BelgiumWork

Belgium Work Visa: The Single Permit for Employees

Single permit (combined work and residence permit, more than 90 days)

In short

Non-EU employees who will work in Belgium for more than 90 days need a single permit, which combines the regional work authorisation and federal residence permission. The Belgian employer applies online; after approval the worker obtains a type D visa in their country of residence and registers with the municipality.

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

Key facts

Maximum stay
Tied to the employment contract; Flanders can grant up to three years at once for highly skilled workers
Validity
Single permit (A card) for the authorised period, renewable
Fee
€152Immigration Office contribution fee for a single permit application (2026), submitted to the regional authority with the application.
Funds required
€48,912 per yearFlemish gross annual salary threshold for highly skilled workers aged 30 or over (2025 figure still used in 2026); EUR 39,129.60 under 30 and for nurses and teachers. Brussels and Wallonia set their own amounts.
Processing time
Flanders (October 2026): about 2 weeks before examination starts for highly skilled workers, 6 weeks for medium-skilled shortage jobs; then about 14–15 weeks at the Immigration Office.
Work
Yes, for the employer and job in the permit
Family
Spouse or registered partner and minor children can join through family reunification with a sponsor holding limited residence.
Path to permanent residence
After five years of legal and uninterrupted residence you can apply for EU long-term resident status.
Where to apply
Employer files online through the Working in Belgium one-stop counter; the worker then applies for a D visa via Visa on Web at the Belgian mission responsible for their country of residence.

How Belgium splits the decision

Work authorisation is a regional matter (Flanders, Brussels-Capital, Wallonia and the German-speaking Community decide for the main place of work), while residence is decided by the federal Immigration Office. Since 4 May 2026, Brussels accepts work applications only through the federal one-stop counter; PDF forms and e-mail are no longer used there.

Categories and salary thresholds

Each region admits specific categories: highly skilled workers, managers, medium-skilled workers in shortage occupations, specialised technicians, researchers, EU Blue Card holders and others. In Flanders a highly skilled worker needs a diploma of at least ISCED level 5 from a state-recognised institution and a gross annual salary of at least EUR 48,912 (aged 30 or over) or EUR 39,129.60 (under 30, and nurses or teachers at recognised institutions). Only fixed pay counts.

Brussels and Wallonia publish their own categories and amounts, which differ from the Flemish ones; employers must check the region of the main workplace.

Application by the employer

The employer (or an agent residing in Belgium, if the employer is abroad) submits a complete file through the Working in Belgium one-stop counter, which forwards it to the competent region. Documents cannot be added later by e-mail. The worker's residence documents include passport, proof of the EUR 152 fee, a medical certificate and, for those over 18, a criminal record not older than six months. After approval, the worker applies for a D visa with the positive decision.

  1. Your Belgian employer checks the regional category and salary threshold for the job.
  2. Send the employer your passport copy, diploma, medical certificate, apostilled criminal record and proof of the EUR 152 fee.
  3. The employer submits the complete application on the Working in Belgium one-stop counter.
  4. The region and the Immigration Office decide; the positive decision is sent to your address abroad.
  5. Apply for the D visa on Visa on Web and lodge it with the decision and your passport at the competent Belgian mission or its service provider.
  6. Travel, register with the municipality within eight days and collect the A card.

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 the single permit as an electronic A card showing the authorised work. Book the municipal appointment early, as waiting times can be long.

Renewal and changes

In Flanders, renewal is requested through the one-stop counter at least two months before expiry, and the worker must hold a valid Belgian residence permit. A new employer generally needs a new authorisation.

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

  • Employment contract meeting regional salary and category conditions
  • Positive single permit decision, for the D visa stage

Study

  • Diploma (for highly skilled categories) from a state-recognised institution

Insurance

  • Proof of health insurance or the employer's commitment

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a Belgian work permit myself?

Generally no. The employer or its Belgian agent applies; only in a few specific cases does the worker apply alone.

Is the salary threshold the same in Brussels and Flanders?

No. Each region sets its own categories and amounts. Flanders uses EUR 48,912 gross a year for highly skilled workers aged 30 or over.

How long does the whole procedure take?

In Flanders, roughly 2 to 6 weeks before the regional examination starts, plus about 14–15 weeks at the Immigration Office, then the visa.

Can I start working on a Schengen visa while the permit is processed?

No. Work for more than 90 days requires the single permit, and the worker must normally be outside the EU when the employer applies for new workers.

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

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