BELGIUM / SINGLE WORK PERMIT


Navigating the requirements for obtaining a single (work) permit in Belgium involves several detailed steps and specific documentation. This permit streamlines the process by combining the residence and work permits into one document, which is particularly convenient for non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals planning to work in Belgium for more than 90 days.

General Rules


Eligibility:

  • The single permit is applicable to non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals.
  • The applicant must have a valid employment contract with a Belgian company.
  • The work must be deemed beneficial to the Belgian economy, often necessitating the employer to demonstrate that no suitable EU/EEA/Swiss candidate was available.

Validity and Duration:

  • Typically valid for one year and can be renewed.
  • The duration matches that of the employment contract but does not exceed the maximum allowed years.

Family Reunification:

  • Holders of a single permit may apply for family reunification, allowing immediate family members to live in Belgium.

Application Process

Step 1: Employer’s Role

  1. Labour Market Test (if applicable): The employer might need to prove that no suitable candidate from the EU/EEA/Swiss labor market was found for the job.
  2. Economic Needs Test (depending on the sector and job): Certain sectors require justification of the economic need for a non-EU worker.

Step 2: Submission of Documents

  • The employer submits an application combining both work authorization and residence permit to the regional employment authority where the job will be located (e.g., VDAB in Flanders, Actiris in Brussels, or FOREM in Wallonia).

Step 3: Application Processing

  • Regional Approval: Initially processed by the regional employment authority, focusing on the employment aspects.
  • Federal Processing: Once approved on the regional level, the application moves to the federal immigration office for residence aspects.
  • Decision Time: Typically, the decision process takes about 4 months in total from submission.

Step 4: Collection

  • Upon approval, the worker can either collect the permit from the Belgian consulate in their home country or, if already in Belgium, from the local municipal office.


Required Documents


For the Employer:

  1. Application forms for work and residence permit (single permit).
  2. Job description: Detailed explanation of job responsibilities and requirements.
  3. Employment contract signed by both employer and employee.
  4. Proof of Advertisement (if applicable) showing the position was advertised in the EU/EEA/Swiss labor market.


For the Employee:

  1. Passport: Valid for more than 12 months.
  2. Passport-size photos.
  3. Health insurance: Proof of comprehensive health insurance coverage.
  4. Housing proof: Evidence of accommodation in Belgium.
  5. Educational and professional qualifications: Relevant diplomas and certificates.
  6. Medical certificate: Issued by an approved medical doctor certifying the applicant does not have any diseases that can endanger public health.
  7. Background check: Certificate of good conduct showing no criminal record.


Additional Notes

  • Sector-Specific Conditions: Some sectors may have additional requirements or exemptions based on the nature of the job and its impact on the Belgian labor market.
  • Local Variations: There may be slight variations in the process or additional requirements depending on the region (Flanders, Brussels, Wallonia).

Successfully navigating this process requires careful preparation of all documents and understanding the legal nuances, especially the labor market conditions that justify hiring a non-EU/EEA/Swiss national. Employers and employees alike must ensure that all provided information is accurate and complete to avoid delays or rejection of the application.

French, Belgian and Swiss business immigration & criminal lawyers

Our law firm was created in a spirit of innovation and with the desire to implement a distinctly modern approach to the practice of law. Lexial’s innovative geographical footprint allows the firm to serve customers in Brussels, Paris and Geneva dealing with European and international legal issues.

The firm focuses on specific areas of law. With Lexial, you are not a “number”, our team is voluntarily restricted in size because a customized relationship with our clients is a priority.

In addition to a selection of traditional legal services offered business and employment law, the firm has developed a specialized practice in international immigration law as well as in international criminal and political law. Lexial is every year classified as a leader among immigration lawyers and international criminal lawyers.

Thanks to its French and Belgian immigration lawyers, the firm possesses expertise in the area of international mobility in Belgium and France (especially French Talent Passport and Belgian Professional Card). We are also active in Switzerland.

Within this framework, we have developed strong relationships with Middle Eastern countries, in particular Gulf States (UAE, Kuwait and Qatar), Asia and North America.

The Firm applies the standard rules of ethics of European lawyers (CCBE).

WE DO NOT provide any legal opinion by telephone: please use our “on-line” consultation form.

Business immigration and criminal lawyers in France, Belgium and Switzerland

 

Créé en 2007 dans un esprit d’innovation et de modernité, Lexial est actif dans un nombre restreint de spécialités.

C’est tout d’abord en droit international et européen de l’immigration d’affaires que le cabinet s’est distingué compte tenu de l’expérience de ses avocats dans les domaines de la mobilité internationale, de l’immigration professionnelle et des problématiques propres à l’expatriation.

Le cabinet est à ce titre recommandé par différents organismes internationaux de référencement, mentionnés par ailleurs dans ce site.

Plus spécifiquement, nous conseillons nos clients en matière de permis de travail, de carte professionnelle pour indépendant, de permis de résidence et de nationalité dans les pays dans lesquels nous sommes présents.

Présent à Paris comme à Bruxelles depuis 2007, Lexial est depuis lors le cabinet de référence des Français de Belgique. Outre cette activité dominante, nous assistons les entreprises et les particuliers dans toutes les branches du droit des affaires, en droit du travail, ainsi qu’en droit pénal.

Ons advocatenkantoor werd opgericht met een innovatiegeest en de wens van een andere moderne aanpak van de rechtspraktijk in te voeren.

Het innovatieve geografische bedekkingsgebied van Lexial laat het kantoor toe, cliënten te bedienen van kantoren in Brussel, Parijs en Geneva, die met Europese en internationale rechtsaangelegenheden te doen hebben.

Het kantoor concentreert zich op een beperkt aantal deskundig rechtsvakken. Benevens de kleine selectie van traditionele rechtsdiensten die het voorstelt – strafrechtelijk, politiek, zaken- en tewerkstellingsrecht-, resulteerde de unieke aanpak van het kantoor in een enge scherpstelling op internationaal en Europees zakenimmigratierecht.

Het kantoor beschikt over erkende expertise op vlak van internationale mobiliteit, uitgewekenenzaken en beroepsimmigratie en kan aan cliënten raadgeven op specifieke materiën, m.i.v. werkvergunning, beroepskaart, nationaliteit en verblijftoelating in België, Frankrijk en Zwitserland.

Binnen dit raam ontwikkelden wij sterke betrekkingen met landen van het Midden-Oosten, in het bijzonder de Golfstaten (VAE en Qatar), maar eveneens met Azië en Rusland.

Наша компания была создана в духе новаторства и с желанием реализовать современный подход к юридической практике. Географическое положение офисов Lexial позволяет компании обслуживать клиентов в Брюсселе, Париже и Женеве по вопросам европейского и международного права. Компания сосредотачивает свою деятельность на ограниченных областяx права. В дополнении k более традиционным юридическим услугам – в уголовном, политическом, деловом и трудовом праве – компания развила со временем уникальный подход в облaсти миграции бизнеса на фоне европейского и международного законодательства. Компания обладает также большим опытом в области международной мобильности включая профессиональную иммиграцию, и может консультировать клиентов по конкретным вопросам, в том числе разрешение на работу, запрос на получение профессиональной карты, гражданства и вид на жительство в Бельгии, Франции и Швейцарии. В рамках нашей деятельности, мы разработали прочные партнерские отношения со странами Ближнего Востока, в частности государствами Персидского залива (ОАЭ и Катар), но и со странами Азии и России.

我们律师事务所的成立是以革新的精神和采用与众不同的现代途径来处理法律的业务.

Lexial 律师事务所革新的地理位置让我们在布鲁塞尔, 巴黎和日内瓦的办事处能为客户们提供各种在欧洲和国际上的合法服务。

我们的律师事务所是针对有限量的地区和专业领域加上少量选择性的传统法律业务如 : 刑事案件,政治,商业和劳工司法官司等。

公司独一的专长是针对 国际和欧洲的商业移民业务。公司具有处理国际流动性移民和职业移民的能力同时也能为客户提供各种有关的专业咨询,包括申请工卡,职业卡和在比利时,法国和瑞士申请公民和居留证等业务。

在这个工作框架内, 我们和中东的国家, 特别是海湾国家(阿联酋和卡塔尔)和亚洲, 俄罗斯等国家也发展了强大的业务关系。

تم إنشاء شركتنا القانونية بروح الابتكار مع الرغبة في تنفيذ نهج واضح وحديث لممارسة الأنشطة القانونية ‘لكزيال’ وموقعها الجغرافي المبتكر الذي يسمح للشركة لخدمة الزبائن من خلال المكاتب الموجودة في بروكسل وباريس وجنيف التي تتعامل مع المسائل القانونية الأوروبية والدولية تركز الشركة على عدد محدود من مجالات الخبرة القانونية. بالإضافة إلى مجموعة صغيرة من الخدمات القانونية التقليدية المقدمة – الجنائية والسياسية والتجارية وقانون العمل- فقد أدى نهج الشركة الفريد من نوعه في العمل إلى التركيز الدقيق على قانون هجرة الأعمال الأوروبي والدولي تمتلك الشركة الخبرة المؤكدة في مجال التحركية الدولية، وقضايا العمالة الوافدة والهجرة المهنية، كما يمكنها تقديم المشورة للزبائن في مسائل محددة بما في ذلك رخصة العمل، البطاقة المهنية، المواطنة والإقامة في بلجيكا وفرنسا وسويسرا في هذا الإطار، قمنا بتطوير علاقات قوية مع دول الشرق الأوسط، خاصة مع دول الخليج (الإمارات العربية المتحدة وقطر)، وأيضا مع آسيا وروسيا