BELWAL registration: declaring your holiday home in Wallonia (2026)

What is BELWAL and why is it mandatory?

Anyone who rents out a holiday home in Wallonia must register with the Walloon regional register for tourist accommodation. After registering, you receive a unique number, the BELWAL number (sometimes called the BELWAL code or Belgian-Walloon registration number). You must display this number on all your listings, on every booking platform and in your communication with guests. The obligation stems from European regulation 2024/1028 on short-term rental, which applies in Wallonia.

The underlying reason is transparency. Authorities want to know how many holiday homes are active, how they are taxed and whether they follow local rules. For you as a host, the message is simple: a listing without a registration number is a violation. The number is not red tape but the condition for renting out legally.

Who does BELWAL registration apply to?

The requirement applies to anyone offering paid accommodation in Wallonia, regardless of scale. Whether you rent out a whole holiday home, a gîte, a chalet, a bed and breakfast room or an apartment, you are covered. Even if you only rent out a few weekends a year through Airbnb or Booking.com, you need a BELWAL number. The obligation depends on the activity, not on how often you rent out.

If you rent through a platform, it does not take over your registration obligation. Airbnb and Booking.com ask for the number, but obtaining it and displaying it correctly remains your responsibility.

What changed in 2026?

Until 2026, hosts in Wallonia could work with an older recognition or notification. Under the new regime, which took effect with the new Walloon registration rules, those older documents are no longer sufficient. Hosts who had previously registered their property had to renew or complete their registration to obtain a valid BELWAL number.

The transition period for existing hosts ended during 2026. Renting out after that without a valid number exposes you to a fine and to your listing being removed on platforms that actively check for the number. So do not wait for a reminder.

Where and how do you register?

Registration goes through the portal of Tourisme Wallonie, the official Walloon tourism authority. There you will find the current procedure, the required documents and the rules per accommodation type. Because the exact steps can change, always check the official site for the most recent information.

As a general principle, you submit an application with:

• the property details: address, accommodation type and capacity (number of beds);
• the contact details of the host or operator;
• any supporting documents, such as proof of ownership or management and safety certificates.

Once your file is processed, you receive the BELWAL number. If you rent out several properties, you submit a separate registration per property: each unique address has its own number.

Where must you display the BELWAL number?

The registration number must be visible everywhere you offer the property:

• your own website or personal listing page;
• booking platforms such as Airbnb, Booking.com and other short-stay sites;
• social media where you actively promote the property;
• printed communication and brochures.

Platforms are required to check or request the number before a listing goes live. In Wallonia, Airbnb and Booking.com usually ask for the registration number when you create a new listing. Without a valid number, you will not even get online.

Difference with the Flemish and Brussels rules

In Belgium, tourist rental is regulated at regional level, and each region has its own system:

• Wallonia: BELWAL registration number via Tourisme Wallonie (EU 2024/1028).
• Flanders: registration with Toerisme Vlaanderen, with its own number and procedure. Read our guide on registering a holiday home in Flanders.
• Brussels: a separate registration system via the Brussels Region.

If you rent out properties in different regions, you need a separate registration per region. The numbers are not interchangeable: a Flemish number does not apply in Wallonia, and vice versa.

In practice: your calendar and bookings in order

Besides registration, a well-kept availability calendar is the basis of professional renting. A central calendar that syncs with your platforms keeps your availability correct everywhere and prevents double bookings.

Rentiplanner offers such an availability calendar: you manage your property in one place and sync automatically with Airbnb, Booking.com and other platforms via iCal. That way your administrative side is in order with the BELWAL number, and your operational side with a calendar that is always accurate.

Ready to set up your calendar? Create a free account and you are ready within minutes.

Frequently asked questions about BELWAL registration

Do I need a BELWAL number if I only rent out occasionally?

Yes. The requirement applies as soon as you offer paid accommodation, even for just a few weekends or weeks a year. Occasional renting through Airbnb or Booking.com falls under the rules just as much as professional renting.

What happens if I rent out without a BELWAL number?

Renting out without a valid registration number is a violation of Walloon rules. You risk a fine, and platforms that check the number can refuse or remove your listing. In practice, without a number you often will not even get online.

Do I need two BELWAL numbers for two properties?

Yes. You register per property, and each unique address receives its own BELWAL number. For a portfolio of several properties, you therefore submit several applications.

Is my Flemish registration number also valid in Wallonia?

No. The registrations are regional and not interchangeable. A registration with Toerisme Vlaanderen does not cover renting in Wallonia. If you rent in both regions, you need both a Flemish number and a BELWAL number.

Where do I apply for my BELWAL number?

Through the portal of Tourisme Wallonie, the official Walloon tourism authority. There you submit your application with your property details and your operator details. After processing, you receive the number, which you then display on all your listings.