Publication in the Belgian Official Gazette: Obligations and Procedure

Introduction

The Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge / Belgisch Staatsblad) is the official journal of the Belgian federal state. For businesses, certain publications in the Official Gazette are mandatory and constitute an essential corporate formality.

Which acts must be published?

Mandatory acts for companies

The following acts must be published in the Annexes of the Belgian Official Gazette:

• Articles of incorporation (statutes)
• Amendments to the articles (corporate purpose, name, registered office, capital, etc.)
• Appointment and termination of directors, managers, auditors
• Dissolution and closing of liquidation
• Transformation of legal form
• Merger and demerger
• Transfer of registered office
• Change of company name

Acts relating to annual accounts

Annual accounts are not published in the Official Gazette but filed directly with the National Bank of Belgium (NBB) through the Central Balance Sheet Office.

Publication procedure

The filing circuit

Electronic filing (e-Greffe)

For several years, filing can be done electronically via the e-Greffe platform. This system allows:

• Filing 24/7
• Faster processing
• Online tracking of publication status
• Slightly reduced fees

Required forms

Filing must be accompanied by standardized forms:

• Form I: for incorporations and amendments to articles
• Form II: for appointments and terminations of office
• Section C: for publications in the Annexes

Publication costs

Current fees (2026)

Publication fees vary according to the type of act:

• Incorporation of a company: approximately EUR 260
• Amendment to articles: approximately EUR 160
• Appointment/termination of officers: approximately EUR 160
• Dissolution: approximately EUR 160
• Corrective act: approximately EUR 130

Discounts are granted for electronic filings (approximately 20% less than paper filing).

Who bears the costs?

Publication costs are borne by the company. At incorporation, they form part of startup costs. For notarial acts, the notary generally includes them in the fee statement.

Publication timelines

Filing deadline

Acts must be filed with the clerk within 30 days of their date. Failure to comply may engage the directors' liability.

Publication timeline

Once filing is completed, publication generally occurs within 10 to 15 business days. This timeline may vary depending on the publication service's workload.

Enforceability against third parties

Acts are only enforceable against third parties from the day of their publication in the Official Gazette. Before publication, third parties can only have acts enforced against them if they had actual knowledge.

Consequences of non-publication

Failure to publish has significant legal consequences:

• Unpublished acts are not enforceable against good-faith third parties
• Directors may be held personally liable for damages resulting from publication delays
• Certain acts (such as limitations on a manager's powers) only take effect against third parties after publication

Consulting the Official Gazette

Online

All publications can be consulted free of charge on the Belgian Official Gazette website (www.ejustice.just.fgov.be). You can search by:

• Enterprise number
• Company name
• Publication date

Conclusion

Need assistance with your Belgian Official Gazette publications? LegalBelgique handles all your publication formalities, from filing with the clerk to tracking the actual publication. Ensure all your acts are compliant and published within legal deadlines.