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Permanent single permit

Are you a non-European employee (from outside the EEA + Switzerland) working and living in Belgium for a longer period of time? You may be eligible for a permanent single permit. Do you think you meet the conditions? Then apply for the permit using the One-Stop Counter online service. You can do this in the region or the German-speaking community where you live.

The permanent single permit is a temporary residence permit linked to a work authorisation of indefinite duration. You can obtain this permit as an employee under certain conditions, after you have already worked with a fixed-term single permit.

  • The region or German-speaking community where you live issues a work permit.
  • This work authorisation is valid for an indefinite period.
  • It gives you the right to work for any employer in Belgium.
  • The Immigration Office of the FPS Interior issues the residence permit. This gives you the right to reside in Belgium for your work.
  • You will then only need to renew this residence permit annually at the local municipality where you live.
  • It will also remain valid if you move to another Belgian region or the German-speaking Community.

  1. An employee who can demonstrate that they have worked for several years with a fixed-term single permit may, under certain conditions, apply for a permanent single permit. These conditions may vary depending on the region or German-speaking community where the employee lives.
  2. Long-term resident employees from another EU Member State who have worked in Belgium for at least twelve months without interruption with a fixed-term single permit may also apply for a permanent single permit.

More information about the conditions, procedures and documents to be submitted can be found on the website of the competent region or German-speaking community:

As an employee, please use the One-Stop Counter online service to apply for a permanent single permit. The region or German-speaking community where you live automatically receives the combined application.

More information about the conditions, procedures and documents to be submitted can be found on the website of the competent region or the German-speaking Community:

Be sure to apply for the permanent single permit before your fixed-term single permit expires. Do this at least two months in advance.

As a precaution! Are you submitting your application just before your fixed-term combined work and residence permit expires? Then ask the employer you are currently working for to also apply for an extension of the fixed-term single permit. This will give you more security in case the permanent single permit is not granted.

The conditions, procedures and list of documents you need to submit to be eligible for a permanent single permit as an employee can be found on the website of the region or German-speaking community where you live:

During the assessment procedure

  • you may continue working for your current employer,
  • provided that your fixed-term work and residence permit (single permit) is still valid.

As soon as you

  • have obtained the work authorisation of indefinite duration from the competent region,
  • and you have collected an Annex 49 (first application) or Annex 50 (renewal applications for a combined permit of indefinite duration) from the municipality, pending the decision of the Immigration Office on your application for a permanent single permit,

you may

  • either continue working for your current employer,
  • or start working for another employer.

Once the Immigration Office has granted the residence permit, you can collect your permanent single permit from your local municipality. This document is valid for one year. The Immigration Office decides on its renewal every year. As an employee, you apply for this renewal at the local municipality where you live.

You will find a detailed list of the documents you need to submit under Single permit on the website of the FPS Interior, Immigration Office (New window).

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If you have any other questions about submitting or following up on your application, please contact the region or language community that is processing your application: