How a foreigner can get a residence permit in Belgium: visas, documents and the right of residence

A Belgian residence permit is an official document that allows a non-EU national or EU/EEA citizen to stay in Belgium for more than 90 days and authorises activities such as work, study or family reunification. Information on the granting of temporary and permanent residence permits is provided in the local law “On access to the territory, residence, settlement and removal of foreigners”. The country’s migration policy provides for the possible immigration of applicants for employment, family reunification, training, through the registration of a sole proprietorship and other grounds set out in the legislation.

To obtain residence status in Belgium, a foreign national must prepare and submit a full visa application dossier, open a national long-stay visa, and upon arrival apply for a residence card at the local municipality. After 3-5 years of legal stay in the country, an applicant can change temporary status into permanent residence. Also, after 5 years of stay in the country with a residence permit, the immigrant can obtain an EU passport through naturalization. In this article you will find detailed information about obtaining a residence permit in Belgium.

Benefits of getting a residence permit in Belgium

Residing in Belgium provides the following advantages and benefits:

• Stay in the country for a long period of time (on average – up to one year). With a residence permit, there is no need for a foreigner to comply with the requirements of the visa regime. The immigrant has the right to stay in the country for the entire permitted period, as well as to travel abroad and return to the country an unlimited number of times. Belgium is ranked 27th out of 84 countries in the independent quality of life rating Numbeo, and is marked by a high level of purchasing power and a decent quality of life.
• Employment opportunities. On the basis of certain temporary residence permits, an immigrant can apply for most jobs in the Belgian labor market. Exceptions are some of the positions in the public sector, politics, law enforcement and the judiciary. The average net monthly salary (after taxes) in Belgium is EUR 2400, which is much higher than in most European countries.
• Educational opportunities. A legal status opens up the opportunity to enroll in a European university. Belgium is a multinational country, so an immigrant can find a fitting university course in French, Dutch, English or German.
• High-quality medical care. Based on standard insurance and legal residency status, a foreigner can access local clinics for treatment. Emergency care in the country is provided free of charge. The Belgian health index is 75 out of 100 points.
• Conduct business activities. A foreign citizen with local residency can either set up a new company or invest in an existing one. In the long term, the applicant can take his or her business to an international level and present it on the European market, the largest in the world.
• Banking services. Temporary legal status in Belgium allows a foreigner to open an account in a private or public banking institution, including the option to apply for a credit or a mortgage loan on the same terms and conditions as the local population. That is not the case for normal tourists. The average mortgage rate in Belgium stands at 3.4 %, lower than in other EU countries.

Once an immigrant has lived in the country for 5 years with a residence permit, he/she can apply for citizenship. Belgium is a member of the European Union, the European Economic Area, the Schengen Agreement, which means that the holder of a local passport can choose any of these countries to be the main focus of his or her life.

Types of residence permits and visas for Belgium

The Belgian residence ID looks like a plastic ID card with the holder’s biometric data, including a photograph. It contains personal information about the immigrant, period of issue and validity, place of registration in Belgium and country of origin. The following types of residence permits can be issued in Belgium:

• A – for third-country nationals with limited validity (usually up to 12 months);
• B – for immigrants from non-EU countries without time limits;
• K (formerly C) – for permanent residence;
• L (formerly D) – for long-term residents from EU countries;
• EU (formerly E) – registration card for EU citizens with the right to reside for more than 3 months;
• EU+ (formerly E+) – permanent residence permit for EU citizens;
• F – temporary residence document for a family member of an EU citizen or a Belgian;
• F+ – permanent status for a family member of an EU citizen or a Belgian from a third country;
• H – EU Blue Card for highly qualified workers;
• I and J – residence permits for intra-corporate transfers.

The most common type of PR that foreigners apply for in Belgium is the temporary residence permit type A. It’s valid for a period of up to 12 months or as long as the reasons for staying in the country are still valid. After 3–5 years of legal stay with type A, the applicant can switch to card B – a local residency card. Certain categories of citizens can obtain a long-term residence permit K or F – under the family reunification procedure.

Visa types and legal grounds for residence permits in Belgium

Based on the purpose of immigration, the applicant can apply for a temporary or permanent residence permit in Belgium. Here is more detailed information on the grounds for obtaining a residence permit.

Visa and residence permit based on employment in Belgium

Foreigners residing in the Kingdom of Belgium as permanent employees are entitled to an A card. In order to be officially employed, the immigrant must first apply for a work permit, which the host company applies for. The employer informs the local authorities of the justification for hiring an employee from abroad and submits the company’s registration documents.

If the work permit is approved, the applicant obtains a national long-stay visa, moves to the Kingdom and applies to the municipality of the place of registration in Belgium for an A card. The document is valid for one year, in exceptional cases up to 36 months, with the possible renewal provided that the grounds remain valid. The applicant pays for the entry fee (EUR 180), the application for the residence permit (EUR 138) and the plastic ID (EUR 22.7).

EU Blue Card

The European Blue Card can be granted to immigrants who respond to a job offer from a Belgian employer and who meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field;
• Signed employment contract with a local company for a period of at least 12 months;
• Receives an annual salary of EUR 55,181-60,998 after employment, depending on the region of the Kingdom.

Once the applicant meets the above requirements, the employer may issue him/her a work permit under a simplified procedure, i.e. without having to confirm that he/she has previously tried to employ a local citizen. The applicant is responsible for the cost of the D category national visa, the application and the H plastic card.

Self-employed activity

A Belgian PR can be granted to foreigners who intend to carry out freelance activities (not for hire) on the territory of the Kingdom. To apply for a residence permit, a professional card is required. The conditions for granting this document vary according to the region, but the basic list of requirements for the applicant is the implementation of innovative economic, cultural, artistic or sporting activities of interest to Belgium.

Who can apply for a professional card?

• Start-up entrepreneurs cooperating with business accelerators or incubators;
• Immigrants investing in the local economy as start-up capital (e.g. from EUR 20,058 in the Flemish region for 2023) and creating new jobs;
• Artists, performers, high-achieving athletes, including qualified coaches and trainers.

Each region examines the applications of persons wishing to obtain a professional card on a prospective basis. If the application is approved, the applicant must pay EUR 201 as a contribution to the administrative costs of processing the application. On the basis of the professional card, the immigrant receives a residence permit of category A. The fee for processing is EUR 220. The permit is valid for 12 months and can be extended annually.

Treatment

Foreigners who need medical care and are unable to obtain it in their home country can be granted the status of a Belgian resident. For legal residency in the Kingdom, foreigners are required to submit documents on their state of health and the necessity of treatment. However, according to immigrants, there is no way to buy the certificate: upon arrival in the country, the doctor of the Department of Immigration carefully examines whether the specified disease corresponds to the real clinical picture and analyzes the general condition of the potential patient. If the grounds are confirmed, the applicant is issued an A card with a validity of up to 12 months, which can be extended if necessary.

Student Visa and Residence Permit for Higher Education in Belgium

The Belgian residence permit is available to applicants who wish to pursue higher education at an institution recognized by the competent Flemish or French-speaking community. A temporary residence permit is also granted to people who come to take preparatory courses. In the long term, the student must obtain a graduate, bachelor, master or doctorate degree. Participants in preparatory year programs must attend a social promotion course (Brussels and Wallonia) or a licensed language center.

As proof, the applicant submits a provisional certificate of admission to a university or a detailed study plan for the preparatory courses for higher education. Minors have to attach the written consent of their parents or legal guardians to the application file. The applicant pays a fee to cover the administrative costs of processing the application – EUR 228. Upon approval of the application, the student receives an A-card with a validity of 12 months and the opportunity for renewal.

The student residence permit is not a ground for obtaining the status of a long-term resident. However, after graduation, the applicant has the right to obtain an A-card for one year of orientation – stay in the territory of the Kingdom for the purpose of employment or activity as a sole proprietor.

Refugee

The Belgian residence permit can be applied for by immigrants who apply for international protection or humanitarian asylum in the Kingdom. Persons can become refugees if their return to their home country would pose a real threat to their life or health, for example because of oppression on the grounds of race or political opinion. Each application is examined individually by the migration and law enforcement authorities of the corresponding region in Belgium. If approved, applicants receive an A card for a period of 1 to 5 years, which can be renewed, leading to naturalization.

Humanitarian needs

The law provides for granting a Belgian residence permit based on humanitarian needs. Immigrants residing in the territory of the Kingdom (even illegally), having a permanent residence in the country and unable to apply for a residence permit in their homeland, may apply for a residence permit. It is an exceptional procedure, which is considered on an individual basis by authorized persons in the corresponding municipality. Should the application be approved, the immigrant will receive a temporary residence permit after paying the standard state fees.

Family reunification

Applicants who are relatives of local citizens or holders of a residence permit in Belgium are entitled to formally reside in Belgium with their family, namely:

• Children (usually – minors and not married);
• Spouses (including established cohabitation and same-sex marriages);
• Parents, grandchildren (of persons with a Belgian passport);
• Other relatives in exceptional situations (e.g. incapacitated or in need of constant care).

In order to prove the legal grounds, the foreigner submits relevant civil status certificates (e.g. birth certificates of children). In the majority of cases of immigration by marriage, the applicant must also prove a long and stable relationship with the recipient, e.g. e-mails, mobile phone correspondence, joint holidays. If the Belgian resident’s relatives apply for family reunification, he/she must have sufficient resources to support the theoretical dependents (average EUR 1969 per month as of 2023).

The applicant’s family ties and the status of the host country determine the type of residence card issued. Family members of Belgian residents receive a temporary residence permit of category A with the same period of validity as that of a similar document held by the applicant. The A permit is granted for 5 years to relatives of persons recognized as refugees. The F permit, also valid for 5 years, is issued to family members of Belgians. The applicant pays a fee of EUR 198 for the processing of the application.

Intra-company transfer

Third-country workers who are temporarily seconded by a company outside the European Union to a unit of the same organization in the Kingdom for professional or training purposes may apply for Belgian residency. The employment contract is submitted as proof. If the application is approved, the immigrant will be issued with a category I residence card after paying the government fees. The residence permit for business travelers is valid for a maximum of 1-3 years, depending on the job, and is renewable.

Permanent residence permits and residence cards for EU citizens

A European Union or EEA citizen can move to Belgium and stay for a long stay period (more than 90 days) by applying for a residence permit based on one of the following grounds:

• Employment or self-employment;
• Planned job search;
• Training;
• Self-sufficiency (for financially independent persons – e.g. pensioners);
• Family reunification;
• Other cases (asylum seekers, settled individuals).

Upon first application, a citizen of the European Union is issued a temporary residence permit of the EU category. After 5 years of permanent residence in Belgium, the foreigner can change it to a permanent residence card – EU+.

Legally, you cannot buy a residence permit in Belgium. The Kingdom does not have a settlement program (such as in Spain). Temporary residence permit is not granted based on financial independence or digital nomad activity, for freelancers.

Requirements for residence permits in Belgium

To apply for a residence permit in Belgium, you must fulfill the following conditions:

• Have a complete set of documents and the application according to the dossier on the chosen grounds;
• Have no medical illnesses that pose a threat to the health of the local population;
• Be law abiding, confirmed by a certificate of no criminal record or an equivalent document from the country of origin;
• Be financially solvent (required amount is calculated individually by the authorized bodies in each region according to the applicant’s case, for example from EUR 789 for students);
• Have a registered address in the Kingdom;
• Obtain medical insurance for the entire period of stay in the country;
• Have no entry restrictions to Belgium or other territories of the European Union.

Any additional requirements for an immigrant depend on the grounds for granting the Belgian residence permit. Applicants for the H permit, for example, must have the appropriate qualifications and training, and students must prove that they have sufficient knowledge of the language in which the course of study will be conducted.

Documents needed for a Belgian residence card

The basic dossier of an applicant for residence in Belgium includes the following documents

• Proof of basic grounds (e.g. a certificate from an educational institution or an employment contract with a local organization);
• A valid identity card;
• Civil status certificates (e.g. marriage and birth of a child, if applicable);
• An application form (a standard application form can be found on the official website of the Belgian embassy, consulate or the migration services);
• Proof of sufficient and stable means of subsistence (e.g. pay slips or bank statements);
• Registration of place of residence and rental agreement, ownership of property in the Kingdom;
• Private sickness insurance for an amount of EUR 30 000 or more (in some cases a certificate of affiliation to a Belgian health insurance fund);
• Certificate issued within the last 6 months stating that you are free from diseases that could be a danger to the local population;
• Proof of no criminal record or of good conduct and morals issued at the latest 6 months ago.
• Proof of nationality and a valid passport, if not already included among ID documents.

Belgium accepts documents in Dutch, English, French or German. If necessary, the foreign applicant must have documents translated and apostilled by a licensed translator.

Visa application process and residence card issuance

The standard procedure for obtaining a temporary residence permit in Belgium from abroad for non-EU citizens has the following steps:

1. Preparing the dossier. The applicant chooses the legal immigration grounds and prepares the necessary documents according to the list established by the legislation. Labor migrants or self-employed persons also apply for a work permit or a professional card.
2. Submitting documents for a residence permit. An immigrant applies for a residence permit at the Belgian embassy or consulate in the country of origin, after paying the necessary state fees. The average period of processing the application by the competent authorities is up to 6-9 months.
3. Issuing the visa. The applicant applies for a long-stay visa (type D), which authorises entry for over 90 days and is issued after approval of the residence permit. Long-term visa is issued to the applicant after approval of the residence permit and is a holographic sticker that is affixed to the passport at the consulate or embassy. The document costs EUR 180. The visa should be applied for at least 4 weeks before the move, as the specific period for issuing the permit is not specified in the legislation.
4. Moving and registering with the municipality. Upon arrival in the Kingdom, the immigrant must register with the local municipal administration within three working days. The certificate issued at the time of registration is the document confirming the place of residence and the right to stay in the country until the residence card is issued.
5. Submitting documents for the residence permit. The applicant visits the Department of Internal Affairs and Immigration in the place of residence and applies for a plastic residence card, which serves as legal proof of the right of residence in Belgium. The applicant must pay a state fee of EUR 22.2-22.7.

Depending on the applicant’s situation and location, the procedure may differ.

Renewing your residence permit and becoming a long-term resident

An applicant may apply to the foreigners’ registration office for an extension of the residence permit between the 30th and 45th day before the expiry of the current document. It takes about three weeks to process the application in the regular procedure (after paying the state fee of EUR 21.8) and one day in the accelerated procedure (the applicant’s expenses amount to EUR 114.8). At the first renewal of the residence permit, the foreigner must prove that he/she has made sufficient efforts to fully integrate into the community, e.g. by improving his/her language skills, actively participating in social or work activities.

After 5 years of legal stay with temporary permission, a non-EU national can apply for a permanent card and long-term stay rights. The B or C card is issued by the migration services for the same period – 5 years with subsequent renewal.

When a residence permit is refused or lost

The refusal to grant the requested Belgian residence permit may occur in the following cases:

• An incomplete set of documents is submitted;
• The dossier is falsified or knowingly false data is submitted;
• There is a criminal record, cases of violation of the legislation on the territory of the EU;
• The health condition is unsatisfactory;
• There are insufficient funds for a continuous stay in the Kingdom;
• A person is a threat to national and public security.

The refusal may be appealed by the applicant in court.

A temporary stay permission or identity card already issued in Belgium may be revoked by the local authorities in the following cases:

• Insufficient integration of the immigrant into society (e.g. poor results in a relevant course);
• Danger to public order or national security;
• Loss of the grounds for staying in the country (e.g. dismissal or divorce from a local citizen); – Discovery of the use of forged documents or misleading information when applying for residency;
• Committing fraud or using illegal financial means;
• A serious violation of constitutional norms.

Once the foreigner has received a letter from the ministry or the migration services revoking his/her residence permit, he/she has a maximum of 30 days to appeal the decision and provide important information in writing. In the event of subsequent illegal residence in the Kingdom, the foreigner may be asked to leave the Kingdom within a certain period of time, after which he or she may be forcibly deported.