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I already have a residence permit in another EU Member State
There is no residence permit issued by another EU Member State that grants you automatic access to the Belgian labour market.
As well as your residence permit from another EU Member State, you will also need both a Belgian residence and work permit. If you have a residence permit from another EU Member State, then it is possible for an employer – under certain conditions – to apply for a work permit on your behalf.
Working for less than 3 months: how to apply for a work permit
Your employer has to apply for a work permit on your behalf. The conditions and procedures vary depending on the region in Belgium. There are four competent regions:
Working for more than 3 months: how to apply for a single permit
Your employer has to obtain a work permit on your behalf. The conditions and procedures are different for each region in Belgium, there being four competent regions:
Does my right of residence in another EU Member State need to remain valid?
Important!
Even if you have a long-term residence permit in another EU country, you will not automatically be granted long-term status in Belgium. Meeting the requirements for a more stable or long-term residence in Belgium will take at least 1 year, or even longer depending on the circumstances.
It is always important that you:
- Retain your right of residence in the other EU country and make sure this does not expire
- Check whether you would be eligible for citizenship in that other country. Coming to Belgium as an EU citizen brings far more advantages than simply having residency status in another EU country.
Can I already come to Belgium?
Yes, BUT that could involve a number of risks! This is mainly due to the fact that the whole process takes a long time. The conditions are strict, and during this time you are not allowed to work and therefore will have no income other than your own savings.
Risks:
- Finding a job, even in a sector with labour shortages or under a special category can take over 3 months;
- Even if you find an employer right away, the process to acquire a single permit also takes several months;
- During this period, you will not yet be entitled to work and therefore have no income, meaning you will have to rely on your savings
In Belgium, workers from outside the EU may only be admitted if they are genuinely in demand on the Belgian labour market. By this, we mean that there are not enough workers available in Belgium to perform this type of job. The whole process depends on two situations:
- The need to bring in a worker must be verified for each application through an assessment of the labour market;
- Specific categories of workers who are considered, by definition, as essential.
When the necessity needs to be verified (scenario 1), the worker must still remain outside Belgium at the time of application. They must be in a country in which they have the right to reside. For applications that do not fall under any special category (scenario 1), applications can only be made when the worker is outside of Belgium. So if you are applying for a single permit for a job that does not require a university degree, does not fall within any category of occupations in short supply for economic migration or, for example, does not have a specific salary threshold, you will generally need to apply while you are still outside of Belgium.
When is it possible to apply from within Belgium?
Applications can be made from within Belgium during a short-term legal stay if and ONLY if you are exempt from the labour market test (case 2). For example, for highly skilled workers, executives, moderately skilled workers, etc.
In such cases, you can come to Belgium (maximum 3 months within a 6-month period) as a tourist with a valid ID document and residence permit from another EU Member State. As a tourist, you do not have the right to work, although you can start looking for a job.
You must report to the local municipality at your place of residence within 8 working days of your arrival in Belgium. From that moment on, you can start looking for a job in Belgium.
Your employer can apply for a single permit from the relevant regional authority, provided that:
- the application is made during the first 3 months of your stay in Belgium (otherwise you must return to your EU country of residence)
- and for a profession in short supply (see lists of professions by region), at least for the first 12 months of employment, or for a special category exempt from the labour market test
If the application is submitted after the 3-month deadline and/or if it is not for a profession in short supply/exempt category, you must check the general conditions for work permits (either a single permit or a work permit depending on your situation) and, as a general rule, you will have to leave Belgian territory to submit your application.
You are a long-term resident in another EU Member State and are coming to work in Belgium as a second EU country of residence. In this case, the application may be made during a legal short-term or long-term stay, for all categories of single permit. This means that the application can also be submitted for professions beyond those facing shortages or special categories during a short-term stay in Belgium. However, there is still a risk of not receiving a response within 3 months of your short-term stay. It is therefore important to bear in mind that, during this period, you will not be allowed to work, and will therefore have to rely on your own funds.
I hold ‘EU long-term resident’ status. Can I work?
No. No, a residence permit issued in another EU country is not considered a valid work permit in Belgium, even if the holder has EU long-term resident status. With EU long-term resident status, there are, in theory, more advantages. However, before being able to obtain a more favourable status, you must first obtain a Belgian single permit in order to be able to work in Belgium.
It is only after at least 1 year with a Belgian single permit that you will be able to enjoy the benefits of EU long-term resident status. The first permit you receive will be a fixed-term single permit, meaning you can only work for a single employer, who is responsible for making the application, and only in the position specified in the application. If you wish to change employers or roles, even with the same employer, a new application will need to be made.
Before this minimum period of 1 year, EU long-term resident status does not provide any more flexible conditions with regard to the application process EXCEPT in Wallonia, where the process for single permit applications by the employer is greatly simplified.
If you hold long-term EU resident status in another EU country, the legislation is very favourable. As long as you have an employer, regardless of the type of job you are seeking, it is possible to obtain a work permit.
Important! You can only start working after the Belgian authorities have approved an application submitted by your employer (Article 40, Walloon Government Decree of 6 June 2024).
In the other regions (Flemish Region, Brussels-Capital Region and German-speaking Community), you must follow the usual procedure for at least the first year, albeit with a few minor differences:
Application from within Belgium
Thanks to your EU long-term residence permit, you are free to come to Belgium and apply here.
You can therefore come to Belgium to look for work and then apply while you are here, doing so on a tourist visa.
Conditions:
- You are permitted to enter Belgium (for a maximum of 3 months within a 6-month period) as a tourist
- this means – no working
- with a valid ID document and residence permit, and
- reporting to the local municipality within 8 working days of entering Belgium.
If you find an employer, they can apply for a single permit from the relevant regional authority, provided that:
- – the application is submitted during the first 3 months of your stay in Belgium (otherwise you must return to your EU country of residence) without exception, after 3 months of stay as a tourist. There is no type of single permit that can be applied for from within Belgium. The short-term stay is no longer permitted and there is no long-term stay option – there is an undocumented stay, which cannot be regulated from Belgium with the single permit.
Risks posed by applying from within Belgium
- Finding a job, even in sectors with labour shortages, can take more than 3 months;
- Even if you find an employer right away, the process of acquiring a single permit also takes several months;
- During this period, you will not yet be entitled to work and therefore have no income, meaning you will have to rely on your own funds.
How to obtain a single permit of unlimited duration
The first single permit you receive will be of a fixed/limited term, and will therefore only be valid for work with a single employer in a specific position. If you wish to change your position or employer, a new application will need to be submitted.
An unlimited single permit allows you to work for any employer and in any position, giving you much more freedom. Thanks to your EU long-term residence permit, you will generally be able to obtain an unlimited single permit more quickly than other workers. However, there is still a waiting period and certain conditions that must be met. The specific conditions depend on the region in which you live, and it is up to you to apply, not your employer.
For more information: