What Documents Do You Need to Start a Company in Belgium? [2026 BV/SRL Checklist]
Updated: 1 hour ago
If you’re starting a BV/SRL in Belgium, you’ll need to prepare several documents and key pieces of information before incorporation. These include details about the founders and the company, a financial plan, identification documents, and documents related to the initial contribution.
Some documents are prepared by you, while others — such as the articles of association and the notarial deed — are created as part of the incorporation process. The exact requirements can also vary depending on how you contribute to the company and whether you are a foreign founder.
This checklist explains which company formation documents in Belgium you need to prepare, which are created during incorporation, and when each one is required.
Company Formation Documents in Belgium: BV/SRL Checklist
Document / registration | Stage | Who handles it | Required? |
Founder/director identification | Before incorporation | Founder/director | Yes |
Company information | Before incorporation | Founder(s) | Yes |
Financial plan | Before incorporation | Founder(s) | Yes |
Bank certificate | Before incorporation | Bank | For cash contributions |
Auditor's report | Before incorporation | Auditor | For contributions in kind or of industry |
Founders’ special report | Before incorporation | Founder(s) | For contributions in kind or of industry |
Articles of association | During incorporation | Prepared as part of notarial process | Yes |
Notarial deed of incorporation | During incorporation | Notary | Yes |
Filing and registration of the deed | During incorporation | Notary | Yes |
CBE registration | During/after filing | Notary/competent registration process | Yes |
Enterprise number | After CBE registration | Issued through CBE | Yes |
Belgian Official Gazette publication | After filing | Filing process/notary | Yes |
UBO registration + supporting documents | After incorporation | Company/legal representative | Yes |
VAT activation | After incorporation | Company/representative | If applicable |
Documents and Information You Need to Provide Before Incorporating a BV/SRL
Identification Documents for Founders and Directors
The founders and directors of a BV/SRL must be identifiable as part of the incorporation process. You will therefore need to provide valid identification and the personal details required for the notarial process.
The exact documents requested can depend on your situation. Additional documentation may apply if you live outside Belgium, use a foreign-issued identity document, or if a company rather than an individual will be a shareholder.
Company Information
Before the incorporation documents can be prepared, you’ll need to provide key information about your future BV/SRL, its founders, shareholders, and management.
Company name — the proposed name of your BV/SRL.
Registered office — the official address of the company in Belgium.
Business activities — a description of what the company will do.
Founder and shareholder details — information about the individuals or legal entities establishing and owning the company.
Director details — information about the person or persons who will manage the company.
Share structure — how the shares will be distributed among the shareholders.
Initial contributions — what each founder will contribute to the company.
This information is used to prepare the company’s incorporation documents, including its articles of association and notarial deed.
Financial Plan for a BV/SRL
A financial plan is a mandatory document when incorporating a BV/SRL in Belgium. It must be prepared before the notarial deed is signed and should demonstrate that the company has sufficient initial resources to carry out its planned activities.
According to Article 5:4 of the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations (CCA), the financial plan must include, among other things, a description of the company's activities, its sources of financing, an opening balance sheet and financial projections for the first two years.
Bank Certificate for Cash Contributions
If you make a cash contribution when setting up your BV/SRL, the funds must be deposited into a special account opened in the name of the company being formed. The bank then provides a certificate confirming the deposit for the incorporation process.
This document is required before the notarial deed is signed when the initial contribution is made in cash.
Auditor’s Report for Contributions in Kind
If a founder contributes assets instead of cash — for example, property or other assets — additional documentation is required.
A contribution in kind must be described and valued, and an auditor’s report is required before incorporation. The report supports the valuation of the assets contributed to the BV/SRL.
Using BelDoc: You can provide your company information and required documents through the BelDoc platform and follow your BV/SRL incorporation online, including the notarial stage of the process. Learn more about incorporating your company with BelDoc.
Documents Created During BV/SRL Incorporation
Once you have provided the required company information and supporting documents, the formal incorporation documents for your BV/SRL can be prepared. For a BV/SRL in Belgium, incorporation requires a notarial deed.
Articles of Association
The articles of association set out the legal framework for how your BV/SRL will operate. They include key information about the company, such as its name, registered office, business activities, governance structure, shares and rules for transferring them.
The articles of association form part of the deed of incorporation and are prepared as part of the notarial process.
Notarial Deed of Incorporation
A BV/SRL must be incorporated by notarial deed. The deed formally establishes the company and includes its articles of association.
The notary draws up the deed based on the company information and documents provided during the preparation stage. Once the deed is signed, the notary handles the required filing formalities.
Filing and Registration of the Deed
The deed of incorporation must be filed with the registry of the competent enterprise court. For a BV/SRL, this filing is handled by the notary.
The notarial deed must also be registered with the competent registration office of FPS Finance. For a notarial deed, the notary is responsible for completing this registration within 15 days.
The filing process also leads to the company's registration with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) and the publication of an extract from the deed in the Belgian Official Gazette.
Registrations and Documents After BV/SRL Incorporation
After the notarial deed is signed, several registrations and formalities still need to be completed before the company setup is fully finalized:
CBE registration and enterprise number — the BV/SRL is registered in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) and receives its unique enterprise number.
Publication in the Belgian Official Gazette — an extract from the deed of incorporation is published in the annexes to the Belgian Official Gazette.
UBO registration — the company's ultimate beneficial owners must be registered in the UBO Register within one month of incorporation. Supporting documents confirming the ownership or control structure may also be required.
VAT activation — if the company carries out activities subject to VAT, its enterprise number must be activated for VAT purposes.
Once the applicable registrations are completed, your BV/SRL is ready to operate with the required company registrations in place.
Manage Your BV/SRL Incorporation Online with BelDoc
Starting a BV/SRL involves more than preparing documents — they also need to move through the right steps of the incorporation process.
BelDoc is a digital platform for company incorporation in Belgium. Through BelDoc, you can provide the information and documents required to set up your BV/SRL, follow the incorporation process, work with a Belgian notary, and keep track of your company formation in one online flow. Start your incorporation.
