Working in Belgium
www.expatarrivals.com/belgium/moving-to-belgium
Belgium strongly supports an open-economy and its main exports include automobiles, iron and steel, plastics, food products, finished diamonds, petroleum products, and nonferrous metals. In 2007 Belgium was named the world’s 15th largest trading nation due to its location in the heart of Europe.
Accepting a job before moving to Belgium is ideal and also makes the visa process easier. Many who move to Belgium from the U.K. or the U.S. do so for a better quality of life but can expect higher taxes. The business environment in Belgium is fast-paced, demanding and aggressive and many of the English- speaking Companies are either connected with the European Union or with NATO.
Jobs with these institutions are extremely competitive. Most expats tend to centre round Brussels as it not easy to find a job outside of this metropolis without speaking Flemish.
Belgium strongly supports an open-economy and its main exports include automobiles, iron and steel, plastics, food products, finished diamonds, petroleum products, and nonferrous metals. In 2007 Belgium was named the world’s 15th largest trading nation due to its location in the heart of Europe.Accepting a job before moving to Belgium is ideal and also makes the visa process easier. Many who move to Belgium from the U.K. or the U.S. do so for a better quality of life but can expect higher taxes. The business environment in Belgium is fast-paced, demanding and aggressive and many of the English- speaking Companies are either connected with the European Union or with NATO.
Jobs with these institutions are extremely competitive. Most expats tend to centre round Brussels as it not easy to find a job outside of this metropolis without speaking Flemish.
Visa and Work Permits
EU nationals don’t require work permits to find employment in Belgium but non-EU nationals will need to have a work permit in order for them to be legally employed in the country. This permit is usually applied for by their future employer. The Belgian government requires expats to have a work permit or evidence that their employer has applied for one on their behalf before applying for a residence permit or long-stay visa.
Expats working in Belgium must have a full EU/EEA passport or identity card. EEA nationals are free to enter Belgium for up to three months to look for work or set up in business. Those staying for a period of more than three months are required to register at the local town hall in your city of residence in Belgium within eight days of arrival. Expats will also be able to submit their number for registration in the national pension register and this number will be needed when looking for work with an E-303 form.
An EU-national is granted a temporary residence permit valid for three to five months, which can be renewed for a further three months once you’ve been employed and have registered with the Belgian Social Security system. After this, expats in Belgium can apply for an identity card and to be officially registered in the foreign population register.
Whether you’re an EU-national or not, you and family members over the age of 21 must apply at the town hall for an identity card, while children under the age of 12 will be issued with a ‘name card’.
Types of visas: www.alloexpat.com
Belgian visa application information: www.expatfocus.com/expatriate-belgium-visas-residencyTags
