Labour migration to Belgium requires involvement of the Employment Ministries at the regional level (Flanders, Brussels Capital or Wallonia) for authorizations up to max. 90 days within 180 days and of the Employment Ministries at the regional level + the Immigration Office (national level) for authorizations beyond 90 days. The Belgian expat tax regime derives from policy domains at the national level.
Updates in the policy of each of these institutions thus require special attention to employers and recruiters, wishing to hire and retain non-EU employees to/within Belgium.
The following ones were selected as the most relevant ones, as announced/ observed already in 2026.
- Full implementation of the EES System, abolishing entry stamps for short stay for third country nationals (EU level)
- The third-country national gets a digital personal file in EES, with identity details, biometric data, and all entry and exit notes. This digital file shows how long the third-country national is legally allowed to stay in the Schengen area.
- Notification of arrival for short stay (max. 90 days) EU and non-EU travellers to town hall can be done digitally via My Address in Belgium , while it can also still be done phyisically.
- Every foreigner is required to report their short stay to the municipality, except when staying in an institution subject to the legislation on traveler control (for example, hotels, guesthouses, boarding houses, etc.)
- Extra Retribution fee of 180 EUR for single permit applications through Flanders as of 1 September 2026
- Through the digital platform ‘Working in Belgium’ when applying for a combined permit, both for first-time applications and renewals. Applications for a work authorization for max. 90 days (in 180 days) are exempt from this new fee. The fee will be indexed annually on January 1 and rounded up to the nearest euro.
- Increase of the Consular fee when applying for a visa D for Belgium to 250 EUR.
- Up from 180 EUR, as of 1 July 2026, applicable to all categories
- Work permit B applications no longer via mail but through the ‘Uniek Loket/ Guichet Unique’ platform
- In case of assignment the sending entity will require registration in the Belgian CBE, as a Belgian enterprise number will be required to submit the application.
- Belgian minimum wage increased to gross 2,233.61 EUR/ month,
- To be reached in absence of sector (joint committee) or immigration category bound higher salary threshold.
- As per 1 July 2026
- New legislation regarding ‘frontier workers’ as per 15 August 2026
- Now including self-employed individuals
- No more administrative formalities for EU nationals with the town hall
- Annex 64 instead of Annex 15 for third country nationals
- New visa procedure for Brits and employees with residence in the UK.
- Registration certificate (orange card) to change into a booklet form as of the end of September 2026.
- The old models (orange card or document format) remain valid until their expiration date
- Additional administrative fee could apply, but has yet to be communicated
Impact
Above mentioned changes may affect recruitment/retainment strategies towards non-EU employees.
Santa Fe recommendation
If you have any questions regarding these updates for non-EU employees that you have hired or intend to hire, do reach out to your trusted Santa Fe Relocation contact from our Immigration Team.
Contact us
Please get in touch with us for further information or clarification:
Kevin Van Hove
Senior Immigration Consultant BeNeLux
Santa Fe Relocation
+32 (0) 485 43 30 64
kevin.vanhove@santaferelo.com
William Haesendonck
Country Manager Belgium
Santa Fe Relocation
+32 (0) 489 23 22 79
william.haesendonck@santaferelo.com