Frequently asked questions

Nuvoni is a full-digital, mobile-first solution. A pocket-size administrative assistant that helps you claim back VAT on your purchases according to your capacity (Diplomat, staff member of an international organization or tourist). Download the Nuvoni app, register yourself and get started!

Transparency is key; hence we don’t hide our pricing. Check out our pricing page to have the latest information. You do not want to pay? Again no problem - we do offer an option of delayed VAT refund without transaction fees.

Nuvoni BV is a private limited company under Belgian law, with registered office at de Meeûssquare 35, 1000 Brussel, Belgium, with company number 0780.735.578, that holds accreditations by both the Belgian Ministry of Finance (accreditation ID ET139,087) and the Belgian Customs (accreditation ID ET137,560). Our official accreditation documents are available upon request.

As we handle sensitive information - the protection of your personal data is our top priority. Data protection is in place at every level of our organization, both online, as well as offline. We only store essential data as part of our servicing.

Nuvoni BV holds the following certifications; ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System and ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System. Nuvoni holds periodical penetration tests on its IT infrastructure; these scans comply with the external network scanning requirement for PCI DSS Compliance (Requirement 11.2.2).

Yes, your entitlement to the exemption of VAT is granted as from an amount of €125,00 excluding VAT. This is applicable to both your personal usage, as well as any purchase on behalf of a Diplomatic mission. This minimum may be different and subjected to reciprocity rulings.

Fiscal privileges are granted in respect to the bilateral agreements between your county and the host country  Belgium. The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs may adjust fiscal privileges to specific countries or missions depending on reciprocity. These rulings may change on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis.

The exemption of VAT - by means of an E-certificate - can only be granted when the exempted VAT amount is refunded to a Belgian bank account for which you as the Diplomat are the account holder. This is a requirement set by the Belgian Ministry of Finance.

Yes, members of your household may benefit from the same privilege granted to you as a Diplomat. However, the exemption of VAT can only be granted on behalf of you as the Diplomat. For each purchase the corresponding invoice should be issued to you as the Diplomat. When an invoice is issued to another individual, the invoice cannot be processed.

Per the directive by the Belgian Ministry of Finance, the exemption of VAT can only be granted when an invoice is issued for the purchase. How do I know that it is an invoice? This is your personal checklist of information that should be shown on the document;

• An invoice number
• A date of purchase
• The full name of the Diplomat
• The Diplomat’s personal address (or the one of the Diplomatic mission)
• Merchant information (name, address and Belgian VAT number)
• Description of the purchased goods and / or services
• The total amount of the purchase (with and without VAT)
• A specification of the VAT that is applied (with a breakdown per VAT rate if applicable - 21%, 12% or 6%).

First of all,  welcome to the Nuvoni community! In order to switch from your current authorized operator to Nuvoni, two (2) easy steps are required.

1 - Inform your current operator of your cancellation request and please copy info@nuvoni.eu in your communication.

2 – Sign up via our web-app and get started!

Important! Per directive by the Belgian Ministry of Finance we can only start validating your requests after a transition period of two (2) months following your cancellation with your current operator (in the meantime you can already submit your requests to Nuvoni).

Welcome to Belgium! The currency is EURO (€). The standard VAT rate is 21%, other VAT rates such as 12% (eg. margarine) and 6% (eg. food and books) apply to a very limited range of products. The minimum purchase amount is €125,01 - excluding VAT - on the same day at the same store in Belgium in order to be able to shop tax-free.

Is your permanent residence in a non-EU country? Yes? Perfect! Any person with its permanent residence outside the European Union can benefit from tax-free shopping.

The exemption of VAT (by means of a refund after positive validation by the Belgian Customs) is granted on any good that is exported by yourself in your personal luggage (when leaving the European Union). The goods being exported should be unused.

Tobacco products are not eligible for tax-free shopping.

Nuvoni is a full-digital mobile-first solution - no need for a tax-free form. Make your purchase, ask for an invoice / receipt, upload the proof of purchase to your Nuvoni account and done! Nuvoni will request Belgian Customs to electronically validate your purchases when you are at the airport leaving the European Union.

This validation can only take place up to three (3) months after the date of purchase.

We offer the possibility to charge back on a credit or debit card, PayPal and a European bank account. An additional cost may apply depending on the credit card issuer.

Ooh yes! When at the airport, please make sure to allow yourself enough time in case the Belgian Customs require an in-person check / approval of your goods. We will notify you via your personal Nuvoni account should that be necessary.

If you are departing from a Belgian airport, but changing flights at another airport in the European Union and the goods you are exporting are to be checked through to a destination outside the European Union, your purchases will be validated as if you were at the EU departure point.

Yes, Nuvoni processes your approved Certificate 151. Once your Certificate 151 holds a counter-signature by your organization and an approval by the Belgian Ministry of Finance, Nuvoni can process your request and claim back the exempted VAT amount on your behalf.

Yes, any purchase at any store in Belgium for which you hold an approved Certificate 151 can be processed by Nuvoni. Shop at your favorite Media Markt, IKEA, Decathlon, … and send us the approved Certificate 151 for further processing.

Yes, this is a prerequisite to grant the exemption of VAT. This is required by the Belgian Ministry of Finance. We ask you to send us the original Certificate 151 with a copy of the invoice (the original invoice can be kept for guarantee purposes) to;

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Nuvoni BV
‍Silversquare Europe
Square de Meeûs 35 De Meeûssquare
Bruxelles 1000 Brussel
Belgique - België

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Our reception is open from 8h30 in the morning to 18h00 in the afternoon. Are you working for a larger international organization, such as the European Commission, NATO or SHAPE? Please inquire on the specifics at your organization, Nuvoni has collection points in place to help you send us the original documents without the need to mail them by postal services.

Yes, we do process approved Certificates 151 associated with purchases in other EU countries. We do require the original documents in order to process your request. Nuvoni is your one-stop-shop on VAT exemption.

Nuvoni is a VAT reimbursement partner that helps merchants in processing VAT exemptions for eligible groups, such as diplomats, tourists, members of international organizations, and military personnel. Nuvoni simplifies the refund process, making it efficient and compliant with Belgian regulations.

You may receive VAT exemption requests from Nuvoni because we are authorized to facilitate these refunds on behalf of non-Belgian residents who qualify for VAT exemption. By assisting these customers in their path of purchase.

Yes, Nuvoni is fully licensed to process VAT refunds. We adhere strictly to Belgian and international VAT regulations, ensuring that all procedures are legally compliant.  

Our Ministry of Finance license number is: ET139.087.

Good question. Here’s the deal:

• Less Hassle: We simplify VAT paperwork. Instead of scattered refund claims that your team has to sort out one by one, we bundle everything neatly.
• More Sales: Shoppers who know they can skip the VAT hassle tend to spend more—up to 21% more, in fact. That’s a big boost in revenue.
• Efficiency: Your staff can focus on sales and customer service rather than drowning in tax admin. Just send them to Nuvoni for the administration part.

Certain groups don’t have to pay VAT under Belgian law:

• Diplomats and International Organization Members: Exempt under international agreements.
• Non-EU Tourists: These visitors can get VAT refunds on items they export out of the EU.
• Military Personnel: NATO forces or other stationed military get exemptions for both personal and official purposes.

If a merchant chooses not to pay back the VAT owed to eligible clients, Nuvoni has a responsibility to act on behalf of those clients. Since we handle VAT claims in the name of our clients who are legally entitled to these refunds, we may be forced to take legal action to ensure compliance. Our role is to protect the rights of these shoppers and ensure that the VAT reimbursement process is completed fairly and according to the law. It's important to understand that refusing to process these claims can have legal repercussions, as VAT exemptions are backed by established regulations.