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Are you a citizen of a country outside the European Economic Area (European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland)?
Do you want to come and work in Wallonia? It is possible under certain conditions.
The company wishing to hire you must submit a work permit application to our services.

In which cases can you work in Wallonia?

  • An employer wants to hire you in their company based in Belgium 

  • Your employer, based abroad, has asked you to provide services in Belgium as an employee 

  • You want to come and work in Belgium as an employee 

You must be authorised to stay AND to work in Belgium :

  • Residence permit is issued by the Immigration Office
  • Work permit is issued by the Public Service of Wallonia  

The arrival of foreign workers differs from other options for coming to Belgium such as asylum or family reunification. It considers the needs of the labour market in Belgium and Wallonia. These conditions also guarantee you to enjoy the same rights as Belgian workers. 

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Is a permit always needed?

In some cases, you do not need to apply for a work permit.

There are exemptions related to:

  • work
  • residence

See all information on exemptions here.

Your rights as a foreign worker

As a worker subject to employment authorisation, you enjoy the same rights as a Belgian worker. 

You are paid a statutory minimum salary linked to specific scales. 

Who should make the application and when?

Your employer  fills the permit application for you. The employer provides information on the position that you will hold. You provide information on your identity.

In principle, except for certain categories, you should stay in your country of residence during the employment authorisation application. 

It is possible to apply for a work permit in Belgium if: 

  • You are already legally resident in Belgium (as a student or highly-qualified person for example) 
  • You already have a work permit in another region (Brussels-Capital Region, Flemish Region or German-speaking Community) 

 

Different kinds of permit

There are different kinds of permit that offer specific rights and which also concern different categories of workers. 

After a certain period of time under a fixed-term single permit, you may apply for an unlimited single permit.

The work permit is issued for a worker at a specific employer and in a specific position. Any change to either of these elements requires a new permit application.

Wallonia only issues work permits. It doesn’t issue any national numbers, residence permits, or orders to leave the territory.  Click here for further information on these subjects. 

What should you do once authorisation has been granted?

If you reside abroad, once authorisation has been granted:

  1. You will receive a visa via the diplomatic post to cross the border.
  2. Once in Belgium, your employer will send you the relevant documents.

 

If you are already in Belgium at the time of application: your employer will send you the relevant documents. 

How long is the work permit valid for?

The validity of the permit depends on the duration specified in the employment contract and the type of authorisation received.

Please note:

  • some positions are limited in time: 1 year for interns, 6 months for specialised technicians, 5 months for seasonal workers.
  • if your residence permit is no longer valid, your work permit is also no longer valid

 

Permits can be extended if the employment contract is extended. You must then apply for a renewal. Click here for more information.

After several renewals, and under certain conditions, you can apply for an unlimited permit. For this type of authorisation, you must submit the application yourself (in the region where you live).