Working in Belgium as a Foreign National: The Single Permit and Documents to Translate

Are you a foreign national wishing to work in Belgium? For workers from outside the European Union, the single permit is the key: it combines the work authorisation and the right of residence. Here is how it works and which documents to have translated to build an accepted file.

📖 Also read: work permit translation · immigration documents · sworn translation guide

What is the single permit?

The single permit is a document that brings together, in one procedure, the work authorisationand the residence authorisation for more than 90 days. It is intended for workers who are nationals of third countries (outside the EU, outside the European Economic Area and outside Switzerland). The application is submitted by the Belgian employer to the competent Region according to the place of work: Wallonia, Flanders or the Brussels-Capital Region. After the regional decision on the work component, the Immigration Office rules on the residence component.

EU or non-EU: who needs a permit?

The distinction is essential. Nationals of the European Union, the EEA and Switzerland enjoy freedom of movement: they do not need a work permit and can settle to work after a simple declaration of arrival. Nationals of third countries, on the other hand, must in principle hold the single permit before starting to work. A few specific categories (researchers, intra-company transfers, certain special cards) follow related but separate schemes.

The documents to have translated

The Belgian authorities require that documents drawn up in a foreign language be accompanied by a sworn translation into French or Dutch, depending on the Region. The most frequently requested documents are:

• Diplomas and qualifications: to prove the qualification required by the post.
• Employment contract: signed by the Belgian employer, the basis of the work component.
• CV and proof of experience: to substantiate the required skills.
• Criminal record extract: recent, from the country of origin and of residence.
• Birth certificate and, where relevant, marriage certificate for family reunification.

Depending on the issuing country, these documents must first be apostilled or legalised before translation. To know which one applies to your situation, see our guide apostille or legalisation, and our guide to immigration documents to translate.

Timeframes and procedure

Once the complete file is submitted by the employer, the Region and the Immigration Office have a legal period to decide, generally in the order of a few months. An incomplete file, or one containing non-sworn translations, is a frequent cause of delay or refusal. So allow the time needed for the apostille and then the translation, ahead of submission. The work permit covers a specific employer; a change of employer may require a new application.

Tips for an accepted file

First check with your Region the expected language (French in Wallonia, Dutch in Flanders, either one in Brussels). Have the documents apostilled or legalised before having them translated, because the translation also covers the stamp. Provide recent criminal-record and civil-status extracts. Finally, keep the documents in a logical order and have the work permit itself translated if the authority requests it.