If you are seeking to work in Belgium, non-EU nationals must have a work permit, a long-stay visa, and a residence permit. As per the Eurostat, Belgium released 142,647 work permits in the year 2022. The country ranks 7th among EU countries in terms of the total number of work permits issued in a year.
Skilled workers will be looking to get a Belgium work visa. the first step is to get a Job offer which will be your employment contract. Then, you will have to apply for a work permit based on the employment contract. Here, you can check out the list of some countries that can work in Belgium without a work permit or visa in the below sections.
Belgium Work Permit, Visa, and Residence Permit
As a non-EU or EEA nationalist, you will be required to apply for a work permit first or your employer can do it on your behalf. After that, applicants must apply for a long-stay visa to stay or live in Belgium. Next, you can apply for a residence permit.
Who can Work in Belgium Without a Work Visa?
Citizens of the EU, EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), and Switzerland don’t need a visa or work permit to work in Belgium. Here is the list of countries whose Citizens can apply for a visa.
- United States
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Japan
- Israel
Belgium Work Permits – Types
There are three types of work permits in Belgium:
- Type A Permit
- Type B Permit
- Type C Permit
Belgium Type A Work Permit:
It is for highly skilled workers and allows workers to work for any employer in Belgium.
Conditions – Must have held the type B permit previously for 4 years within a 10-year stay in Belgium.
Validity: Unlimited
Belgium Type B Work Permit:
It is for workers who have a valid Job offer from the Belgium employer.
Belgium Type C Work Permit:
Temporary workers, asylum seekers, or individuals with limited residency permits who are looking for short-term employment.
Requirements of a Belgium Work Visa
- Passport
- Application form
- Recent Applicant Photograph
- Non-European citizens require a work permit (single or work permit).
Visa Cost
The Cost of a Belgium Work Visa will be around 180 Euros.
Processing Time
Your Visa application can take up to 8 to 10 weeks.
Visa Validity
All Long Stay visas will be valid for 1 year. However, you will be able to renew your work visa at the Immigration Office.
How to Apply for the Belgium Work Visa?
Follow the steps to know the Belgium Work Visa Process:
- Get a Job offer from a Belgian employer.
- You can search for Jobs on some online portals including EURES, and the European Job Mobility Portal.
- Employers can start the process of applying for a work permit.
- Next, you will need to apply for a work visa at the Belgium embassy or VFS Global.
- Must carry the all required documents with you.
- Apply for the Long Stay Type D Visa.
- Finally, Go to the local town hall to get your work and residence permit.