Belgium Work Visa for Engineers: Single Permit Route

Belgium Needs Engineers, and Pays Them Well

Belgium is a strong hub for civil, mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering, with major companies in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels, good salaries and a central location in Europe. Engineers from outside the EU can usually work there through the highly qualified worker category of the single permit, which combines a work permit and a residence permit in one procedure. Your Belgian employer applies for the permit for you, so your first goal is a concrete job offer. The rules depend a little on the region where you will work.

What You Need to Qualify

In Flanders, you need a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a recognised higher education institution. In Wallonia, a higher education degree also works, or at least three years of relevant experience in the seven years before you apply. Your job must also pay at least the minimum gross salary set by the region for highly qualified workers, which is lowered to 80 percent if you are under 30. Since 2026, the job itself must also be truly highly qualified, so a degree alone is not enough. These amounts are updated regularly, so ask your employer to check the current figure on the official regional website.

How to Find a Job and Apply, Step by Step

First, check that your degree or experience meets the highly qualified category in the region you are aiming for. Next, search for engineering jobs on EURES, Flanders’ public employment service VDAB, and the official job services of Brussels (Actiris) and Wallonia (Le Forem), using terms like “Civil Engineer Belgium”, “Mechanical Engineer Belgium visa sponsorship” or “Electrical Engineer Brussels”. When you get an offer, your employer applies for your single permit to the region where the job is located. Finally, once the permit is approved, apply for a long-stay visa (visa D) at the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country, and register at your local municipality within eight working days of arriving. Emig can also help you find relevant opportunities, improve your CV and prepare stronger job applications.

Check if you qualify →