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Hi All, here is my timeline for renewal.

Application: 14 July 2025

WP: 25 Aug 2025

Annex 46: 7 Nov 2025

I see many people are worrying about these approvals and I was one of them too because I suppose to travel to my home country for family situation this month end.

I mailed to IBZ for requesting approval and they replied stating it will take 16-17 weeks from the date of WP approval.

I don’t know the reason but it is taking lot of time this year to process the application and it just took 2-3 months last two times for whole process.

To clarify, if you have WP approval, you can stay and continue work though your RP is expired but you need to visit(the next day of RP expired date) local Commune to obtain Annex 49(temporary permit valid for 45 days and after this you can take one more Annex 49 for another 45 days).

The only problem I see here is that you can’t travel outside Belgium holding Annex 49 but you can travel back to your home country by taking travel approval copy from local commune. To return back to Belgium, you have to go through the whole process by fresh application again.

Hello All,

Anyone recieved Annex 46 last week?

Kindly update !

Thanks,

Vidya.

Hi All,

Please find below my timeline regarding the unlimited work permit process in Flanders:

01/09/2025 – Application submitted

01/10/2025 – Application deemed admissible

07/10/2025 – Positive decision for work permit

20/11/2025 – File in treatment by Office

20/11/2025 – Positive decision for residence (Annex 46)

@ozlemozdemir227

It was your first application or renewal?

@yOrhan

None of them. This is a different category for people who have worked for a certain period of time and want to obtain a work permit without company sponsorship. It still falls under the A-card type, and you apply to it by yourself.

Hi all,

Below update !

Application date : 6th August

Work positive decision: 28 th August

Annex 46: 18th November

Good luck to all who applied!

@ozlemozdemir227

I am also waiting for same application. I received wp on 1st Oct and still I am waiting rp.

I contacted IBZ several times, and each time they confirmed that the processing time is typically 13–17 weeks after the work permit is issued. ( for unlimited category )

In my case, I received another job opportunity while my residence permit was still pending, and I couldn’t resign from my current position until the approval arrived. My commune sent an email to IBZ requesting to expedite the process, and on that same day, the application was approved.

@yOrhan

I contacted IBZ several times, and each time they confirmed that the processing time is typically 13–17 weeks after the work permit is issued. ( for unlimited category )

In my case, I received another job opportunity while my residence permit was still pending, and I couldn’t resign from my current position until the approval arrived. My commune sent an email to IBZ requesting to expedite the process, and on that same day, the application was approved.

@ozlemozdemir227

Could you please explain a little bit more how you request from your commune to contact with IBZ about your situation. Because I have same issue currently, I have new job however I cannot start due to pending rp.

Many Thanks

@yOrhan

  Sent pm.

@ozlemozdemir227

Hello Ozlem,

Can I have the pm too for the situation like Orhan ?

Update:

First application - Highly qualified - Flanders

Submission to Region: 15 July 2025

Further documents requested by the region: 28 July 2025

Work Permit: 29 July 2025

Under treatment by the office: 20 November 2025

Residence Permit: 25 November 2025

Best of luck to everyone!

@ngatsby

Hi,

Applied in June 2025, MOE approval came on 23rd September 2025.

@ngatsby Keep me posted

Is there any updates from IBZ for past week? Did anyone recieved the annex 46 last week?

Is there any updates from IBZ for past week? Did anyone recieved the annex 46 last week ???

Unlimited single permit Brussels

Work permit: 02/10/2025

Annexe46: still waiting

My card expires end of january. I dont know what to do

Unlimited single permit Brussels

Work permit: 02/10/2025

Annexe46: still waiting

My card expires end of january. I dont know what to do

@Mberhdadi

if its not approved in time, go to the commune before expiry and they will issue you an annex which will allow you to legally stay and continue working until a decision is made on SP

First application - Highly qualified

Region: Brussels

Application date : 18/11/2025

WP/SP: 12/12/2025

First Application-single permit

Application date : 09/12/2025

@vinsin77

Hi , has  your single permit also been approved, or only work permit?

have they been approved in the same day?

the waiting time was really short then. Congrats!

Hi All,

1.I wanted to ask what items in a job offer letter counts and matters for single permit approval for Highly qualified worker.

2. I wanted to ask if switching from search year visa to Single Permit if it is easy or if they (the goverment) create problems for the employers?

3. Can someome generous enough outline the typical cost of a first time single permit application.

Thank you

DATE OF APPLICATION:25.09

WP:24.10

RP: PENDING

I AM WAITING FOR THE RESIDENCE PERMIT

WHEN WILL THE RESIDENCE PERMIT BE ISSUED ON AVERAGE

I AM OUTSIDE BELGIUM

I AM WAITING FOR YOUR ANSWERS

@Nnajiu

1- The only requirement is that the salary of the job need to be as the work department specified for a highly skilled worker.

2- Why would they create problems? Generally speaking it’s better that you are in the search year and not abroad because you won’t have to apply for a visa but rather just go to the commune and get a new ID.

3- The only only cost is the fee paid to the office des étrangers to handle your application which I believe was 148€.

@Eline Paul

Thank you very much for your explanations.  One more question. Imagine a job that is 100% shift based, meaning, you can only work in shifts.

I saw that there is the salary threshold, if an offer letter has a base gross salary and then has a separate fixed percentage as shift premium, does the immigration authorities consider a combination of both base and shift premium or only base?

Thanks

@durmazaysegul10

Yes, both the single permit and the work permit were approved earlier than I anticipated.

Unlimited single permit (Flanders) :

Application date: 04/08/2025

WP: 24/09/2025

RP: 16/12/2025

Good luck everyone.

Unlimited work permit, A card renewal Brussels:

Applied: Sept 19. Applied on Sept 12 also for L card.

Wrote a message to ibz as my A card validity was ending in December: Dec 3. They answered they are working.

Got annex 50 in commune: Dec 10 (date of A card expiration)

L card approved: Dec 11

Letter from commune: Dec 17.

@gannam

How long before the expiration of your A card can you apply? (I believe they are only valid for 1 year after you get the unlimited work permit, right?)

I got approved for single permit annex 46 today.

Region Brussels

Application: 25 August

WP approved : 12 September

annex 46: 17 December

good luck to everyone, it takes ages at the IBZ. I hope to get the card in in next 2 weeks.

@hermito

Unlimited work permit A card renewal: They write to apply 3 months in advance, but actually the process can take 4 months and longer. People say if you apply in the Fall it takes longer then in the spring. 

Date of application:25.09

Wp:24.10

Rp: pending

I am waiting for the residence permit

When will the residence permit be issued on average

I am outside belgium

I am waiting for your answers

Help

@Ardaesk

It takes around 4 months to get residency permit approval. It may take longer when you apply from abroad.

Sanirim Turkiye’den basvuruyosunuz. Daha da uzun zaman alabilir cunku oradan basvurular ayrica detayli inceleniyor.

bol sans, good luck

@ozlemozdemir227

That’s great to know. May I ask. What’s your commune ?

Hello Team,

I have unlimited work permit

My RP expires on Jan 5th 2026 and I had applied for renewal of Residence permit on 6th oct (3 months before). I am still waiting for Residence approval.

commune gave me annexe 50 multiple times but now they say they will give annexe 49?

Can anyone guide here?

Hi all,

Unlimited single permit

Application: 09/09/2025

WP: 11/09/2025

RP: 24/12/2025

Validity = 1 year

Region: Flanders

Application date: June 2025

Work Permit: 23rd September 2025

Annex 46: 24th December 2025