where you have to go to register and the different steps you have to follow. And we’ll also guide you through the financial side of marriage, so we’ll be taking a look at the amount of taxes you might have to pay as a couple and the kind of systems of property ownership you’re entitled to.”

In the final of its four workshops, BNP Paribas Fortis will also look at entrepreneurship opportunities in Belgium. “We’ll tell you how to start your own business and offer some tips to help you down the road.”

BNP Paribas Fortis sees the seminar as a key way to connect with its expat clientele. “We don’t want to be a bank where you just come to sort out your financial affairs,” Orlando explains. “Instead, we strive to assist you every step of the way. Any questions you have, from choosing the right insurance to finding the best schools for your children, we’re here to answer them.”

Orlando says the seminar is also great way to socialise. “It’s an amazing opportunity to network with professionals from the industry, but, above all, it’s a chance to meet and mingle with other members of the expat community in Belgium.”

Expat Financial Affairs seminar
When: Saturday 3 October, 10:30-16:30
Where: Vlerick Business School, Place Rogier, 1000 Brussels

Free event, register here