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Belgium Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) Permit

Single permit for intra-corporate transferees (ICT)

In short

Managers, specialists and trainee employees of a company outside the EU can be transferred to a Belgian branch of the same group under the ICT single permit. They must have worked for the group for at least three uninterrupted months and be paid no less than comparable staff.

Apply on Working in Belgium – single permit one-stop counter checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
For the duration of the transfer authorised by the region
Validity
Single permit for the transfer period
Fee
€152Immigration Office contribution fee for an intra-corporate transferee permit (2026); the same amount applies to long-term ICT mobility.
Funds required
€48,912 per yearFlemish pay presumption for specialists and trainee employees (100% of the average Belgian gross annual wage, 2025); EUR 78,259 for managers (160%). The presumption can be rebutted with sector data.
Processing time
Flanders (October 2026): about 5 weeks before the regional examination starts for most other categories, then about 14–15 weeks at the Immigration Office.
Work
Yes, at the Belgian entity of the group named in the permit
Family
Family reunification is possible with a sponsor holding limited residence.
Where to apply
The Belgian host entity applies through the single permit procedure; the employee then obtains a D visa from the Belgian mission responsible for their country of residence.

Who qualifies

The Belgian entity (as user of the posted worker) and the company in the non-EU country (as sending employer) must belong to the same undertaking or group. The employee must have been employed by the group for at least three uninterrupted months before the transfer.

Managers do not need a diploma but must show a management role. Specialists need at least a level 5 diploma, or equivalent experience for ICT managers and specialists. Trainee employees need at least a bachelor's degree.

Pay requirement

Pay during the whole transfer must be no less favourable than for comparable positions. Flanders presumes this is met at EUR 78,259 a year for managers and EUR 48,912 for specialists and trainee employees (2025 figures); a lower sector average can be argued in the application.

Procedure and EU mobility

Stays of up to 90 days as a short-term posting with a Limosa declaration are exempt from a work permit. For longer transfers the Belgian entity applies for a fixed-term single permit. If the employee already holds an ICT permit from another EU state, the application must prove that permit, the group link and the pay criterion, but not the diploma or seniority again.

  1. Your group confirms the transfer category (manager, specialist or trainee employee) and pay level.
  2. Collect proof of group membership, three months' service, diploma, medical certificate and criminal record, and pay the EUR 152 fee.
  3. The Belgian entity files the single permit application through the one-stop counter.
  4. After the positive decision, apply for the D visa through Visa on Web and lodge it at the competent Belgian mission or its service provider.
  5. Register at the municipality within eight days of arrival.

After arrival in Belgium

Report to the municipality of your place of residence within eight days of arrival to register in the foreigners' register. After a positive residence check (a local officer verifies that you live at the address) you receive a single permit card for the transfer. Book the municipal appointment early, as waiting times can be long.

Refusal and appeal

Refusals by the Immigration Office can be challenged before the Council for Alien Law Litigation (CCE/RvV), as a rule within 30 days of notification, by the person concerned or their lawyer. Decisions of the regional employment authority on the work component have their own appeal route stated in the decision. A new application with the missing evidence is also possible.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Criminal record extract issued within six months, apostilled or legalised depending on the issuing country, with sworn translation if not in Dutch, French, German or English
  • Visa on Web long-stay (D) application form, printed and signed

Travel

  • Valid passport and copy of the data page

Money

  • Proof of payment of the Immigration Office contribution fee (bank transfer with name, nationality and date of birth in the reference), unless exempt

Work

  • Proof that the sending and receiving companies belong to the same group
  • Proof of at least three months of uninterrupted employment with the group
  • Assignment letter with role, duration and pay

Other

  • Medical certificate on the official Belgian form, issued within six months by a doctor accredited by the Belgian mission (otherwise with legalised signature), in Dutch, French or English

Supporting documents (where they apply)

Study

  • Diploma (specialists level 5, trainees bachelor's)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an ICT permit for a two-month assignment?

Postings of up to 90 days with a Limosa declaration are exempt in Flanders under short-term mobility, but you still need a Schengen visa.

Is the salary benchmark absolute?

No. It is a rebuttable presumption: the application can show that the average pay in the sector is lower.

How long must I have worked for the group?

At least three uninterrupted months with the original employer in the non-EU country.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Belgium

Visits and short stays

  • Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area
  • Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area
  • Transit visa Maximum stay: Transit only: the days needed to cross the Schengen area to the next destination
  • Medical treatment visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area
  • Culture, sports and events visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Maximum stay: Residence for the length of studies, renewed yearly
  • Researcher visa Maximum stay: For the duration of the research project
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Up to six months, renewable once, in the Flemish "trainee in or after training" category
  • Au pair visa Maximum stay: One year at most, including a single possible renewal

Work

  • Work visa Maximum stay: Tied to the employment contract; Flanders can grant up to three years at once for highly skilled workers
  • EU Blue Card Maximum stay: For the contract period; after 24 months of Blue Card employment a three-year card is issued
  • Seasonal work visa Maximum stay: 150 days within any 365-day period
  • Job seeker visa Maximum stay: Up to 12 months

Family

Residence

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection Maximum stay: Right to stay during the procedure; recognised refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection receive residence permits

Belgium visa guide