Belgium

Am I eligible to apply for an EU Blue Card?

To apply for an EU Blue Card, the applicant must:

• have a valid work contract or binding job offer for highly qualified employment with a duration of at least 1 year;
• meet the minimum salary threshold in the Member State concerned (see below);
• for regulated professions: present documents proving that the national legal requirements are met;
• for unregulated professions: present documents proving that the relevant higher professional qualifications are met (for more information about higher professional qualifications, see the FAQ section);
• present a valid travel document, an application for a visa or a visa (if necessary), and a valid residence permit or a national long-term visa (if appropriate);
• produce proof of health insurance (or proof of having applied for it).

In addition, the applicant must not pose a threat to public policy in the view of the Member State. S/he may also be required to provide his/her address in that Member State. 

How much do I have to earn to qualify for an EU Blue Card?

The gross annual salary resulting from the monthly or annual salary specified in the work contract or binding job offer must be equal to or higher than the relevant salary threshold defined by the Member State.

For 2023, Flanders set the minimum salary threshold at 55 181 EUR. The other regions set the threshold at 60 998 EUR.

Are there exceptions to the minimum salary requirement?

N/A.

Will EU citizens' applications be prioritised over mine?

Some Member States apply a Labour Market Test (LMT). This is a mechanism that aims to ensure that migrant workers are only admitted after employers have unsuccessfully searched for national workers, EU citizens (in EU Member States, this also means EEA workers) or legally residing third-country nationals with access to the labour market according to national legislation (for more information see the FAQ section).

For EU Blue Cards, the regions in Belgium do not apply a labour market test.

How long will my EU Blue Card be valid?

The standard period of validity in Belgium is 1 to 3 years, depending on the duration of the employment contract.

How much will it cost?

Initial EU Blue Card fee: 126 EUR.

Renewal: N/I. Replacement: N/I. 

Fee for express issuance: N/A.

How long will it take to get my EU Blue Card?

National law foresees that the maximum processing time for issuing an EU Blue Card in Belgium is 90 days.

Information