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Renewing or amending a professional card

Foreign nationals who wish to pursue a self-employed professional activity in the territory of the Flemish Region require a professional card to do so. Is your professional card about to expire? Or would you like to amend your company’s address or legal status? Then you can renew or amend your professional card.

Renewal

The professional card is not valid indefinitely. The validity period is between one and three years and is set according to the value added by the file. Be sure to note the expiry date of your professional card and apply for its renewal in a timely manner.

Amendment

A professional card applies solely to the self-employed activity for which it was requested. You must apply for an amendment to your professional card for any of the amendments listed below (this list is not exhaustive):

  • your address
  • the address of your registered office or establishment unit
  • your self-employed professional activity (amendment or addition)
  • your role within the company
  • your status from a secondary occupation to a primary occupation, or the other way around.

​​​​​​​You can only apply for the change if you provide proof of the change to the relevant department. For example, if you wish to change your status from self-employed as a secondary occupation to self-employed as a primary occupation, you must first contact your social insurance fund to execute these changes.

Content-related amendment

If there is a significant change to your professional activity, it will be considered a new first application rather than an amendment.

Do you still have a paper professional card? You can have it replaced free of charge:

  • if it is damaged
  • if you have misplaced it. Report this to the police and attach proof of the report to your application.

First professional card issued after 1 January 2022

If you first applied for your professional card after 1 January 2022, you must submit your renewal application no later than 60 days before the card’s expiry date.

Failing to submit your renewal application in time may result in your residence permit expiring before your professional card is renewed. If this happens, you cannot renew your card, but you may apply for a new first-time application.

  • Stap 1

    Check whether you meet the conditions

    You can only renew the card if you:

    • have a valid residence permit for Belgium
      If you do not have a residence permit when renewing your professional card, you should request the permit from the Belgian diplomatic or consular mission in your country of residence.
    • have fulfilled the requirements associated with the professional card, such as economic benefit and added value, and payment of taxes and social security contributions. The activity conducted under your renewed professional card must likewise contribute economic value to Flanders, particularly regarding employment, job creation, and innovation.
    • Copy of legal residence/identity card (Belgian document)
    • Extract from the criminal record (no older than 6 months)
    • Certificate from the direct tax office confirming that you have met this obligation and have no outstanding debts (personal income tax: form 276 C2).
    • Certificate from your social insurance fund indicating your registration date and confirming that all contributions have been paid (or that a repayment agreement is in place).
    • Proof of 110% of the living wage achieved in the past 12 months (pay slips, bank account deposits) In 2025, the amount was 25,575.44 euros; as of 1 March 2026, it is 26,086.66 euros.
    • Proof of wages that will be paid to you.
    • Recent balance and profit and loss account + social balance
    • Proof of VAT returns for the past 2 years or proof that you are exempt from VAT returns
    • Proof of projects completed, via invoices, contracts, cooperation agreements, etc.
    • Proof of future projects, via invoices, contracts, cooperation agreements, etc.
  • Stap 2

    Have the documents translated (if necessary)

      Have the documents translated (if necessary)

      All documents in your application file must be in Dutch, French, German or English. If a translation is required, please take note of the points below.

      • Attach the translation and a copy of the document in the original language to your file.
      • All documents issued by official institutions (government authorities, educational institutions, banks, etc.) must be translated by a sworn translator.
        If the translation is done by a translator who is sworn abroad, the translations must also be legalised or bear an apostille(opens in new window) from the competent authority in the country of issue.
    • Stap 3

      Submit your application and pay the fees

      The application fee is 140 euros. Follow the payment instructions you receive after successfully submitting your application.

      • The professional card can be renewed through the digital WSE portal. This can only be done via desktop or laptop, not via smartphone or tablet. Representatives are currently unable to apply for a client’s renewal through the WSE portal. Applicants must therefore submit the application themselves.
        For more information: sign into the WSE portal
      • The professional card can be amended through an accredited business counter.
    • Stap 4

      After the application

      The decision on your professional card will be communicated within 120 days of your application being deemed admissible. The timeframe may be extended in the case of a complex file. You will be notified of this by email.

      Decision

    • Stap 5

      Await the decision

      The decision on your professional card will be communicated within 120 days of your application being deemed admissible. The timeframe may be extended in the case of a complex file.

      The regional Economic Migration Service makes the decision on your application.
      There are 2 options:

      1. Approval
        • Your renewal application is approved
          • You pay €90 for each year the professional card is valid. Example: for a professional card valid for two years, you pay €180.
            Transfer the amount to the account number BE35 3751 1109 9637 stating: ‘BK-First nameSurname-date of birth dd/mm/yyyy’.
          • Once your payment is received, you can access and download your digital card through the WSE portal.
        • Your amendment request is approved
          • You can access and download your digital card through the WSE portal.
      2. Refusal
        • Your application is refused: you can appeal the decision.

    First professional card issued before 1 January 2022

    If you first applied for your professional card before 1 January 2022, you must submit your renewal application no later than 90 days before the card’s expiry date .

    Failing to submit your renewal application in time may result in your residence permit expiring before your professional card is renewed. If this happens, you cannot renew your card, but you may apply for a new first-time application.

    • Stap 1

      Put together your application file

        • Proof that you have paid the application fee (140 euros). You will receive this proof only after submitting your application file. Then include that document in your file just before submission.
        • Cover sheet with an overview of all supporting documents in your file.
        • Your current professional card, or a police report if the card has been lost.
        • A certificate of good conduct, issued by the government of your current country of residence. Or an extract from the criminal record in your name, no more than six months old.
        • Copy of your residence permit.
        • Do you not need the professional card to give you the right to stay in Belgium, because you have already obtained a valid residence permit by other means (e.g. through a work permit or family reunification) or because you want to work in Belgium as a diamond trader? Please attach the following documents:
          • a tax certificate proving that your taxes are paid and that you have no overdue debts
          • a certificate from your social insurance fund confirming that your social security contributions have been paid.
        • You need the professional card to give you the right to stay in Belgium
        • For a simple administrative amendment (e.g. address), you do not need to submit a new initial application.
        • For a substantive amendment , your application file must undergo a complete review again. Therefore, add the following supporting documents to your file
          • Your current professional card.
          • All general and specific supporting documents that you were required to submit with your initial application.

      • Add these supporting documents to your application file.

        • A police report if your professional card has been lost.
        • The professional card itself, if the card is damaged.
    • Stap 2

      Put together your application file

      Put together an application file which consists of the following components.

      • A completed, dated, and signed application form. The application form you need to use depends on your situation.
      • Proof that the application fee of 140 euros has been paid.
        You will receive this proof only after submitting your application file. Include that document in your file just before submission.
      • Required documents for renewing the professional card
        • General supporting documents:
          • a cover sheet with an overview of all supporting documents in your file
          • your current professional card, or a police report if the card has been lost.
          • a certificate of good conduct, issued by the government of your current country of residence.
            or
            an extract from the criminal record in your name, no more than six months old.
          • a copy of your residence permit.
        • Specific supporting documents, depending on your situation.
          • Do you not need the professional card to give you the right to stay in Belgium because you have already obtained a valid residence permit by other means (e.g. through a work permit or family reunification) or because you want to work in Belgium as a diamond trader? Please attach the following documents:
            • a tax certificate proving that your taxes are paid and that you have no overdue debts
            • a certificate from your social insurance fund confirming that your social security contributions have been paid.
          • Do you need the professional card to give you the right to stay in Belgium?
          • Do you want to continue your self-employed activities as a foreign student ? Include the registration certificate from your training centre in your application file.
        • Required documents for the amendment of the professional card
          If you wish to amend your professional card, your application file must undergo a complete review again. Therefore, add the following supporting documents to your file:
          • your current professional card
          • all general and specific supporting documents that you were required to submit with your initial application.
        • Required documents for the replacement of the professional card
          Do you wish to replace your professional card? Add these supporting documents to your application file:
          • a police report if your professional card has been lost
          • the professional card itself, if the card is damaged.
    • Stap 3

      Have the documents translated

        Have the documents translated (if necessary)

        All documents in your application file must be in Dutch, French, German or English. If a translation is required, please take note of the points below.

        • Attach the translation and a copy of the document in the original language to your file.
        • All documents issued by official institutions (government authorities, educational institutions, banks, etc.) must be translated by a sworn translator.
          If the translation is done by a translator who is sworn abroad, the translations must also be legalised or bear an apostille(opens in new window) from the competent authority in the country of issue.
      • Stap 4

        Submit your application and pay the fees

        The application fee is 140 euros.

        Where you submit the application depends on your situation.

        Proof of registration in the aliens’ register (A-card) or an EU Blue Card (H-card)
      • Stap 5

        After the application

        The embassy, consulate or business counter will send your file to the Economic Migration Service of the competent region within 5 days. They will check whether you have submitted the application correctly.

        • Your application is inadmissible? The competent authority will inform you accordingly.
        • Your application is admissible? The competent authority will further investigate your application.

        Decision

        You will be notified of the decision.

      Appeal against a decision

      You must lodge your appeal within 30 days. The period begins on the third working day after the dispatch date stated in the refusal or revocation notice.

      As long as the appeal is pending with the minister, you should be aware that:

      • Any new application you submit for the same professional activity will be declared inadmissible.
      • The appeal procedure has no suspensive effect. If your right of residence expires in the meantime, you must follow the guidelines of the Immigration Office (IO) and, if necessary, leave the country.

      Outcome of appeal procedure

      • The minister upholds the refusal or revocation. The decision is uploaded to the applicant’s record through the WSE portal(opens in new window).
        • You may submit a new application for the same self-employed professional activity one year after being notified of the refusal or revocation.
        • You may submit a new application for a different activity at any time.
      • The minister rejects the refusal or revocation. This decision is uploaded to the applicant’s record through the WSE portal(opens in new window). The professional card is issued according to the standard procedure, with or without additional conditions.
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      Contact

      Departement Werk, Economie, Wetenschap, Innovatie en Sociale Economie
      Team beroepskaarten