If your organization is preparing for an expansion into Belgium, an important part of the process is likely to be bringing in foreign employees to assist with the expansion. To do this in compliance with the country’s laws, each employee will need a valid Belgium work visa.
Obtaining work visas for Belgium can be a complicated process, with different visa options and strict requirements making it difficult to navigate.
At Horizons, our foreign expansion specialists offer an extensive selection of Belgium work visa services, immigration support, and outsourcing, to give your business everything necessary to expand into Belgium with the help of the best foreign talent.
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Basic requirements for Belgium work visas
Different Belgian work visas have different requirements. However, there are some common requirements that most applicants will need to follow at some stage:
- Valid passport
- Application fees
- Application forms
- Proof of job offer
- Criminal record check
- Proof of funds
- Proof of qualifications/work experience
- Health check
Types of Belgium work visas
Belgium has several options for individuals aiming to work in the country. The three main categories of work visas are:
- Work Permit A: a long-term work visa that individuals can apply for after four years of holding Work Permit A during a ten-year period in the country.
- Work Permit B: a temporary work permit that can be renewed after one year.
- Work Permit C: a one-year work visa for use by students and some other types of visitors.
In most cases, Work Permit B will be the most suitable visa for your foreign employees in Belgium.
How to get a Belgium work visa
Employers will need to handle the majority of the preparation and application process, and before they begin they must provide proof that Belgians cannot be found to fill the role in question. Once this has been done, the employer will need to send an application form, after which the application will be passed to the employee’s local Belgian embassy/consulate.
Once approved, the employee may enter Belgium and begin working, where they will need to apply for an identification card and submit their biometric information. They can then legally begin working in the country.
Other considerations
While Type B visas can be renewed beyond one year, your employees may eventually want to obtain long-term residence, in which case they’ll need a Type A visa. If you are planning to stay in Belgium long-term, it may be worth considering these visas after a few years.
It is also important to note that people from European Union and European Economic Area countries are entitled to live and work in Belgium without getting a work visa, making the process a lot simpler if your employees qualify.
How can Horizons help?
At Horizons, we help employers of all kinds to expand into Belgium and we are experts in obtaining work visas for Belgium. Our Belgium work visa experts offer reliable advice and custom outsourcing solutions to support you through the country’s complicated immigration process rapidly and effectively. We will ensure that you and your valued employees are in full compliance with Belgium’s immigration and employment regulations, save you time, and provide answers to any questions you may have about the process.
In addition, we offer extensive outsourcing services covering recruitment, payroll, HR, administration, and more to help you kickstart your Belgian operation as efficiently as possible, even if you don’t have a registered entity in the country.
