Professional cards

Persons wanting to obtain a professional card must submit their application:

• to the Belgian diplomatic or consular post in their country of residence if they live abroad.
• to the recognised business counter of their choice, if they have a valid:

- "registration certificate model A"

- or "certificate of registration in the aliens' register"

There is one exception to this rule: if persons wanting to obtain a professional card cannot submit their application in their country of residence for reasons of safety, they may perform this process:

• either at a Belgian diplomatic or consular post in a different country,
• or at a business counter.

An application for this last option must be submitted to the Walloon Minister of Employment, be justified and be accompanied by documentary proof of the situation.

New application for a professional card

Project for association/collaboration with an existing company

• A detailed note concerning your project and your role within the entity you are joining
• A complete copy of the share register (+ your projected number of shares)Your CV with copies of diplomas and certificates of experience from former employers
• A certificate from the business registration office confirming the company's or your basic management knowledge
• A document certifying that the company is up to date with its payments to the ONSS
• A certificate from a business registration office proving that the company is up to date with its annual company contributions.
• Certificates from business registration offices proving that each of the managers and active partners are up to date with their social insurance contributions.
• If there are outstanding debts to the above-mentioned organisations or other public bodies (FPS Finance, etc.), attach a repayment plan and proof of payment of the amounts due.
• The last two detailed annual accounts for the business or company (balance sheets, income statements and social balance sheet
• Copies of the necessary authorisations for the activity carried out
• The company's last three VAT acknowledgements of receipt (form 625)
•  If you are a student, the completed ‘student’ questionnaire, which can be downloaded from the Walloon Region website, AND a certificate of enrolment for the current academic year.

Setting up a self-employed business as an individual or a company

• A detailed description of your project and/or your role
• Your CV with copies of diplomas and references from previous employers
• A draft company constitution (if already incorporated)
• A business plan including a three-year financial plan that meets the requirements of the document ‘for the business plan’ available on the Walloon Region's professional cards website.
• The completed ‘economic interest application’ form, which can be downloaded from the Walloon Region website.
•  A certificate from the business registration office confirming basic management knowledge
• A certificate from the business registration office confirming access to the profession requiring specific professional skills within the sector and/or across sectors relevant to the planned activity.
• Promises or contracts/collaboration agreements (customers, suppliers, etc.) setting out the terms of collaboration (duration, estimated turnover, ‘salaries’, location, etc.).
•  Proof of the steps taken to obtain all necessary authorisations relating to the planned activity. The business registration office can provide you with information on the specific authorisations required for your activity (approval from the medical association, architects' association, AFSCA, INAMI, sectoral competences, environmental permits, contacts with municipal authorities, etc.).
• The contract or promise of lease for the premises
• If you are a student, the completed ‘student’ questionnaire, which can be downloaded from the Walloon Region website, AND a certificate of enrolment for the current academic year.

Renewal of professional licence

• A certificate from a business registration office proving that you are up to date with your social security contributions.
• A document certifying that the company is up to date with its payments to the National Social Security Office (if employing salaried staff)
• If you have outstanding debts with the above-mentioned organisation or other public bodies (FPS Finance, etc.), attach a repayment plan and proof of payment of the amounts due.
• A certificate from the business registration office confirming the basic management knowledge of the company or the applicant.
• The last two detailed annual accounts (balance sheets, income statements and social balance sheets).
• Your last two tax assessment notices
• The last three VAT acknowledgements of receipt (form 625)
• Proof of income, via tax forms 281.10 or 281.20, for the applicant for the years for which you have obtained a card.
• If you are a student, the completed ‘student’ questionnaire, which can be downloaded from the Walloon Region website, AND a certificate of enrolment for the current academic year
• A detailed note on the progress of your self-employed activity and its development.

If you are a member of a company (manager, director, active partner, etc.), please add the following documents to those requested above:

• A document certifying that you are up to date with your personal income tax payments.
• A certificate from a business registration office proving that the company is up to date with its annual corporate tax payments.
• Certificates from business registration offices proving that each of the managers and active partners are up to date with their social security contributions.
• Other income from the activity (ATN, dividends received, etc.).

1. The diplomatic or consular post or the business counter that receives the application sends it to the Directorate of Employment and Work Permits. If the application is sent by a business counter, it must be sent within five days.
2. The Directorate of Employment and Work Permits checks whether the application has been submitted in accordance with the rules.
   • If this is not the case, the application is judged inadmissible and the applicant is notified of this fact through the diplomatic or consular post or the business counter that received the application.
   • If the rules have been respected, the Directorate of Employment and Work Permits examines the application.
3. If the application meets the required criteria, the Directorate of Employment and Work Permits issues the applicant with a professional card. This is sent to them via a business counter. If the criteria are not met, the Directorate of Employment and Work Permits notifies the applicant of the reasoned refusal and sends this decision via the diplomatic post or business counter.

Professional cards are allocated for a maximum period of five years.

A first card is usually issued on a probationary basis for two years.

It may be renewed at the end of this period provided that self-employed foreign workers satisfy the regulatory, tax and social obligations as well as the criterion of usefulness that justified the granting of the authorisation.

Employed workers must submit their renewal application at least three months before the expiry date of their card, via the chosen business counter.

The validity of the card is linked to the right of residence. If this right is withdrawn, the card can no longer be used and must be returned to the business counter.

The card is issued for one or more specific activities, as stated on the authorisation. Any change or addition to this activity therefore requires a new authorisation to be issued in advance. Similarly, any change to the information stated on the authorisation requires its modification.

Self-employed workers may request these changes via the chosen business counter. The same applies to replacements if the professional card is lost or destroyed. In this event, the application must be accompanied by a sworn declaration of loss or destruction.

• €140 to submit an application for a first professional card and for its modification, replacement or renewal;
• €90 per year of validity for issuing or renewal, via a business counter;
• However, no fee is payable for the replacement of a lost card.

Applicants may introduce an appeal in the event of a refusal.

Such an appeal must be introduced within a period of 30 days from the day after the date on which the applicants learned of the decision.

The appeal must be submitted to the Directorate of Employment and Work Permits of the Wallonia Public Service.

The Minister immediately refers the matter to the Walloon Economic Enquiry Council for Aliens to request their opinion. This opinion must be provided within four months of the introduction of the appeal.

The Council is independent of the Administration. It is presided by a magistrate or lawyer and composed of civil servants representing the different departments involved in the issue. It may request any information it considers useful for examining the dossier.

The Council invites applicants to defend their interests at a hearing. Applicants may be assisted by the person of their choice. However, applicants who cannot be present may only be represented by a lawyer. The hearing may be postponed in the event of a duly justified inability to reply to the summons.

The Minister will make the decision alone if the Council does not issue an opinion.

The Minister has two months to make a decision from the issuing of the Council opinion or four months if the Council has not issued an opinion by this time.

If the Minister does not make a decision within these two months, the Council opinion shall be considered the final decision.