Volunteer in Belgium

Decision

You can introduce a request for a single permit for residence and work through your organisation. The application must be submitted to the department of economic migration of the region where your organisation is based.

To apply for a single permit your organisation 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.

If the regional authority grants an authorisation to work and the Immigration Office grants an authorisation to stay, you receive a decision granting you 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 granting you a single permit (annex 47) from the Immigration Office.

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

D Visa

To obtain a D visa 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 receive a visa mentioning code D.

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

• the completed and signed application form;
• a copy of the identity document of the organiser;
• the volunteering agreement;
• a certificate of the national agency for the European Voluntary Service;
• a copy of your international passport;
• proof of sufficient means of subsistence;
• 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 payment of the administrative fee.

Single 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 volunteer permit is renewable provided the maximum period of your stay does not exceed 12 months.

You need to apply for renewal to the regional authority at the latest 2 months before your volunteer permit expires.

If your application for an authorisation to work has been rejected by the regional authority, your organisation 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 an 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.

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 are not taken into account.