European blue card

  • Requirements

    This authorisation must be requested to employ a worker: 

    • who has signed a permanent employment contract or at least a six months contract with the employer; 

    • who is a higher education graduate demonstrating higher professional qualifications (recognized diploma); 

    • who is a manager in the field of information and communication technologies or a specialist in the field of information and communication technologies,

    • who has acquired at least three years of relevant work experience in the seven years preceding the work permit application.;

    • who will benefit from an annual gross salary equal to or greater than the amount listed here. 

     

    EU Blue Card or highly qualified personnel — what's the difference?

    The minimum salary required to qualify for the "EU Blue Card" category is higher than that required for the "Highly qualified personnel" category (click here to view the required salary levels). The "EU Blue Card" provides access to other benefits as set out in Directive 2009/50/EC, including faster access to residence status and an unrestricted right to work, as well as the option to transfer the card to other European Union countries (A Blue Card obtained in Belgium confers legal benefits that facilitate administrative processes in other European Union countries).

  • Work permit application

    Single permit or type B permit?

    The European Blue Card is accessible only as part of a single permit. 

    It is not accessible to cross-border workers or people resident in a hotel. 

  • Après l'engagement

    N'oubliez pas de respecter vos obligations reprises aux points 5 et 6 sur cette page. 

    L’autorisation est délivrée pour une durée maximale de 36 mois, renouvelable. Lorsque la durée de l’autorisation dépasse 12 mois, vous devez nous transmettre une copie des comptes individuels du travailleur de l’année précédente à chaque date anniversaire de la délivrance de l’autorisation.

     

     

  • Change of Employer in Belgium

    A worker may change employer during the validity period of their EU Blue Card (Articles 6 and 26 of the Walloon Government Decree of 6 June 2024). The new employer must notify the competent Region of this change.

    If the new employment will be carried out mainly or entirely in an establishment unit located in Wallonia (excluding the German-speaking Community), or if the place of employment cannot be determined and the new employer’s registered office is located in Wallonia (excluding the German-speaking Community), then the Walloon Region is the competent authority (Articles 7 and 8 of the Cooperation Agreement of 2 February 2018).

    The change of employer must be notified without delay by the new employer to the Employment and Work Permits Directorate by email to permisdetravail@spw.wallonie.be, together with the following documents:

    • A copy (front and back) of the EU Blue Card issued to the worker;
    • The employer change notification form, duly completed, signed and dated by the employer or their representative (a natural person legally residing in Belgium);
    • A copy of the proposed employment document (Belgian employment contract, appointment or nomination document, etc.), completed and signed.

    The holder of the EU Blue Card may start working for the new employer under the following conditions:

    • If the worker is still within the first year of employment covered by the EU Blue Card: they may only start working for the new employer 30 days after the new employer has submitted the required documents to the Employment and Work Permits Directorate, unless a refusal decision is notified by the administration within that period.

    • If the worker has already completed one year of employment under the EU Blue Card: they may start working for the new employer as soon as the new employer has submitted the required documents to the Employment and Work Permits Directorate. The employment conditions with the new employer will subsequently be verified by the Walloon Public Service.

  • Intra-EU Mobility

    Short-term intra-EU mobility under an EU Blue Card

    If the worker already holds a European Blue Card issued by another Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, and meets the Belgian EU Blue Card requirements regarding qualifications and salary, they may work in Belgium for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without having to apply for a work permit (Article 65(1), 2° of the Walloon Government Decree of 6 June 2024).

    Long-term intra-EU mobility under an EU Blue Card

    If the worker already holds a European Blue Card issued by another Member State of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, and meets the Belgian EU Blue Card requirements regarding qualifications and salary, they may work in Belgium for more than 90 days and for a maximum period of three years through a simplified and faster work authorization procedure, which may be renewed (Article 8(2) of the Cooperation Agreement implementing the Agreement of 6 December 2018).

     

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    Forms

    Application for a fixed-term single permit 

    EU Blue Card: Change of Employer

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    Contact

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    Regulation

    Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 6 juin 2024 relatif à l'admission au travail des travailleurs étrangers

    • articles 25, 26 et 27