Working in Belgium

Belgian employment policy is based on consultation between the social partners. This kind of collaboration between employers and workers has resulted in a dynamic, flexible and protected workforce (Belgian workers enjoy excellent protection from unemployment and illness). Social consultation offers multiple benefits, such as wage cost control, increased workforce productivity and guaranteed peaceful industrial relations.

In Belgium, the legal working week is 38 hours. Apart from the legal working week, enterprises may alter working time in line with their companies' requirements. Workers may work appropriately remunerated overtime.

Visit the website of the Belgian Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue in French or Dutch for more information on working conditions in Belgium. 

Visas and other documents

Foreign nationals (from outside the European Union, Iceland, Monaco, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) wishing to settle in Belgium for longer than three months must possess a visa. Applications must be presented to a Belgian embassy or consulate (in English).

The following documents are also required:

• a passport
• an extract from your judicial record 
• a medical certificate from a doctor approved by the embassy
• an employer permit

Upon arriving in Belgium, the foreign worker must officially register with the municipal authorities.

Work permits

Foreign workers wishing to work in Belgium must be in possession of a work permit. This does not apply to citizens of European Economic Area Member States (in English).

There are three types of work permit:

• a type A work permit, valid for all salaried professions with all employers and for an unlimited period.
• a type B work permit, valid with a single employer and limited to one year.
• a type C work permit, valid for all salaried professions with all employers for a limited period (one year, and renewable).

Each region has its own work permit application procedure. Click here for more information on work permits in Flanders (in English), Wallonia (in French) and Brussels (in English).

Looking for a job

The placement of jobseekers is organised by regional public services:

• FOREM (in French) in the Walloon Region
• Actiris (in French or in Dutch) in the Brussels-Capital Region
• VDAB (in English) in the Flemish Region
• and the Arbeitsamt (in English) for the German-speaking Community

These services will help you to raise your profile in the labour market and to receive aid towards finding a job.

Training

Vocational placement and vocational training are organised by regional or Community organisations.  These public services can give you information about all the types of training which are available to you.  The following are the public services operating in each region:

• FOREM (in French) in Wallonia
• Bruxelles Formation (in French) is responsible for the vocational training of French speakers in the Brussels-Capital Region. The VDAB (in Dutch) provides services for Dutch speakers living in Brussels.
• VDAB (in Dutch) in Flanders
• the Employment Agency (Arbeitsamt) (in German) in the German-speaking Community

Benefits

As well as free training, jobseekers following recognized training courses can receive other benefits such as:

• training allowances, in addition to their unemployment benefits
• assistance with travel costs
• assistance with childcare