In general, nationals of a country who work abroad in the diplomatic or consular services
of their country are exempt from social security coverage and taxes under the laws
of the host country, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna
Convention on Consular Relations, unless all parties agree to waive the exemption.
The Conventions, to which both the United States and Belgium are parties, apply to
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members of the staff of a diplomatic or consular mission, including the diplomatic,
consular, administrative and technical staffs;
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dependents of members of those staffs;
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the domestic service staff of the mission; and
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private servants employed by members of such missions.
The agreement does not affect the coverage of U.S. or Belgium government employees
to whom the Vienna Conventions apply unless they waive their immunity. Persons who
waive their immunity would be subject to the coverage provisions of the agreement
if they fall within one of the categories of persons to whom the agreement generally
applies.