Work Permit

Since January 3rd, 2019, Belgium has implemented the so-called "Single Permit" Directive 2011/98/EU. This Directive establishes a "single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State".

The single permit means that the work permit and the residence permit must be asked at the same time, through one single step. The single permit is the proof that the applicant can work and reside in Belgium.

In order to hire a researcher (without a hosting agreement, see below), the employer must introduce a demand near the regional authority in charge of Employment and Work, that

- will take a decision for what concerns the work permit part of the demand, and

- will redirect the request near the Immigration Office (for the stay permit part).

See the website of the Immigration Office for more on this, in French or in Dutch. 

The regional authority that must be contacted depends on the location of the employer's office.

Please note that, for the moment, the so-called Scientific Visa procedure is still valid and unchanged. It has not been integrated in the Single Permit procedure yet. Agreed research institutions still have the possibility to contract hosting agreements with their researchers.

The three types of work permit (A, B and C) do not longer exist. 

► The Work Permit A is replaced by an authorisation to work of undetermined duration. 

► For an occupation of more than 3 months, the occupation authorisation and the Work Permit B are replaced by an authorisation to work of limited duration.

► The Work Permit C is abolished.

For further information regarding Work Permits and authorisations to work, see:

Employment of foreign workers in a special residence situation - Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue (belgium.be) (in English)

http://www.emploi.belgique.be/defaultTab.aspx?id=4888#AutoAncher2 (in French)

http://www.werk.belgie.be/defaultTab.aspx?id=4888#AutoAncher2 (in Dutch)

More information on the implementation of the Single Permit Directive in Wallonia (in French and English):

https://emploi.wallonie.be/en/home/travailleurs-etrangers/permis-de-travail.html

Authorities in charge of the occupation authorization and of work permits A, B and C in Wallonia:

• Ministère de la Région wallonne

  Division de l'emploi et de la formation

  Place de Wallonie 1

  5100 Namur

  Tél.: 081/33 31 11 - fax : 081/33 43 22

  Site Internet : http://emploi.wallonie.be

More information on the implementation of the Single Permit Directive for the Brussels-Region:

http://werk-economie-emploi.brussels/en/work-permits

Authorities in charge of the employment authorization and of work permits in Brussels-Region:

• Ministère de la Région de Bruxelles-capitale

  Direction de la Politique de l'Emploi et de l'Economie plurielle

  Rue du Progrès 80

  1035 Bruxelles

  Tél.: 02/204 13 99 - fax : 02/204 15 28

  Site Internet : http://www.werk-economie-emploi.irisnet.be/fr/

More information on the implementation of the Single Permit Directive in theGerman-speaking Community (in German):

http://www.ostbelgienlive.be/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-269/4602_read-55305/

Authorities in charge of the employment authorization and of work permits A, B and C in the German-speaking Community:

• Ministerium der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft

  Abteilung, Beschäftigung, Gesundheit und Soziales

  Gospertstrasse 1

  4700 Eupen

  Tél.: 087/59 64 86 - fax : 087/55 64 73

  Site Internet : http://www.dglive.be