BELGIUM / SINGLE PERMIT
The Belgian single permit is a combined residence and work authorization for non-EU nationals who will work in Belgium for more than 90 days as employees. The application is generally introduced by the employer or its representative and is processed by the competent Region in coordination with the federal residence authorities.
Competent authority and filing
The competent Region is determined mainly by the place of work. Applications are generally filed through the Belgian One-Stop Counter / Working in Belgium platform, rather than directly with employment services such as Actiris, VDAB or Forem.
Labour-market conditions
Labour market conditions and exemptions vary depending on the Region, the worker’s profile, the salary level, the job category and the applicable legal basis. Highly qualified workers, shortage occupations, executives, posted workers and other categories may be subject to different rules.
Procedure
Once the file is submitted, the regional authority examines the work-related conditions, while the federal authorities examine the residence-related conditions. If the application is approved, the worker receives a single permit allowing residence in Belgium for the purpose of work.
A successful single permit application requires consistency between the employment contract, job description, salary, employer documentation and the worker’s qualifications. Incomplete or inconsistent documentation may delay the process or lead to additional questions from the authorities.