Work permits – Categories and procedures

Foreign nationals who are coming to Flanders to work must first be granted permission to work. This requirement applies to everyone except for certain well-defined categories of foreign nationals.

The sort of work that the foreign national will perform determines whether they will be admitted to the labour market. The future employer of the foreign employee is to apply for the work permit.

Categories of eligible foreign employees

A work permit can only be granted if the work of the foreign national belongs to one of the categories below. Different conditions, requirements and procedures apply for every category.

Highly skilled
Highly skilledWork permits – Highly skilled workers
Candidate has a higher or tertiary education diploma or degree
Conditions in relation to minimum wages
Managerial position
Managerial positionWork permit – Managerial staff
Candidate fulfils a managerial role and manages employees
Conditions in relation to minimum wages
Shortage occupation
Shortage occupationWork permits – middle-skilled shortage occupations
Function performed by candidate is listed as a shortage occupation
Candidate has specific skills to perform tasks for listed function
Specialised technician
Specialised technicianWork permits – Specialised technician
Candidate assembles supplied installations and puts them into commission
Also valid for performance of maintenance and repair work
Professional athlete
Professional athleteWork permit – Professional athlete
Aimed at top-level athletes, trainers, referees
Candidate has employment contract for paid sport professionals
Artist
ArtistWork permit – Artist
For artists involved in audiovisual or visual arts, music, literature, theatre, etc.
Candidate must have earned at least 35,104 euro in 2020
Postdoctoral researcher
Postdoctoral researcherWork permits – Postdoctoral researcher
Minimum qualification level: 8 (Doctorate)
Candidate performs fundamental scientific research in a host university or recognised research institution
Trainee
TraineeWork permits – Trainee
Refers to full-time training position for a maximum of twelve months
Trainee must be between 18 and 30 years old
Compulsory work placement in framework of post-graduate qualification
Compulsory work placement in framework of post-graduate qualificationWork permits – Compulsory work placement in the framework of a post-graduate qualification
Trainee has already been awarded university degree
Compulsory work placement to fulfil requirements of post-graduate qualification
Trainee at a government or international institution
Trainee at a government or international institutionWork permits – Trainee at a government or international institution
Trainee has a work placement at a government or international institution based in Belgium
Work placement is part of a programme approved by an international institution
Vocational training as part of a sales contract
Vocational training as part of a sales contractWork permit – Vocational training as part of a sales contract
Candidate has employment contract with foreign employer (outside Belgium)
Candidate undertakes specific professional training in a Flemish company
Training in a multinational group
Training in a multinational groupWork permits – Training with a multinational group
Arises through training agreement between offices of a single group
Candidate granted admission for a maximum of ninety days
Minister of a recognised religious denomination
Minister of a recognised religious denominationWork permit – Minister of a recognised religious denomination
Candidate serves a local religious community in Flanders
Recognises Roman Catholic, Protestant, Anglican, Israeli, Orthodox and Islamic religious denominations
Journalist
JournalistWork permits – Journalists
Candidate resides in Belgium, working as a journalist
Candidate is exclusively linked to foreign newspaper, press agency or radio or television station
Employment under an international agreement
Employment under an international agreementWork permit – Employment under an international agreement
Candidate is admitted under an international agreement (such as ‘Erasmus’)
No work permit required if limited to a maximum of 90 days
Au pair
Au pairWork permits – Au pairs
Living costs and accommodation in exchange for performing light household tasks
Host family provides cultural education and enriches language skills
European Blue Card
European Blue CardWork permits – European Blue Card
Admission for highly qualified third-country nationals
Admission provided via a so-called single permit
Intra-corporate transferee
Intra-corporate transfereeWork permits – Intra-corporate transferee
Candidate transfer internally within a single company
Candidate submits an application for a highly skilled worker
Researcher hosting agreement
Researcher hosting agreementWork permits – Researcher with a hosting agreement
Research with recognised research institution via hosting agreement
The duration of the research project is set in the hosting agreement
Frontier workers
Frontier workersToelating tot arbeid - Grensarbeiders
A work permit/employment permit is always required
Permits are valid for a maximum of twelve months
Other categories
Other categoriesWork permits – Other
For manpower that it is impossible to find on the local labour market in a reasonable time frame
The employer needs to place a job vacancy

Work permits – Categories and procedures

Categories of eligible foreign employees

Frequently asked questions

Do foreign students need work authorization and how many hours are they allowed to work?

Work permits for foreign workers

Contact

Team arbeidskaarten

Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken

Work permits – Categories and procedures

Categories of eligible foreign employees

Frequently asked questions

Do foreign students need work authorization and how many hours are they allowed to work?

Work permits for foreign workers

Contact

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