Immigration
A single permit for work and residence, decided jointly by a Region and the federal state
The federal Act of 15 December 1980 still governs entry and residence, but since 1 January 2019 economic migration runs through the single permit (combined permit), which merges work authorisation and residence into one application. Because employment is a regional competence while immigration is federal, the file is decided by both: the Region rules on the work component and the federal Immigration Office on residence.
Key rules
- The single permit is required for third-country nationals working in Belgium for more than 90 days; shorter assignments use a separate work authorisation.
- The employer, not the worker, lodges the application with the Region of the worker's principal place of work — Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels-Capital or the German-speaking Community.
- EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members do not need a single permit and hold a right of residence under free-movement rules.
- After arrival the holder must report to the municipality to be entered in the register and receive an electronic residence card.
Governing law
- Act on access to the territory, residence, establishment and removal of foreign nationals (15 December 1980)The core federal immigration statute
- Cooperation agreement on the single permit (2 February 2018)Allocates the procedure between the federal state and the Regions
- Belgian Nationality Code (28 June 1984)Acquisition of nationality, including by declaration after five years' lawful residence
In practice
Which Region is competent is determined by where the work is actually performed, and the regional conditions differ on salary thresholds and shortage-occupation lists, so the same job can be treated differently in Flanders and Wallonia. Language requirements and integration duties also vary by Region and Community.