For the coming year, we want to share with you new salary thresholds for work permit, and highlight the basic principles of a work permit in Belgium.
Who needs a work permit?
Non-EU nationals who wish to take up employment on the Belgian territory need to be in the possession of a work permit prior to the start of their activities unless they would be covered by an exemption. If the period of employment exceeds 90 days, the process for the work permit application will include at the same time an application for a residence permit.
Which authority grants a work permit?
Since the 1st of July 2014, the Belgian Regions are competent to grant a work or a single permit. This implies that each Region applies different rules when it comes to employing non-EU nationals. They also each determine the salary conditions that may apply to grant a work permit/single permit in their respective region (Brussels-Capital Region, Walloon Region and Flemish Region).
The three Regions have announced the increased salary thresholds for 2023 (please note that the new amounts have not been published officially).
What are the salary thresholds for work permit?
Effective January 1, 2023, the immigration salary thresholds for work permit will be as follows (find previous ones here):
| Highly qualified staff | Executive staff | European Blue Card | |
| Brussels-Capital Region | € 47.174 | € 78.704 | € 60.998 |
| Walloon Region | € 47.175 |  € 78.704 | € 60.998 |
| Flemish Region | < 30 years: € 36.787,20
≥ 30 years: € 45.984 |
€ 73.574 | € 55.181 |
What are the additional conditions?
Kindly be informed that additional conditions need to fulfilled in order to be eligible for those new salary thresholds for work permit.
! Please note that the Flemish Ministry of Employment is experiencing a backlog in processing the applications. They have announced the following processing times on their website:
- First application for highly qualified staff: 6 weeks
- First application for the other categories: 9 weeks
- Extension highly qualified staff: 4 weeks
- Extension for the other categories: 7 weeks
The Foreigners Department has informed us that the processing time takes approximately 4-6 weeks from the moment they receive the file from the Ministry of Employment.
What if I need more information about work permits in Belgium?
Do not hesitate to contact Pro-Pay that has immigration specialists and fill out the contact sheet.
