Where and how to apply

Decision

You can introduce a request for a single permit for residence and work through your employer or his agent. The application must be submitted to the department of economic migration of the region where your employer is based: Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels Capital Region or the German-speaking Community.

To apply for a single permit your employer or his/her agent needs to submit a number of documents, including proof of payment of the administrative feeSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• (see ‘Documents required’). Your application is assessed by the competent regional authority and the federal Immigration Office.

The regional and federal authorities need to take a decision within 90 days.

If the regional authority grants an authorisation to work and the Immigration Office grants an authorisation to stay, you receive a decision to grant a single permit (annex 46) from the Immigration Office.

If one or both of the authorities fail to take a decision, you receive a certificate to grant a single permit (annex 47) from the Immigration Office.

If one or both of the authorities reject your application, you receive a decision to reject a right of residence (annex 48).

Visa D

To obtain a visa D to travel to Belgium, you need to present your annex 46 or 47 and international passport and submit a visa applicationSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• to the Belgian diplomatic or consular postSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN••• of your place of residence.

The authorities take your fingerprints and a digital photo.

You can check the status of your visa application online by entering your reference number and the location of the diplomatic or consular post.

Documents required

To apply for an authorisation to work and stay, your employer or his/her agent must submit:

• the completed and signed application form;
• documentary evidence related to the employment;
• a copy of the identity document of your employer or his/her agent;
• a copy of the employment contract or secondment letter;
• a copy of your contract with your foreign employer (in case of secondment) a copy of your higher education degree;
• proof that you are not subject to Belgian social security (in case of secondment);
• a copy of your international passport;
• proof of sufficient means of subsistence (if required);
• a certificate attesting to the lack of any convictions for crimes or offences under common law;
• a standard medical certificateSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••;
• proof of health insurance;
• proof of payment of the administrative feeSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••.

Further requirements

Single permit

After your arrival in Belgium, you need to register at the municipality of your place of residence within 8 working days.

You receive a temporary residence document (annex 49) pending the residence check to be executed by the authorities.

If the residence check is positive, the municipality issues a single permit for a limited period of time (A-card).

Duration of validity of permit

The single permit for highly-qualified workers is valid for the duration of the employment contract, for a maximum period of 3 years. The permit is renewable.

Conditions for renewal

You need to apply for renewal at the latest 2 months before your single permit expires.

If your authorisation to work has been granted for a limited period of time, you need to apply for renewal of the single permit to the regional authority.

If your authorisation to work has been granted for an unlimited period of time, you need to apply for renewal of the permit to your municipality.

In the first 5 years, you receive a single permit for a limited period of time (A-card). After 5 years, you can apply for a single permit for an unlimited period of time (B-card).

Appeals

If your application for authorisation to work has been rejected by the regional authority, your employer can appeal this decision before the competent appeal body within 30 days after you received the decision. You can lodge an appeal against this decision before the Council of State within 60 days after you received the decision.

If your application for authorisation to stay has been rejected by the Immigration Office, you can appeal this decision before the Council for Alien Law Litigation (CALL) within 30 days after you received the decision.

Further information

Coming to work in BelgiumSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••

Authorisation to work in Flanders

Authorisation to work in WalloniaSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••

Authorisation to work in Brussels Capital Region

Authorisation to work in German-speaking Community

Authorisation to staySearch for available translations of the preceding linkFR•••

Visa applicationSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••

Your visa application

Change of employment

The single permit is granted for work with a specific employer. If you want to change jobs, your future employer must apply for a new single permit.

Unemployment

If you or your employer do not respect the conditions related to your authorisation to work, your single permit can be withdrawn.

Change of status

If your personal situation or purpose of stay changes during your legal stay in Belgium, you can apply for most other statuses.

Family members

Your family members have a right to stay in Belgium if they meet the conditions for family reunificationSearch for available translations of the preceding linkEN•••.

Long-term residence

You can apply for EU long-term resident status after 5 years of uninterrupted legal stay in Belgium, provided you have sufficient, regular and stable means of subsistence and health insurance.

Stays for reasons of temporary nature (for instance as seconded employed worker) are not taken into account.