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Belgium has taken the step into the digital era of electronic invoicing. This move supports economic efficiency, reduces administrative burden, and fosters seamless, standardized data exchange across the country.
Country Situation
| Mandate Status | – |
| Mandate Scope | – |
| Model Type | |
| Government Entity | – |
| Formats | – |
| Infrastructure / Platform | – |
| E-signature Required | – |
| Key Deadlines | – |
| AR Mandatory | – |
| AP Mandatory | – |
| Peppol Available | – |
| Domestic Transactions | – |
| Cross-border Transactions | – |
| Archiving Period | – |
| Archiving Abroad | – |
Country Situation
Since April 2019, suppliers to Belgian public sector entities have been required to issue and send invoices in a structured electronic format that complies with the EN 16931 standard.
This requirement supports consistency, automation, and greater efficiency in invoice processing across all levels of government. By using a standardised format, it improves data quality, reduces manual effort, and aligns Belgium with the European Directive 2014/55/EU, which established e-invoicing in public procurement as a common EU-wide standard.
Belgium’s B2G e-invoicing mandate not only increases transparency and auditability in public sector transactions, but also sets the groundwork for future developments in digital compliance, including real-time reporting and integration with broader EU initiatives such as VAT in the digital age (ViDA).
| Mandate Status | Mandatory |
| Mandate Scope | B2G |
| Model Type | Interoperability / Post-Audit |
| Government Entity | Federal Public Service Finance |
| Formats | UBL 2.1, CII (Cross Industry Invoice) |
| Infrastructure / Platform | Peppol (mercurius platform) |
| E-signature Required | No |
| Key Deadlines | 1 March 2024: Structured e-invoicing is mandatory for all public contracts under €3,000 (excluding VAT), effectively covering all contract sizes. |
| AR Mandatory | Yes. All suppliers that enter into public contracts with Belgian public entities are required to issue structured electronic invoices. |
| AP Mandatory | Yes. Public entities are required to receive and process structured electronic invoices. |
| Peppol Available | Yes |
| Domestic Transactions | Mandatory based on contract value |
| Cross-border Transactions | Exports: Allowed via Peppol or EN 16931 formats by mutual agreement (not mandatory). Imports: Receiving optional, not required unless agreed. |
| Archiving Period | 7 years |
| Archiving Abroad | Yes. This is allowed under certain conditions. |
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