Paperwork for a new baby in Belgium
A new baby comes with forms. These are the ones asked of new parents in Belgium, in the order they come, each from the official page that sets it. Read it together or on your own: every step says who usually does it.
In short
- 2 steps before the birth and 3 after it, each one taken from an official page.
- Registering the birth: within 15 days.
- Each step says who usually does it: the parent giving birth, the other parent, or either of you.
- No amounts here: they change every year and depend on income. The official page under each step has today’s figure.
What is due in Belgium, and when?
| Step | When | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Arrange maternity leave with work | Before the birth | The parent giving birth |
| Arrange the partner’s leave with work | Within 4 months of the birth | The other parent |
| Register the birth | Within 15 days | Either of you, or together |
| Add the baby to your health insurance | After the birth declaration | Either of you, or together |
| Claim the family benefits | Can be asked for in pregnancy | Either of you, or together |
What to do before the birth in Belgium
Arrange maternity leave with work
Who: The parent giving birth
In Belgium an employee has 15 weeks of maternity leave (17 for twins). No work in the 7 days before the due date nor in the 9 weeks after the birth; the other weeks can be taken before or after.
Checked against SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale, checked on 11 October 2026
“Une travailleuse qui va accoucher a droit à un congé de maternité d’une durée de 15 semaines.”
SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale, read on 11 October 2026“La travailleuse ne peut en aucun cas effectuer des prestations de travail dans la période des sept jours qui précédent la date présumée de l’accouchement, et dans les neuf semaines qui prennent cours en principe le jour de l’accouchement.”
SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale, read on 11 October 2026“Les semaines restantes peuvent être prises soit avant soit après l’accouchement.”
SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale, read on 11 October 2026
Arrange the partner’s leave with work
When: Within 4 months of the birth
Who: The other parent
In Belgium the other parent has 20 days of birth leave (congé de naissance, geboorteverlof), to take within 4 months of the birth.
Checked against SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale, checked on 11 October 2026
“le congé de naissance compte vingt jours pour les naissances qui ont lieu à partie du 1er janvier 2023.”
SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale, read on 11 October 2026“Les jours du congé de naissance peuvent être pris, au choix du travailleur, dans les quatre mois à dater du jour de l'accouchement.”
SPF Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale, read on 11 October 2026
What to do after the birth in Belgium
Register the birth
When: Within 15 days
Who: Either of you, or together
In Belgium the birth is declared within 15 days, weekends and holidays included, at the civil registry of the commune where the baby was born. In some communes it can be done at the maternity.
Checked against be.brussels (Région de Bruxelles-Capitale), checked on 11 October 2026
“Les parents ont 15 jours après la date d’accouchement - samedis, dimanches et jours fériés inclus - pour déclarer la naissance de leur enfant.”
be.brussels (Région de Bruxelles-Capitale), read on 11 October 2026“Cette démarche se fait au Service Etat Civil de la commune où est né l’enfant.”
be.brussels (Région de Bruxelles-Capitale), read on 11 October 2026“Dans certaines communes, vous pouvez déclarer la naissance de votre enfant à la maternité.”
be.brussels (Région de Bruxelles-Capitale), read on 11 October 2026
Add the baby to your health insurance
When: After the birth declaration
Who: Either of you, or together
In Belgium add the baby to your mutualité (ziekenfonds). At the birth declaration the commune gives you birth certificates; the mutualité may ask for one, and the family allowance fund will.
Checked against be.brussels (Région de Bruxelles-Capitale), checked on 11 October 2026
“Lors de la déclaration, vous recevrez un certain nombre d’attestations de naissance. Celles-ci vous seront notamment nécessaires pour une demande d'allocations familiales, ou sur demande de votre mutuelle.”
be.brussels (Région de Bruxelles-Capitale), read on 11 October 2026
Claim the family benefits
When: Can be asked for in pregnancy
Who: Either of you, or together
In Belgium family allowances are paid by your region: the Groeipakket in Flanders, a Walloon allowance fund you choose in Wallonia, a Brussels fund in Brussels. The birth allowance can be paid from 2 months before the due date, so it can be asked for during the pregnancy.
Official page: Vlaanderen.be (Groeipakket)
Checked against Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be), Service public de Wallonie (wallonie.be), Famiris, caisse publique bruxelloise d'allocations familiales, checked on 11 October 2026
“You will receive the payment no earlier than 2 months before the expected due date.”
Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be), read on 11 October 2026“Le choix de la caisse est libre.”
Service public de Wallonie (wallonie.be), read on 11 October 2026“La prime de naissance est déjà versée sur votre compte 2 mois avant la date de naissance prévue.”
Famiris, caisse publique bruxelloise d'allocations familiales, read on 11 October 2026
What differs by region in Belgium?
Some steps work differently from one region to another. These are the ones that differ from the national rule above, each from its own official page.
Flanders
Use Flanders’s rules in the app
Claim the family benefits
When: From 6 months of pregnancy
Who: Either of you, or together
In Flanders the Groeipakket pays a one-off startbedrag: apply before or after the birth, with a medical certificate of at least 6 months of pregnancy; it is paid at the earliest 2 months before the due date. The monthly amounts then start by themselves.
Official page: Vlaanderen.be (Groeipakket)
Checked against Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be), checked on 11 October 2026
“You can apply for the startbedrag before or after the birth (or in case of adoption).”
Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be), read on 11 October 2026“The certificate must confirm that you are at least 6 months (180 days) pregnant.”
Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be), read on 11 October 2026“Monthly payments of the basic amount start automatically after the birth or adoption, provided all information is complete and correct.”
Vlaamse overheid (vlaanderen.be), read on 11 October 2026
Wallonia
Use Wallonia’s rules in the app
Claim the family benefits
When: From the completed 6th month
Who: Either of you, or together
In Wallonia the prime de naissance is not automatic: ask a family allowance fund of your choice, from the completed 6th month of pregnancy.
Checked against Service public de Wallonie (wallonie.be), checked on 11 October 2026
“Cette prime n'est pas octroyée automatiquement, vous devez en faire la demande préalable auprès de la caisse d'allocations familiales.”
Service public de Wallonie (wallonie.be), read on 11 October 2026“À partir du 6ème mois accompli de grossesse, les parents peuvent introduire leur demande de prime.”
Service public de Wallonie (wallonie.be), read on 11 October 2026
Brussels
Use Brussels’s rules in the app
Claim the family benefits
When: Can be asked for in pregnancy
Who: Either of you, or together
In Brussels the prime de naissance is paid into your account 2 months before the due date, so ask your Brussels allowance fund for it during the pregnancy.
Checked against Famiris, caisse publique bruxelloise d'allocations familiales, checked on 11 October 2026
“La prime de naissance est déjà versée sur votre compte 2 mois avant la date de naissance prévue.”
Famiris, caisse publique bruxelloise d'allocations familiales, read on 11 October 2026
Questions parents ask
How much will we get?
This page does not say, on purpose. Amounts change every year and depend on income and work, and a wrong figure is worse than none. Each step links the official page that has today’s amount and the rules for your case.
Is this legal advice?
No. It names each step, who usually does it, where and by when, as the official pages put it. Your own case can differ: your employer, your registry office or the office named on each page has the last word.
Does this apply if I am doing it on my own?
Yes. The steps are the same together or on your own. A step marked for the other parent, such as their leave, only applies if there is one.
How current is this?
Each step links the official page it was read on. Where a step rests on a sentence we re-read every week, the date it was last read is under it, and if the official page changes the step says it is being re-checked instead.
Your paperwork, dated and shared
Syncry turns this list into your family’s own checklist: each deadline counted from your due date or your baby’s birthday, split between the two of you or all yours, a reminder before each one, and ticked off together.