Belgium single permit for third-country workers 2026

As a general rule, a citizen of a country outside the European Union who wants to work in Belgium for more than 90 days needs a single permit, which combines the work permit and the residence permit into one procedure handled by the Immigration Office and the region where the job is based. Workers staying under 90 days, such as au pairs, still follow the older, separate work-permit route.

The application is submitted by the Belgian-based employer through the federal one-stop online counter, after which the file is passed to the relevant region: Brussels-Capital, Flanders, Wallonia or the German-speaking Community, each with its own detailed conditions. Together with the application, the worker provides a valid passport, proof of sufficient means of support, a criminal record extract for anyone over 18, a medical certificate and health insurance covering all risks in Belgium.

Once the file is complete, the region has up to four months, together with the Immigration Office, to decide on both the work and the residence side jointly; if no unfavourable decision is issued within that period, the permit is treated as granted. A worker applying from abroad collects the visa at the Belgian embassy or consulate for their place of residence and must register with the local authorities within 8 working days of arriving in Belgium.

Applications are accepted throughout the year and depend only on having an employer in Belgium ready to sponsor the position.