Changing Employers in Belgium on a Work Permit

Changing employers in Belgium (Koninkrijk België / Royaume de Belgique — Kingdom of Belgium) on a work permit depends on your permit and your region. A Belgian single permit is linked to a specific employer, so under current rules a new employer generally has to apply for a new authorisation with the regional authority before you can start. EU Blue Card holders have simpler rules after 12 months, and the revised EU Single Permit Directive — which Belgium had to transpose by May 2026 — is designed to make job changes and short periods of unemployment easier. This EU Helpers guide explains the process, notice rules and risks — international candidates can explore Belgian opportunities through EU Helpers. Belgium is a founding member of the EU (1958), a founding Schengen state, a eurozone member since 1999, a founding NATO member since 1949 (NATO is headquartered in Brussels) and a founding Council of Europe member since 1949.

Essential Context: How Belgian Work Permits Are Tied to Employers

Your freedom to change jobs depends on which authorisation you hold.

When You Can Change Employers in Belgium

• Voluntary move — secure the new offer and make sure the new employer files its application before you resign.
• Dismissal or redundancy — tell your regional authority and seek advice quickly. Under the revised EU Single Permit Directive, workers should be able to stay up to 3 months to find a new job, or 6 months after two years on a permit — check how your region applies this.
• After 12 months on a Blue Card — the change of employer becomes much simpler.
• After qualifying for unlimited work authorisation or long-term residence — you can change jobs freely.

The Step-by-Step Process

1. Get a written offer that meets your permit category's rules, including the regional salary threshold.
2. The new employer files a single permit application through the Working in Belgium platform with the regional authority where it is based — which may be a different region from your current employer.
3. The region checks the job, salary and, for some categories, the labour market; the Immigration Office checks residence.
4. Wait for approval before you start working for the new employer.
5. Resign from your current job with the correct notice, timed around the approval.
6. Update your residence card at the commune with the new decision.

Documentation You Will Need

Timing: How Long the Switch Takes

Because the new authorisation can take up to three months, plan your resignation date carefully so you are never left without a valid permit.

Rules on Notice, Probation and Severance

• Notice — under Belgium's single status rules, an employee who resigns gives notice based on seniority, from one week for very short service up to a maximum of 13 weeks.
• Probation — trial periods were largely abolished in 2014 for most contracts, with shorter notice periods applying in the first months instead.
• Severance — an employee who resigns is not entitled to severance pay; dismissal with notice or compensation follows the seniority-based rules.
• Holiday pay — your departure holiday pay (vakantiegeld / pécule de vacances) is settled when you leave.

Salary and Benefits When Switching

Your new salary must meet the threshold for your permit in the new employer's region — for example, the EU Blue Card threshold in 2026 is €63,586 a year in Flanders, €68,815 in Wallonia and €4,748 a month in Brussels. Compare gross pay, end-of-year bonuses, meal vouchers, company cars and group insurance. If you sponsor family members, make sure your income still meets the family reunification threshold.

Risks and Common Mistakes

• Starting before approval — working for a new employer without a valid authorisation is illegal employment for both you and the employer.
• Resigning too early — a gap between permits can put your residence at risk.
• Forgetting regional differences — a new employer in another region applies under that region's rules and thresholds.
• Salary below the threshold — the new job must fit your permit category.
• Not updating the commune — your residence card must reflect the new authorisation.
• Forgetting family members — income changes can affect their renewals.

Special Cases

• Intra-corporate transferees — ICT permits are tied to the group employer and are not designed for job changes.
• Seasonal workers — seasonal authorisations are tied to the seasonal job.
• Becoming self-employed — you need a professional card (beroepskaart / carte professionnelle) from the region, unless you are exempt.
• Moving to another EU country — EU Blue Card holders can use intra-EU mobility after 12 months in Belgium.
• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens — no permit is needed; they can change jobs freely.

Final Guidance

Changing employers in Belgium on a work permit takes planning. Under current rules, a single permit is linked to your employer, so your new employer usually files a new application with its regional authority through the Working in Belgium platform, and you should not start until it is approved. EU Blue Card holders have simpler rules after 12 months, and holders of an unlimited work authorisation or long-term residence can change jobs freely. Check the new region's salary threshold, give the correct notice, update your residence card and watch how your region applies the revised EU Single Permit Directive. Always confirm current rules with your regional authority before resigning. International candidates can explore Belgian opportunities through EU Helpers. EU Helpers supports foreign workers with offer and salary checks, regional applications, timing, documents and residence card updates.