In theory, you can extend your right of residence for a period of 90 days. Please note: this only applies to your right of residence. You will not be allowed to work during these 90 days.
Your employer must inform the regional authority of the end of your employment. The regional authority then informs the Office des Étrangers (Immigration Office), who will inform the municipal authorities, who will then inform you.
This whole process can take several weeks. As a result, you may be informed of your last day of legal residence after it has already passed, meaning that you are no longer legally entitled to reside in Belgium.
Example: your fixed-term single permit expires on 8 June 2026
You are dismissed by your employer and your last day of work is 8 June 2026. You were working on a fixed-term contract (CDD) until 8 June 2026.
The end date of your employment is considered foreseeable as it corresponds to the end of your employment contract. As such, the Office des Étrangers (Immigration Office) may deem that you are not entitled to an additional 90 days of residence. You will be expected to be able to leave Belgium at a moment’s notice.
You are dismissed by your employer and your final day of employment is 8 June 2026. You were working under a permanent contract (CDI).
The end date of your employment is considered foreseeable as it corresponds to the end of your single permit. As such, the Office des Étrangers (Immigration Office) will rule that you are not entitled to an additional 90 days of residence. You will be expected to be able to leave Belgium at a moment’s notice.
You are dismissed by your employer and your final day of employment is 1 June 2026. You were working under a permanent contract (CDI).
The end date of your employment is considered unforeseeable, as it does not correspond to either the end date of your single permit or that of your employment contract. As such, the Office des Étrangers (Immigration Office) may deem that you are entitled to an additional 90 days of residence. They will inform you of the exact date of the end of your stay. However, due to delays, you may not receive this information until after this period has passed.
Your single permit expires on 8 June 2026, but you have an additional 3 months starting on 1 June 2026. You can obtain an Annex 51 from the municipal authorities to cover your temporary stay until 1 September 2026 (1 June + 90 days). This document does not entitle you to work!
If you manage to find a new employer who files a single permit application before 1 September 2026, you will be able to remain in Belgium for the duration of the procedure. The application only needs to have been submitted – it does not need to be approved before 1 September.
- However, if the application is refused, you will have to leave the country.
- If the application is approved using an Annex 46, you may begin working once you have received the Annex 49 – but not before! You can obtain this document from the municipal authority of your place of residence.
- If you are unable to find new employment, and therefore unable to submit a new application before 1 September 2026, you will be required to leave Belgium.
You are dismissed by your employer and your last day of employment is 1 June 2026, but your permit expires on 8 June 2027.
The end date of your employment is considered unforeseeable as it does not correspond to either the end date of your single permit or that of your employment contract. As such, the Office des Étrangers (Immigration Office) may deem that you are entitled to an additional 90 days of residence. They will inform you of the exact date of the end of your stay. However, due to delays, you may not receive this information until after this period has passed.
You cannot stay in Belgium for more than 90 additional days, even if your single permit is valid until 8 June 2027. You cannot stay in Belgium for more than 90 days without new grounds for right of residence.
However, you can remain in Belgium for more than 90 days if, during this 90-day period – in this case, before 1 September 2026 (1 June 2026 + 90 days) – you manage to secure new employment with a new employer, who in turn files a new application for a single permit. You will be entitled to remain in Belgium until the conclusion of this procedure. The application only needs to be submitted before 1 September 2026. It does not need to be approved ahead of this date.
- If your application for a single permit is refused, you must leave Belgium. Even if your residence permit expires in 2027, 1 September 2026 will still be your last day of legal residence.
- If the application is approved, you can start working once you have your new Annex 49.
- If you are unable to find a new employer/submit a new application before 1 September 2026, you will be required to leave Belgium.
