Employing a foreigner in Flanders: managerial
Foreign managers can come to work in Flanders under certain conditions. Their future employer can apply for a work permit for this purpose.
Who is considered managerial?
A foreigner can work as a manager in Flanders if they meet a number of conditions.
Nature of the work
The foreign manager:
- manages the company
- is responsible for the day-to-day management of the company
- supervises the work of subordinate employees
- is authorised to represent and commit the employer.
Pay threshold
The employer can apply for a work permit for the manager if the latter’s gross annual salary is at least 160% of the average gross annual salary in Belgium. That means that:
- in 2023 they earned at least 73 574 euro
- in 2024 they earn at least 74 611 euro.
To calculate the monthly salary from the gross annual salary for local employment (with a Belgian employment contract), divide the gross annual salary by 13.92 if the employee receives a thirteenth month in addition to double holiday pay.
- For 2023: 73 574 euro divided by 13.92 = 5 285.49 euro per month
- For 2024: 74 611 euro divided by 13.92 = 5 359.99 euro per month.
To calculate the monthly salary from the gross annual salary in the case of a posting (with a foreign employment contract), divide the gross annual salary by 12 as the Belgian regulation of thirteenth month and holiday pay does not apply to foreign wage composition.
- For 2023: 73 574 euro divided by 12 = 6 131,17 euro per month
- For 2024: 74 611 euro divided by 12 = 6217,58 euro per month.
Procedure for obtaining a work permit - 90 days maximum
The employer applies for the work permit for their future foreign employee who is coming to work in Belgium for 90 days maximum. This is done in one procedure, but separate conditions may apply per category.
- Stap 1
- Stap 2
- Stap 3
- Stap 4
The employment contract must show that the salary for the manager meets the conditions.
The gross annual salary must be at least 160% of the average gross annual salary in Belgium:- Gross annual salary 2023: at least 73 574 euro
- Gross annual salary 2024: at least 74 611 euro
- Stap 5
Gather the required documents together in the following fixed order in one application.
Application form
The form completed by the employer in the case of a fixed-term permit:
Application for admission to fixed-term employment with a work permit
Residence documents- Employee identity document, a valid passport or equivalent travel document (only specific personal data, no stamp pages, whether blank or filled in). Choose which situation is applicable:
- Employee is not in Belgium at the time of application
- Foreign identity card or personal data in an international passport.
- Employee is in Belgium at the time of application
- Foreign identity card or personal data in an international passport
- and Belgian residence permit showing legal residence in Belgium
- Employee is not in Belgium at the time of application
- Employee identity document, a valid passport or equivalent travel document (only specific personal data, no stamp pages, whether blank or filled in). Choose which situation is applicable:
Employment contract
If there is an employment contract with a foreign employer, the translated version thereof in Dutch, French, German or English.
If there is no employment contract: proof of other income.Employer identity document
Or of their proxy/agent.
Documents in case of posting
- One of the following documents:
- A statement that social security legislation of the employee’s country continues to apply while working in Belgium
- If there is no international agreement on this: a statement from the National Social Security Office that the employee is not subject to the Belgian scheme for employed persons because conditions for this have not been met.
- A certificate signed by you (the employer) with:
- The duration of the posting
- The work and pay conditions during the posting.
- Proof of registration in the Limosa Registry (in Dutch)(opens in new window) as an employee working on posting within the scope of Title IV, Chapter 8, of the Programme Act (I) of 27 December 2006
- One of the following documents:
- Stap 6
- Stap 7
- Stap 8
Procedure for obtaining a work permit - 90 per 180 days with a Schengen visa
The employer applies for the work permit for their future foreign employee who is coming to Belgium to work for 90 per 180 days with a Schengen visa. The foreign worker must be in possession of a Schengen visa valid for at least 180 days. The work permit will be used in combination with the Schengen visa.
If a Schengen visa for a longer duration is obtained, the foreign employee will be allowed to work in the Flemish Region for a maximum of 90 days during the period of validity of their Schengen visa (at least 180 days) and the period of validity of their work permit (180 days).
The application for the permit is thus made by the employer, separate conditions may apply per category.
- Stap 1
- Stap 2
- Stap 3
- Stap 4
The employment contract must show that the salary for the manager meets the conditions.
The gross annual salary must be at least 160% of the average gross annual salary in Belgium:- Gross annual salary 2023: at least 73 574 euro
- Gross annual salary 2024: at least 74 611 euro
- Stap 5
Gather the required documents together in the following fixed order in one application.
Application form
The form completed by the employer in the case of a fixed-term permit:
Application for admission to fixed-term employment with a work permit (Word file opens in new window) (in Dutch)(Word file opens in new window)
Residence documents- Employee identity document, a valid passport or equivalent travel document (only specific personal data, no stamp pages, whether blank or filled in). Choose which situation is applicable:
- Employee is not in Belgium at the time of application
- Foreign identity card or personal data in an international passport.
- Employee is in Belgium at the time of application
- Foreign identity card or personal data in an international passport
- and Belgian residence permit showing legal residence in Belgium
- Employee is not in Belgium at the time of application
Employment contract
If there is an employment contract with a foreign employer, the translated version thereof in Dutch, French, German or English.If there is no employment contract: proof of other income.
Employer identity document
Or of their proxy/agent.
Documents in case of posting
- One of the following documents:
- A statement that the social security legislation of the employee’s country continues to apply while working in Belgium
- If there is no international agreement on this: a statement from the National Social Security Office that the employee is not subject to the Belgian scheme for employed persons because conditions for this have not been met.
- A certificate signed by you (the employer) with:
- The duration of posting
- The duration of posting.
- Proof of registration in the Limosa Registry (in Dutch)(opens in new window) as an employee working on posting within the scope of Title IV, Chapter 8 of the Programme Act (I) of 27 December 2006
- Employee identity document, a valid passport or equivalent travel document (only specific personal data, no stamp pages, whether blank or filled in). Choose which situation is applicable:
- Stap 6
- Stap 7
- Stap 8
Procedure for obtaining a work permit - Fixed duration, more than 90 days
The employer applies for a single permit of fixed duration (single permit) for their future foreign employee who is coming to work in Belgium as a manager for more than 90 days. This single permit contains both a work permit and a residence permit. If the application is approved, the employee can work for the employer who applied for the permit.
For their managerial foreign employee, the future employer can apply for a single permit for three years immediately. The employer compiles the required documents for their application. The documents do not have to be originals, a copy is sufficient.
- Stap 1
- Stap 2
- Stap 3
- Stap 4
The employment contract must show that the salary for the manager meets the conditions.
The gross annual salary must be at least 160% of the average gross annual salary in Belgium:- Gross annual salary 2023: at least 73 574 euro
- Gross annual salary 2024: at least 74 611 euro
- Stap 5
- Stap 6
Renewing your work permit
Do you want to renew an existing permit? This also depends on the work permit you already have. The renewal may be submitted up to a maximum of 4 months in advance.