Seasonal worker in Belgium

Decision

You can introduce a request for a single permit for residence and work through your employer. The application must be submitted to the department of economic migration of the region where your employer is based: Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels Capital Region or the German-speaking Community.

To apply for a seasonal worker permit your employer needs to submit a number of documents, including proof of payment of the administrative fee (see ‘Documents required’). Your application is assessed by the competent regional authority and the federal Immigration Office.

The regional and federal authorities need to take a decision within 90 days. The processing time is reduced to 60 days if you have already been employed as a seasonal worker in Belgium in the previous 5 years and if you have respected the conditions related to this status.

If the regional authority grants an authorisation to work and the Immigration Office grants an authorisation to stay, you receive a decision to grant a single permit (annex 46) from the Immigration Office.

If one or both of the authorities fail to take a decision, you receive a certificate to grant a single permit (annex 47) from the Immigration Office.

If one or both of the authorities reject your application, you receive a decision to reject a right of residence (annex 48).

Visa D

To obtain a visa D to travel to Belgium, you need to present your annex 46 or 47 and international passport and submit a visa application to the Belgian diplomatic or consular post of your place of residence.

The authorities take your fingerprints and a digital photo.

You can check the status of your visa application online by entering your reference number and the location of the diplomatic or consular post.

To apply for an authorisation to work and stay, your employer must submit:

• the completed and signed application form;
• documentary evidence related to the employment;
• a copy of the identity document of your employer;
• a copy of the employment contract;
• a copy of your international passport;
• proof of sufficient means of subsistence (if required);
• a certificate attesting to the lack of any convictions for crimes or offences under common law;
• a standard medical certificate;
• proof of health insurance;
• proof of sufficient housing;
• proof of payment of the administrative fee

Seasonal worker permit

After your arrival in Belgium, you need to register at the municipality of your place of residence within 8 working days.

You receive a temporary residence document (annex 49) pending the residence check to be executed by the authorities.

If the residence check is positive, the municipality issues a single permit for a limited period of time (A-card).

Your seasonal worker permit is renewable provided the maximum period of your stay does not exceed 150 days.

You need to apply for renewal to the regional authority at the latest one month before your seasonal worker permit expires.

The authorities assess if you fulfil the conditions for renewal.

Particular attention is also paid to the risk of irregular migration, EU security and your intention to leave the territory before your permit expires.

If your application for authorisation to work has been rejected by the regional authority, your employer can appeal this decision before the competent appeal body within 30 days after you received the decision. You can lodge an appeal against this decision before the Council of State within 60 days after you received the decision.

If your application for authorisation to stay has been rejected by the Immigration Office, you can appeal this decision before the Council for Alien Law Litigation (CALL) within 30 days after you received the decision.

Coming to work in Belgium

Authorisation to work in Flanders

Authorisation to work in Wallonia

Authorisation to work in Brussels Capital Region

Authorisation to work in German-speaking Community

Authorisation to stay

Visa application

Your visa application

You can apply for EU long-term resident status after 5 years of uninterrupted legal stay in Belgium, provided you have sufficient, regular and stable means of subsistence and health insurance.

Stays for reasons of temporary nature (for instance as seasonal worker) are not taken into account.