Transfer a Company's Registered Office
A registered office move handled from A to Z
Transfer a Company's Registered Office
We are J. Jordens, and many companies contact us to transfer their registered office to Brussels, or more precisely to Uccle, often through a professional registered office service. Here is how this procedure actually unfolds — often seen as complex, though it can be carried out quickly with the right support.
Statutory office and real office: an essential distinction
The statutory registered office is the official address recorded in your articles of association and in the official registries. The real office corresponds to the place where the company's management actually takes place. These two notions can coincide, but this is not a strict requirement: this is notably what allows companies managed from abroad to have a Belgian statutory office through a registered office service.
The transfer procedure step by step
- Decision of the competent body (most often the management body, unless your articles of association provide otherwise).
- Checking the articles of association to see whether the precise address is stated there or only the municipality, which simplifies or complicates the process.
- Amending the articles of association if necessary, with a possible notary appointment depending on the legal form.
- Publication in the Belgian Official Gazette of the transfer deed.
- Official update with the new registered office address.
Why choose Brussels, and Uccle in particular
Brussels remains a central economic hub in Belgium, close to institutions, registries and a dense business network. Uccle, where our offices are located, in particular offers a recognized professional setting for establishing registered offices, with easy access to the administrative and legal services your company might need.
Anticipating the practical consequences of the transfer
A registered office transfer has repercussions beyond the simple address: it can change your competent business court jurisdiction, involve an update with your bank, your insurers, and all your business partners. We help you draw up a complete checklist so no related step is forgotten.
Our support for a smooth transfer
Since 1948, our firm has handled registered office transfers for both established Belgian companies and companies in the process of establishing themselves in Belgium. We handle drafting the documents, publication and the official update, and we can also offer you a registered office solution if you don't yet have an address in Brussels.
The case of a transfer from another region of Belgium
If your company is transferring its registered office from Flanders or Wallonia to Brussels, certain regional specifics may apply, particularly regarding local taxes or the language regime for publications. We systematically check these elements so your transfer file is processed without administrative blockage, whatever your company's region of origin.
The case of companies subject to approval
If your company carries out an activity subject to sector-specific approval or authorization, a registered office transfer may require informing the relevant supervisory body, in addition to the standard publication and official update procedures. We systematically check whether your business sector is affected by this type of additional obligation before starting the transfer procedure.
A well-prepared registered office transfer proceeds without real administrative difficulty, provided each step is anticipated and the process is not limited to publication in the Belgian Official Gazette alone, which is only part of the complete procedure. Feel free to consult us early in your project, even at a still preliminary stage, to validate the feasibility and realistic timeline of your transfer.
Are you considering transferring your company's registered office? Contact us for complete support, from the decision through to the official update of your data.