Working in Belgium — Guide for Internationals

Belgium is home to the EU institutions, NATO headquarters, and thousands of multinational companies — making it one of Europe's most international work environments. Whether you're relocating for a job, being transferred within your company, or starting your own business, this guide covers everything you need to know. For residence permits and work permits, see our dedicated service pages.

Work Permits — Who Needs What?

Your Status	Permit Needed	Details
EU/EEA/Swiss citizen	None	Automatic right to work. Register at commune within 3 months.
Non-EU employee (>90 days)	Single permit	Employer-initiated, 2–4 months processing
Non-EU short-term (<90 days)	Work permit B	Employer-initiated, 2–5 weeks
Highly qualified (€58,884+ salary)	EU Blue Card	No labour market test, EU mobility
Self-employed / freelancer	Professional card	Individual application, 1–4 months

Full details: Belgium work permit guide.

Working Hours & Schedule

• Standard week: 38 hours (since 2003)
• Typical schedule: Monday–Friday, 08:00–17:00 (with lunch break)
• Maximum: 9 hours/day, 40 hours/week (with compensatory rest if >38 hours)
• Overtime limit: 11 hours/day, 50 hours/week (with premium: 50% weekdays, 100% Sundays/holidays)
• Night work: 20:00–06:00, generally prohibited except for specific sectors (healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing)
• 4-day work week: Since November 2022, employees can request to compress their 38-hour week into 4 days (9.5 hours/day). Employer can refuse with justification.

Holidays & Leave

Leave Type	Entitlement
Annual vacation	20 days (5-day week) — earned in previous year
Public holidays	10 days per year
Compensatory rest (ADV)	Varies by sector (0–12 extra days)
Sick leave	30 days guaranteed salary (employer), then mutuelle pays 60%
Maternity	15 weeks (82% salary first 30 days, then 75%)
Paternity/co-parent	20 days (3 days 100%, 17 days 82%)
Compassionate leave	1–3 days depending on event

Belgium's 10 public holidays: New Year's Day, Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 1), Ascension Day, Whit Monday, National Day (July 21), Assumption (Aug 15), All Saints' Day (Nov 1), Armistice Day (Nov 11), Christmas Day.

Employment Contracts

• Written contract required — must be signed before or on the first day of work
• Language — in the language of the region (Dutch in Flanders, French in Wallonia, either in Brussels)
• Types: indefinite (CDI/contract van onbepaalde duur — standard), fixed-term (CDD/bepaalde duur — max 2 years total), replacement, part-time
• Probation period: abolished since January 2014 (except for student contracts and temporary work)
• Non-compete clauses: only enforceable for employees earning above ~€41,969/year, max 12 months, geographically limited, requires financial compensation

Notice Periods & Dismissal

Belgium has relatively long notice periods, especially for employer-initiated dismissals:

Seniority	Employer Notice	Employee Notice
0–3 months	1 week	1 week
3–6 months	3 weeks	2 weeks
6–12 months	5 weeks	3 weeks
1–2 years	7 weeks	4 weeks
2–3 years	9 weeks	5 weeks
5 years	18 weeks	9 weeks
10 years	30 weeks	13 weeks
20 years	62 weeks	13 weeks

Employers can pay a severance (opzeggingsvergoeding/indemnité de préavis) instead of requiring the employee to work through the notice period.

Salary & Benefits

Belgian compensation typically includes base salary plus significant benefits:

• Base salary — set by joint committee minimum + individual negotiation. Average ~€4,000 gross/month. See average salary Belgium.
• 13th month — extra month's pay in December (per sector agreement)
• Double holiday pay — ~92% of monthly salary, paid May/June
• Meal vouchers — €6–€8/day, tax-advantaged
• Company car — very common, tax-efficient benefit
• Group insurance — employer pension contribution (2nd pillar)
• Hospitalization insurance — employer-funded private coverage
• Eco-cheques — up to €250/year for sustainable purchases

Use our salary calculator to estimate gross-to-net. For employer obligations, see payroll services.

Practical Tips for International Workers

• Commune registration — register within 8 days (non-EU) or 3 months (EU) of arrival at your local gemeentehuis/maison communale
• Health insurance — mandatory enrolment with a mutuelle/ziekenfonds (Partena, CM, Solidaris, etc.)
• Bank account — open a Belgian bank account for salary payments
• Tax return — file annually via Tax-on-web. See income tax guide.
• Public transport — Brussels: STIB/MIVB, Flanders: De Lijn, Wallonia: TEC. Employer must contribute to commuting costs.
• Languages — English widely spoken in Brussels and international companies; Dutch dominates in Flanders, French in Wallonia
• Expat tax regime — qualifying inbound workers can receive up to 30% of salary tax-free. See income tax guide.

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