E705: The Customs Signal for Importing a Car into Belgium

What is the E705 electronic signal?

If you import a car into Belgium, you need an E705 before you can register it. The E705 is an electronic signal from Belgian Customs to the DIV confirming that the car's customs and VAT are in order.

The DIV (Direction pour l’Immatriculation des Véhicules) is Belgium's vehicle registration service.

The E705 is free. Processing can take from a few hours to several weeks, depending on the file. The legal processing deadline is 120 days. Once the E705 is issued, you can continue with the next steps required to register the car in Belgium.

E705 vs the old vignette 705

The E705 replaced the paper vignette 705 on 1 February 2019. The old vignette was a physical sticker, while the E705 is an electronic signal sent directly to the DIV. You no longer need to collect or attach a sticker to the car.

Is it still a sticker? No. Since 1 February 2019, the E705 has been fully electronic.

Is the E705 mandatory for registration?

Yes. The DIV will not register an imported car without an E705. Belgian Customs sends the signal once the car's customs and VAT formalities are in order.

The car must also pass the required technical inspection before it can be registered.

Do you need an E705 for a car from another EU country?

Yes. You need an E705 for cars imported into Belgium from both EU and non-EU countries.

Customs and VAT formalities differ depending on where the car comes from.

Where the car comes from	Customs and VAT	What the E705 confirms
Outside the EU	Import duty and import VAT may be due. EUR.1 certificate can lower or remove the import duty	E705 confirms that the customs and VAT formalities are in order.
Another EU country	No import duty. The VAT treatment depends on the vehicle and the type of transaction.	E705 confirms that the VAT is in order.

How do you get the E705, and who issues it?

Belgian Customs (FPS Finance) issues the E705.

As a professional dealer, you can submit the required vehicle information through the E705 application. Belgian Customs checks the information and sends the E705 signal electronically to the DIV.

Submit the required vehicle information through the E705 application.
Belgian Customs checks the information and documents.
Customs sends the E705 signal to the DIV.
The car passes the required technical inspection.
The car can then be registered with the DIV.

Professional dealers: VAT-registered businesses can submit an E705 request through the E705 application. Private individuals can submit their request through MyMinfin.

Prepare these documents before you submit the request:

Purchase invoice (or the sales contract for a private sale)
The car's registration certificate from the previous country of registration
Proof of identity
Certificate of Conformity (COC), if available

Where does the E705 fit in the import process?

The E705 is part of the process for registering an imported car in Belgium. The main steps are:

Step	What happens
1. Customs	Complete the required customs and VAT formalities.
2. E705	Belgian Customs checks the information and sends the E705 signal to the DIV.
3. Inspection	The car must pass the required technical inspection.
4. Registration	Register the car with the DIV.

The registration tax depends on the region where you register the car. See BIV and TMC: Belgium's vehicle registration tax by region. For the full process, see our guide on how to import a car to Belgium.

Why does an E705 get rejected or delayed?

An E705 request can be rejected or delayed if:

The VAT formalities are not complete.
The chassis number (VIN) does not match the documents.
Required documents are missing.
The information in the request is incorrect or incomplete.

Check the information and documents carefully before you submit the request to avoid delays.

We based this on Belgian federal customs and vehicle-registration guidance, industry federation material, and hands-on experience importing cars into Belgium.

E705: The Electronic Customs Signal for Importing a Car into Belgium

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