Many expatriates successfully obtain employment in Belgium. The significant global corporate sector and establishment of the European Union (EU) boost the possibilities of obtaining employment in Belgium’s metropolitan areas, especially in Brussels.
With several European agencies, NATO, and a slew of other significant global organizations and major corporations headquartered in Brussels, expatriates have plenty of opportunities to work in the country.
Nevertheless, in a home nation with three official languages and many more spoken in the multi-cultural capital of Brussels, having excellent linguistic abilities will grant you a better opportunity of landing employment in the country.
Workplace culture in Belgium
The Belgian work, which has long maintained the French bureaucratic structure in which senior executives decide all rules, reflects the dichotomy among the French- and Dutch-speaking areas. Nevertheless, this has shifted to a more equitable Dutch paradigm of simpler, more accessible companies with increased data exchange and outsourcing. Belgians value rationality and reasoning, and they need you to support your claims with evidence and stats.
For a probationary term, your company may grant you a short-term agreement. You’ll operate a 38-hour week, 20 days of vacation annually, and ten Belgian public breaks in the broad sense.
Belgium’s wage structure
The country has some of Europe’s maximum pay rates and least wages. In 2017, the typical monthly net full-time wage was €3,558. For competent professionals with a master’s education, this jumps to a total of €5,330 monthly.
Belgian minimal pay is €1,625.72 as of mid-2020. Country, on the other hand, has one of the greatest taxation ratios in Europe. It is based on a rising range of 25 to 50%, based on income.
Work Visas for Belgium
There are three sorts of employment visas accessible to international citizens in the country. These are some of the types:
Type A work visa: The candidate must have had a Type B work visa for four years to get this approval. Visas of Type A are effective forever.
Type B work visa: This visa enables overseas individuals to operate in professions not occupied by Belgians. It is effective for one year and can be extended after that.
Type C work visa: This visa is for undergraduates and other short-term travelers. It’s only good for a year at most.
Requirements
- A legal passport
- Evidence of residency in Belgium
- Evidence of enough resources
- Criminal history check
- Recently clicked passport size photo
- Healthcare insurance
- Job acceptance letter from employee
- Evidence of being eligible for the job position
Application process
To reside and operate in Belgium, overseas workers will require a working permit. The company should file for the employment permit, but they must first demonstrate that there are no eligible Belgian citizens qualified to fill the post. After that, you can start the registration procedure. The stages in the procedure are as follows:
- The business applies for a working visa with the Belgian visa officials.
- The employment visa is sent to the Belgian Consulate by the officials.
- To file for a residency permit, the worker travels to the Belgian Consulate in their homeland.
- The individual may go to Belgium after acquiring the visa and authorization.
- In Belgium, the worker notifies the officials of their entrance and certifies their residence location.
- A request for an ID card is submitted by the worker.
- The worker takes the ID card from the counter and gives their biometrics.
The person can start operating for your organization in Belgium after passing these processes.
Self-employment and freelancing in Belgium
About a thousand self-employed people and entrepreneurs make up nearly 20% of the workforce in Belgium. Anybody of professional ability, even immigrants, can open a company in Belgium provided as they have a job permit and follow the ethical requirements.
