Belgium to digitise work permit applications for foreign workers
Belgium is preparing to overhaul its work permit application process for foreign workers. According to a joint communiqué by the Federal Immigration Office, the country will require all short-term work permit and commuter permit applications to be submitted online. The move aims to modernise the system and streamline application processing. Belgium is also introducing a temporary arrangement for the Wallonia region.
What we know
- Belgium will fully digitise short-term work permit and commuter permit applications from May 1, 2026.
- The announcement was made in a communiqué released on April 17, 2026.
- Employers and authorised representatives must use the official online portal, ending the previous email-based process.
- In Wallonia, email submissions will be accepted until August 31, 2026, but no grace period is confirmed for Flanders or Brussels-Capital Region.
- The reform is part of a broader effort to modernise immigration and labour administration systems in Belgium.
