No, it is not a legal requirement. A non-resident can buy in Wallonia and pay the notary from a foreign euro account, and the notary can also refund or transfer to an account abroad. A Belgian account is often convenient for a mortgage or ongoing bills, but it is not mandatory to complete the purchase.
The purchase of a Belgian property is settled through the notary, and the law does not require the buyer to hold a Belgian bank account to do so. Funds for the price, the registration duties and the notary’s costs are transferred to the notary’s account, and that transfer can come from a foreign euro account. Likewise, any balance the notary owes you can be sent to an account abroad. So on the transaction itself, a Belgian account is a convenience, not a condition.
Where a Belgian account becomes practically useful is in two situations. First, financing: if you take a Belgian mortgage, the lender will usually want the loan to be serviced from a domestic account, and may make it a condition of the offer. Second, ongoing ownership: property tax (precompte immobilier), utilities, co-ownership charges and, for a rental, incoming rent are all simpler to manage through a local account with domiciled payments. A counter-intuitive point: you can complete the whole acquisition with no Belgian account at all, yet many owners open one straight afterwards precisely because living with the property is easier that way.
Anti-money-laundering rules apply regardless of the account’s country. The notary must verify the origin of the funds, so large transfers from abroad should be documented (sale proceeds, savings, a loan agreement). This is about traceability, not nationality, and it applies to Belgian and foreign buyers alike.
Easyhome flags early whether a Belgian account will help in your specific case, for instance if you are financing locally or planning to rent the property out, so you set it up at the right moment rather than in a rush before the deed.
At a glance
| Situation | Belgian account needed? |
|---|---|
| Paying the notary for the purchase | No, a foreign euro account works |
| Receiving a refund from the notary | No, transfer abroad is possible |
| Taking a Belgian mortgage | Often yes, lender may require it |
| Paying property tax and utilities | Not required but convenient |
| Managing incoming rent | Practical to have one |
| Proving origin of funds | Required for any account (AML checks) |