Do you require a work permit in Belgium for your employee?

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Work Permits & More

What is a Work Permit?

A work permit is an official document that grants a non-EU/EEA national the right to reside and work in Belgium. It's a crucial step in bringing exceptional talent from around the world into your organization.

Who Needs a Work Permit?

In general, non-EU/EEA citizens require a work permit to work in Belgium. However, there are exceptions for certain categories, such as: family members of EU/EEA nationals, students enrolled in higher education institutions in Belgium and holders of permanent residence cards. Chat to the virtual assistant on our website to see if your situation requires a work permit.

How to Apply for a Work Permit?

The application process for a work permit in Belgium can be challenging, starting from the definition of the applicable work permit category.

Here's a general overview of the required steps:

1. Define the applicable work permit category
2. Collect & prepare the required documents depending on the category defined in step 1
3. Pay the statuary fee of the Immigration Office of Belgium (every year it tend to be changed)
4. Obtain a national number for your employee via the government platform
5. Submit a work permit application via the government platform

What Are the Rules and Regulations?

The Belgian government has established strict rules and regulations governing work permits to ensure fair competition for the Belgian labor market. Here are some key considerations:

• Skills and Qualifications: The skills and qualifications of the foreign national must be relevant to the position and match the demands of the Belgian labor market.

• Salary Requirements: The salary offered must meet the minimum wage standards and be in line with the remuneration for comparable positions in Belgium.

• Length of Stay: The duration of the work permit depends on the specific circumstances of the employment.

• Priority for EU Nationals: The primary focus is to employ Belgian and EU/EEA nationals, and therefore work permits of general category are granted only if there are no suitable local candidates available.

Who can submit an application?

Only employers and their mandate holders can initiate and submit an application for a work permit in Belgium. Employees only provide required documents to an employer.

Categories of work permits

Navigating the labyrinth of Belgian work permits can be a daunting task.

Please note that requirements and the full list of categories depend on the region of employment (Brussels, Flanders and Wallonia).

Here's an overview of the main categories of work permits:

• Highly skilled employee; 
• Managerial employee;
• Shortage occupations;
• Specialized technician; 
• Professional athlete; 
• Artist; 
• Au Pair;
• Postdoctoral researcher; 
• Compulsory work placement for post-graduate qualification;
• Traineeship at a government or international institution;
• Vocational training as part of a sales contract,
• Minister of a recognized religious denomination; 
• European Blue Card;
• Trainee of a multinational group; 
• Intra-corporate transferee;
• Journalist; 
• Employment under an international agreement;
• Seasonal worker;
• General category.