Admission conditions of the following categories of third-country nationals covered by the trade agreements
Business visitors for establishment purposes (BVEPs)
- The category of BVEPs does not exist in the Belgian legislation. Therefore BVEP must resort to the standard immigration channels as employed workerSearch for available translations of the preceding link, highly-qualified workerSearch for available translations of the preceding link, intra-corporate transfereeSearch for available translations of the preceding link or self-employed workerSearch for available translations of the preceding link.
Short-term business visitors (STBV)
Categories of visa, permits or any similar type of authorisation regarding entry and temporary stay
Short-term visitors can apply for a visa type C (maximum 90 days within a 180-day period). For a list of countries of which its nationals are exempted from visa requirements, please click hereSearch for available translations of the preceding link.
Certain professionals can also apply for a single permitSearch for available translations of the preceding link if they wish to stay more than 90 days:
- persons employed by a foreign worker participating in a professional training in the framework of a training agreement;
- specialised technicians sent by their foreign employer for the assembly, maintenance and repair of an installation.
Consult the website of the competent regional authority for more information about these special categories.
Work permit requirements
- Short-term visitors are exempted from the requirement to obtain a work permit.
Documentation required and conditions to be met
To obtain a visa type C, you need to submit proof related to:
- the purpose of your travel;
- your accommodation (or adequate resources to ensure accommodation);
- adequate resources for stay and return;
- your intention to leave before the visa expires.
Where and how to file an application
- You can submit a visa applicationSearch for available translations of the preceding link at the Belgian diplomatic or consular postSearch for available translations of the preceding link in your country of origin or the country of residence. You can check the status of your visa application online by entering your reference number and the location of the diplomatic or consular post.
Application fees and indicative processing time
- To apply for a short stay visa, you need to pay an application fee of EUR 60 (in certain cases reduced to EUR 35). The authorities take a decision within15 days. This processing time may be extended in exceptional circumstances.
The maximum period of stay under each type of authorisation
- 90 days (within a 180-day period). The short-term visa can be delivered for one or multiple entries.
Conditions for any available extensions or renewal
- You can extend your visa if you have demonstrated that you cannot leave before your visa expires because of humanitarian reasons or force majeure. You have to submit your application for an extension to the municipality as soon as possible.
Rules regarding accompanying dependents
- Under certain conditions, it is possible for your dependents to accompany you.
Available review and/or appeal procedures
- If your application for a visa type C 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.
Relevant laws of general application pertaining to the entry and temporary stay of natural persons
- Regulation N° 810/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas;
- Regulation N° 2016/399 of the European Parliament and the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders (Schengen Border Code);
- Law of 15 December 1980 on the access to the territory, residence, establishment and removal of foreign nationals (Immigration Act);
- Royal Decree of 8 October 1981 on the entry on the territory, residence, settlement and removal of foreign nationals.
Contractual service suppliers (CSSs)
- There is no specific categoryfor CSSs foreseen in the Belgian legislation. The CSSs need to obtain a single permit as employed workerSearch for available translations of the preceding link, highly-qualified workerSearch for available translations of the preceding link or intra-corporate transfereeSearch for available translations of the preceding link.
Independent professionals (IPs)
- The category of IP does not exist in the Belgian legislation. Therefore IPs must resort to standard immigration channels as self-employed workerSearch for available translations of the preceding link.
Where and how to apply | Decision You can introduce a request for a single permit for residence and work through your employer. 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 seasonal worker permit your employer needs to submit a number of documents, including proof of payment of the administrative feeSearch for available translations of the preceding link (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. The processing time is reduced to 60 days if you have already been employed as a seasonal worker in Belgium in the previous 5 years and if you have respected the conditions related to this status. 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 link to the Belgian diplomatic or consular postSearch for available translations of the preceding link 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 must submit:
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Further requirements | Seasonal worker 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 | You can stay in Belgium as a seasonal worker for a period of up to 150 days in a period of 365 days. |
Conditions for renewal | Your seasonal worker permit is renewable provided the maximum period of your stay does not exceed 150 days. You need to apply for renewal to the regional authority at the latest one month before your seasonal worker permit expires. The authorities assess if you fulfil the conditions for renewal. Particular attention is also paid to the risk of irregular migration, EU security and your intention to leave the territory before your permit expires. |
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 link Authorisation to work in Flanders Authorisation to work in WalloniaSearch for available translations of the preceding link Authorisation to work in Brussels Capital Region Authorisation to work in German-speaking Community Authorisation to staySearch for available translations of the preceding link Visa applicationSearch for available translations of the preceding link |
Change of employment | The seasonal worker permit is granted for work with a specific employer. If you want to change jobs, your future employer must apply for a new permit. |
Unemployment | If you or your employer do not respect the conditions related to your authorisation to work, your seasonal worker 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 link. |
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 seasonal worker) are not taken into account. |
No information available at the moment.