Belgium
Introduction
Belgium is one of the European Union countries reporting acute shortages in skilled occupations, even though unemployment is relatively high at 10%.
Living and Working in Belgium
EU/EEA Citizens
For the most part, citizens of EU/EEA countries do not require residence permits or work permits to live and work in Belgium.
However, for the countries the A8+2 countries that joined the European Union in 2004 and 2007, work permits are required as part of transitional policies put in place after the EU enlargement. For the purposes of employment, citizens of A8+2 countries are treated on par with non-EU/EEA citizens.
The transitional labor market restrictions are in place until 2009 for the A8+2 nations that joined the EU in 2004 and until 2012 for A8+2 nations that joined the EU in 2007.
Non-EU/EEA Citizens
In general, non-EU/EEA third country nationals wishing to come to Belgium for the purpose of employment are required to get a work permit and a "Type D" visa, which allows for an extended stay in Belgium.
The work permit must be applied for by an employer based in Belgium. Apart from exceptions such as highly qualified personnel, management executives, researchers, trainees, young au pairs, etc, work permits are issued only when shortages exist in the labor market for the job in question.
When applying for a Type D visa, the foreign national must submit, among other things, the following:
- the work permit that was applied for by the employer
- a recent certificate of good conduct covering the last five years
- other documents required at the discretion of the Belgian diplomatic or consular authority
There are exceptions to the work permit regime. Third country national workers (or workers from A8+2 countries) who are employed by a company based in the EU/EEA and come to Belgium to perform services are not required to have a work permit if:
- the worker has a right of residence or a residence permit for more than three months in the member state of the EU/EEA where they live, and the permit is valid for the duration of work -- plus three months -- in Belgium
- the worker is lawfully employed by the company based in the EU/EEA member state
- the worker has a lawful contract to be employed by the EU/EEA company
- the worker has been employed with the company for at least six consecutive months leading up to the expected work in Belgium
- the worker has a passport that is valid for the duration of work in Belgium, plus three months
Further Information
Work Permits and Residence Permits