Belgium Single Permit in 2026

Belgium's single permit is the combined work-and-residence procedure used for many non-European employees who will work and live in Belgium for more than 90 days.

It is not purely a federal “work visa.” Economic-migration competence is shared: the competent regional authority examines the employment authorisation, while the federal Immigration Office examines the residence conditions.

Who uses the single permit?

The Working in Belgium portal states that a Belgian or foreign employer wishing to employ or post a worker from outside the EEA or Switzerland in Belgium for more than 90 days generally needs to apply for a single permit, subject to category-specific exemptions and alternative regimes.

This can include highly qualified employees and other authorised categories. The exact labour-market, salary and qualification rules depend on the region where the employment takes place and on the worker category.

Self-employed people are outside the ordinary single-permit route and should instead examine the professional card.

Who files the application?

The employer or its authorised representative normally starts the procedure through the Working in Belgium One-Stop Counter.

The application then passes through the competent regional employment authority and federal residence review. A regional authorisation to work does not automatically guarantee federal approval of the residence component.

Regional differences matter

Belgium does not use one identical employment threshold across all regions and categories.

For example, Brussels publishes category-specific minimum remuneration for highly qualified staff, management, artists, ICT workers and EU Blue Card holders. Flanders applies its own wage and qualification rules, and Wallonia has its own economic-migration framework.

Applicants should therefore identify the competent region before relying on salary figures from an online guide.

Brussels highly qualified example

For highly qualified staff working in Belgium for more than 90 days, Brussels directs employers to the single-permit procedure.

Brussels states that:

  • the application is submitted through the One-Stop Counter;
  • the remuneration must reach the applicable category threshold;
  • the procedure takes at most 120 days from the moment the file is complete until the permit is delivered or refusal is notified; and
  • the work authorisation can be granted for the employment-contract duration, with a maximum of three years, with renewal possible.

This is a Brussels example, not a universal rule for every Belgian worker category.

Application evidence

The exact checklist depends on the region and category. Common elements in official regional checklists include:

  • the worker's passport;
  • employer/representative identification;
  • employment contract or assignment evidence;
  • evidence of the worker's lawful stay if already in Belgium;
  • qualification evidence where required;
  • salary evidence;
  • medical and criminal-record documents for the residence component where applicable; and
  • proof of required administrative contributions where the rules require it.

For postings or foreign employers, additional declarations and employment-condition evidence may apply.

More than 90 days versus shorter work

The single permit is principally relevant to employment and residence exceeding 90 days. Shorter employment, cross-border work and other situations can follow different work-authorisation or exemption rules.

Do not assume that a short-stay visa itself authorises employment. The work-authorisation question remains separate.

After approval and arrival

The employee must follow the instructions attached to the approval, entry documentation and residence process. Long-stay residents generally complete municipal registration after arrival. The residence card and work authorisation are linked to the approved conditions.

Changing employer

A single permit is not a blanket permission to work for anyone. The rules on changing employer depend on the category and region, and a new or amended authorisation may be required before the change takes effect.

Highly qualified workers should also compare the EU Blue Card, which has its own mobility and employer-change framework.

Remote work and foreign employers

The Working in Belgium portal expressly addresses foreign employers and posted workers. A worker paid by an overseas company should therefore not assume that foreign payroll makes Belgian work authorisation irrelevant.

If a person intends to live in Belgium while working remotely, first read Belgium Digital Nomad / Remote Work. The actual work arrangement determines whether a single permit, another employment authorisation, self-employment route or different residence basis is appropriate.

Family members

The worker's approval does not itself grant family members residence. Family reunification is a separate federal procedure, and requirements depend on the sponsor's status and family relationship.

Tax and social security

An employment permit does not settle payroll, tax or social-security treatment. Employers may have Belgian payroll withholding, social-security, posting and registration obligations depending on the facts.

Single permit versus EU Blue Card

The ordinary highly-qualified single-permit route and the EU Blue Card can overlap in audience but have different legal conditions. The Blue Card has its own salary and qualification rules and EU mobility features. Compare Belgium EU Blue Card before choosing a filing strategy.

For broader research, see the Belgium immigration hub, Europe, and visa-type directory.

Last verified: 17 September 2026. This page is editorial information, not legal or tax advice.

Official and supporting sources

Related routes in Belgium