Employees
Single permit to work in Belgium as an employee for more than 90 days
Employees who want to work in belgium for more than 90 days, must apply for a single permit at the competent regional authority (Flanders, Brussels, or Wallonia). The application is filed through the future Belgian employer. These are the websites of the 3 Regions where you can apply for the single permit.
On the application, we advise you to put your current address abroad and specify the Belgian Consulate where you will collect your visa (Washington D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, or Atlanta).
Once your single permit has been granted and you receive the official confirmation letter by email, you can apply for your D-type visa.
How to apply?
Please be sure to lodge your visa application with the Embassy or Consulate General that holds jurisdiction over the State of your residence. For more information on which representation covers which States, please see: Embassy and consulates | Belgium in the United States.
If mailing in your application, make sure to submit all the documents mentioned below AND comply with the following additional requirements :
1) your signature on the application form must be notarized (certified) by a notary public.
2) do not send your application documents to an Honorary Consul. The application will be processed by the Embassy or by a Consulate General. Always make sure you mail your application to the Embassy or Consulate General competent for your place of residence (see the jurisdictions described here).
3) Make sure you have included 1 copy for every original document in your file. Original documents will be returned to you.
4) The visa fee can be paid by including a money order OR a filled out credit card authorization form (Washington DC and Los Angeles only).
Documents to submit:
1. A valid national passport (validity 15 months).
2. One visa application form duly completed, dated and signed, completed through visaonweb.diplomatie.be
3. One recent passport-size photograph.
4. The official confirmation letter sent to you by email, stating that the single permit has been granted.
5. Fee to be paid at the time of application: see Fee schedule.
The visa application fee is non-refundable. The visa fee can be paid by including a money order OR a filled out credit card authorization form (Washington DC and Los Angeles only) .
Currently not applicable
Please refer to the following table for payment options:
| Cash | Certified Check |
Money Order |
Credit Card | |
| Embassy in Washington | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Consulate General in Atlanta | No | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
| Consulate General in Los Angeles | No | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
| Consulate General in New York | No | Yes | Yes | Yes* |
*ONLY when the application is submitted in person
Personal checks are not accepted.
Certified checks and money orders have to be paid to the order of:
- "the Embassy of Belgium in Washington" if you apply at the Embassy in Washington
- "the Consulate General of Belgium" if you apply at the Consulate General in Atlanta, Los Angeles or New York.
Incorrect money orders or certified checks will be rejected and returned to the applicant. Processing will only begin once the proper payment is received.
Only at the Embassy in Washington and the Consulate General of Los Angeles may you pay with Visa or MasterCard.
Work permits for other categories
All the following categories still have to apply for a work permit, unless they are exempted:
- Employees who will work for a period less than 90 days: these persons have to apply for a Schengen visa: https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/visa-belgium/visitors
- Interns and au pairs: https://www.belgium.be/en/work/coming_to_work_in_belgium/work_permit
- Researchers
- Highly qualified employees (with a European Blue Card)
- Workers who are seconded temporarily within the same company)
For their visa application, these categories of persons have to bring the same documents as listed above (except the letter confirming the approval of the single permit), as well as the following additional documents:
6. The original work permit and one copy.
7. For adults over 18 years : an original sealed envelope containing your nationwide criminal history record (FBI Identification Record), not older than six months. Please submit your request electronically at https://www.edo.cjis.gov and request your results by mail via the U.S. Postal Service. Do not open the original sealed envelope with the results, and add it to your visa application package.
8. A medical certificate (PDF) according to the model enclosed and two copies. For a list of physicians affiliated with the Embassy or the Consulate General, click here.
If you choose your family physician, the doctor's signature needs to be notarized by a notary public. The document must then be authenticated by apostille, which is to be obtained from the Secretary of State where the notary public has his/her office, see: www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=authorities.details&aid=353. The medical document can be issued maximum 6 months before the date of your application.
9. An additional fee is required: 138 EURO (payment through the bank to the Belgian bank account of the Aliens’ Office). For instructions see: Fee | IBZ (bosa.be)
Registration of employees and independent workers
Non-Belgian employers, self-employed persons or their employees who carry out short term or partial assignments in Belgium must declare these activities in advance: www.limosa.be
This mandatory "Limosa" declaration applies to:
- Employees and apprentices, who come to Belgium to execute certain temporary or partial work and who, because of the nature of their short term assignment, are not subject to the Belgian social security system.
- Self-employed people and self-employed apprentices who come to work in Belgium temporarily or partially, irrespective of whether they are subject to the Belgian social security system.
Some exceptions to this general obligation exist. Certain persons may be exempted, especially for short-term assignments.
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For your dependent family members:
1. A valid national passport (validity 15 months).
2. Two visa application forms duly completed, dated and signed, completed through https://visaonweb.diplomatie.be.
3. Two recent passport-size pictures.
4. A certified copy of the birth certificate (issued less than 6 months ago) for the children with an apostille.
5. The marriage certificate (issued less than 6 months) for the spouse with an apostille.
6. Proof that the principal visa applicant is authorized to reside in Belgium (copy of work permit).
7. For adults over 18 years : an original sealed envelope containing your nationwide criminal history record (FBI Identification Record), not older than six months. Please submit your request electronically at https://www.edo.cjis.gov and request your results by mail via the U.S. Postal Service. Do not open the original sealed envelope with the results, and add it to your visa application package.
8. A medical certificate (PDF) according to the model enclosed and two copies. For a list of physicians affiliated with the Embassy or the Consulate General, click here.
If you choose your family physician, the doctor's signature needs to be notarized by a notary public. The document must then be authenticated by apostille, which is to be obtained from the Secretary of State where the notary public has his/her office, see: www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=authorities.details&aid=353.
The medical document can be issued maximum 6 months before the date of your application.
9. Proof of sufficient lodging (e.g. lease agreement or letter from the employer confirming housing arrangements).
10. Proof of stable, regular and sufficient means of subsistence (e.g. copy of the principal visa applicant’s work contract mentioning the salary).
11. Proof all the family members are covered by a health insurance. (Future) healthcare coverage can be proven in two ways:
a. with an attestation from a Belgian health care fund that the dependents will be covered
b. with a travel insurance including a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR and a validity of minimum 3 months
12. Fee to be paid at the time of application: see fee schedule
13. An additional fee is required for applicants 18 and over: 198 EURO (payment through the bank). For instructions see: Fee | IBZ (bosa.be)
14. A self-addressed prepaid envelope if you wish to have your passport and visa sent back to your home address. The Embassy or Consulate General is not responsible for lost items during shipping.
Remarks: Do not use metered postage (for mailing to the Consulate General in New York only). Please note that the Embassy of Belgium in Washington DC and the Consulate General in New York no longer work with FedEx.(You can use UPS or USPS).
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You will need translations (in French or Dutch) of the US birth certificates and marriage certificates to register in the commune where you will reside..
UPON ARRIVAL IN BELGIUM
It is important that you register yourself and your family with the City Hall of your place of residence in Belgium within 8 days of your arrival. Make sure that all passports are endorsed by the immigration authorities when first entering Belgium (at airport or other border post).
The local authorities will process your registration identity document that will allow you to enter and leave the country as a legal temporary resident of Belgium.