Work Permits in Belgium

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Work Permits in Belgium

EU citizens can enter Belgium and seek employment without the need for a permit to work. 

Anyone coming from a country outside the EEA will usually require a visa to enter Belgium. Non-EU nationals are advised to contact the Belgian Embassy in their home country before departure.

• To find out which nationalities need a visa to enter Belgium: Click here

Employees - Work Permits

Essentially there are three types of work permit (permis de travail/arbeidskaart) in Belgium. 

A Permit - Permis/Arbeidskaart A

This sort of permit has an unlimited validity and allows the holder to work in any sector of the economy. It is issued to those who can prove four years' employment in Belgium covered by a B permit within a period of up to ten years of legal residency in Belgium. The following documents are required when applying for a Permit A:

• Permit A application form, obtained from the employment office of the regional government
• Form stating personal details signed and stamped by the municipality where the applicant resides
• Photocopy of the residency permit
• Photocopy of previous B permit
• Photocopies of payslips for the period of validity of the previous B permit

B Permit - Permis/Arbeidskaart B

A B permit is issued for those who do not have the right to an A or C permit. It is valid for one employer only and for a maximum of one year. The employer must obtain an authorisation of employment (Autorisation d'occupation/arbeidsvergunning) and work permit in the employment office of the local regional government. The documents required for each application will depend on the category of work.

• To find out which documents will be necessary: Click here and then on the appropriate category (in French & Dutch)

Citizens of the new EU Member States (Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia and The Czech Republic) and of Roumania and Bulgaria need a work permit, but have a fast-track procedure for B permits for some professions.

A work permit B can be renewed, but if a holder changes employer then a new B permit is needed, together with a new residence visa. They are only issued if no Belgian or EU national can fill the job.

C Permit - Permis/Arbeidskaart C

A C permit is issued to those staying in Belgium temporarily and is valid for a maximum of one year. It is valid for all employers and salaried professions but are usually issued for agricultural or domestic workers or for people with a situation that is likely to change, such as students.

The following documents are required:

• Application form 
• Form stating personal details
• Photocopy of both sides of residency permit
• Certificate of full-time study (if a student)

Application forms for a C permit can be obtained from the employment office in the commune where the applicant resides or online:

• To download an application form for a Permit C: Click here (PDF in French) or here (PDF in Dutch)

Self Employed Workers - Professional Card

EU citizens have the right to work on a self employed basis in Belgium. Non-EU citizens will have to apply for a professionals' card (Carte Professionelle Pour Etrangers/Beroepskaart voor Vreemdelingen) at the Belgian consulate in the country where they live or from the Ministry for Federal Public Service Economy, SMEs, Self-employed and Energy (SPF Economie, PME, Classes moyennes et Energie/FOD Economie, KMO, Middenstand en Energie) at the following address:

• At: WTC III, Boulevard Simon Bolivar 30, 1000 Brussels
  Tel: 02 277 74 01
  Fax: 02 277 53 66
  e-mail
  Website

The professional card can be valid for five years.

• For further information from the Ministry: Click here (in French & Dutch)
• To download an application form: Click here (PDF in French) or here (PDF in Dutch)
• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page Self Employed in Belgium

Further Information

• Employment office for the Flemish-speaking Community: the VDAB 
• Employment office for the French-speaking Community: FOREM (in French)
• Employment office for the Brussels/Central region: ORBEM/BGDA (in French)
• Belgian Government site
• The SPF Employment, Labour and Social Consultation Service (Service Public Fédéral Emploi Travail et Concertation Sociale/Federale Overheidsdienst Werkgelegenheid, Arbeid en Sociaal Overleg) (in French & Dutch)
• AngloINFO INFOrmation page Residence Permits in Belgium