Unlimited single permit processing time - 2021&2022 - Belgium forum

Unlimited single permit processing time - 2021&2022

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

Hello,

I didn't see a specific topic on unlimited WP, I would like to share my experience and get your advise.

I applied to unlimited single permit on 27 October; according to I'm eligible and followed the steps to apply. I'm living in Flanders so my application was forwarded there. But the terms in Flemish website are not same (i.e. in Brussels with certain conditions 3 years is acceptable but in Flanders it seems to be 4 years). So I'm a bit concerned now.

I learned that -at last, after 12 weeks- my application will be handled this week. The office was not clear to me whether they will inform me on the result or not. They said that once my application is evaluated they will inform my current employer, and the immigration office. It seems that I will only get the official letter after immigration office review for residence, which will take another 5 weeks.

In the meantime I got a very good job offer and I want to resign as soon as possible, so to start my new job.

So my question is, when do you think it is "secure" to resign - once I get news from the work permit agency that my application is (hope) approved, as they also inform my employer, or must I wait until residence permit is secured and I receive the letter from the immigration office?

We are here with my family and I don't want to risk our life. loosing residency etc.

Thank you,

See also

Conditions and procedures to start a business in Belgium - Guide
Unlimited Single Permit 2026 - 34 Replies
Unlimited Single Permit Flanders - 22 Replies
Changing the employer with Unlimited Single Permit (A card) - 3 Replies
Unlimited Single Permit Flanders renewal - 1 Reply
Single Permit Processing Time - 2024 - 3 Replies
Unlimited single permit - 2 Replies

jay.vaishnav52 Member

13POSTS

4 years ago

Hello,

Do you have any update on this one?
Did you get the approval? What happens with the RP validity. Do you get 3 years by default?

Regards
Jay

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

Hello Jay,

After my post I got the WP after 13 weeks, but that's only valid with RP from immigration office (DVZ). Since I'm already living in Belgium, I got Annex 49 from Commune easily. Also I contacted Immigration Office and they confirmed that I can start working with WP+Annex 49, they will be able to provide final WP by end of February (WP: 26 Jan).

However my new employer still didn't confirm that they are ok with Annex 49, so I'm waiting for that. I heard that RP will be for 1 year, but I'll add that here once I get.

Did you also apply for Unlimited?

santoshharish2002 New member

3POSTS

4 years ago

Thanks for sharing your experience. @Bel_ expat
Could you tell me the list of documents you have submitted for unlimited work permit please?
You can start working with Annex 49 + work authorization. If your employer doesn't know this you can ask them to check with authorities that should be quick.

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

Hello,

Unfortunately they don't accept. They insist on waiting for immigration office, I showed them the response from the immigration office as well but it didn't work.

I followed this process:

However since I live in Flanders, later the Flanders WSE office requested my current employment contract + Application form of Flanders.

Thanks for interest, good luck!

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

Also, do you have any formal document stating that Annex 49 is ok?

santoshharish2002 New member

3POSTS

4 years ago

Search for "Annex 49" in this link.

Jimsen Contributor

123POSTS

4 years ago

What's duration (start and end date) of 'Unlimited Single Permit'?

One can apply only after 3/4 years?

What's main advantage of this card?

In this case, RP depends on WP or WP depends on RP?

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

You can see all conditions in the link I shared today. Once you are eligible, WP is unlimited in terms of duration and employer. However RP is limited (yearly until you complete 5 years) I think, but this also has some conditions, not sure on that.

patiltush Active member

77POSTS

4 years ago

#10

I would say having work department approval to continue/change the job is enough if you have received unlimited single permit application approved form work department. If not, then work department approval is connected to employer, s your new employer has to file a new application for you.

By the way, I'm in same situation as you for eligibility of unlimited residence permit. Can you confirm if your application was accepted by Flanders with rules of 3 years as prescribed by Brussels? Did they give any聽 confirmation/query?

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#11

Hi, 3 years is accepted by Flanders. I don't know why they don't give this detail in their web site.
My WP has been issued but it is only valid with residence permit, so I'm still waiting. Annex 49 wasnt accepted by my new employer.

patiltush Active member

77POSTS

4 years ago

#12

So what validity of new residence permit will you get?

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#13

I'll see when I get that

But my friends told that it will be for 1 year, so every year you have to apply for renewal. I think we will have to do that one more time and later (5+) it will be permanent.

Kostadorn Active member

98POSTS

4 years ago

#14

In Flanders you can get an unlimited card (which is D/B) only after 5 years of being an official resident in Belgium. Before that, all you request is a Single permit (card A), which is available for 3 years and has to be renewed (by employer) once expires. After 5 years, you apply for unlimited by yourself which has to be renewed every 5 years.

Jimsen Contributor

123POSTS

4 years ago

#15

I prefer Freelance / Professional card for many reasons

01. Can switch contract just in a day within Belgium
02. Get professional / freelance card for 1 or 2 years
03. I control application of professional / freelance extension which is very fast
04. Almost no dependency on the contractor
05. No issue when apply for a PR or Nationality

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#16

Isn鈥檛 this when you work as a contractor and you should have a company? Can you work as an employee to a company with a professional card?

Jimsen Contributor

123POSTS

4 years ago

#17

01. You can get the professional card on your name and work as a freelancer.
02. You can get the professional card on the name of your company and work as an employee in your own company.
03. I am not 100% sure if you can work as an employee (only) in another company. You can ask to Partena Professional / Securex etc.

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#18

Indeed, as far as I know Professional Card is not compensating Unlimited single permit, those are different ones. I'm an employee so I need a WP. My partner is in process of professional card now who is doing own business.

Jimsen Contributor

123POSTS

4 years ago

#19

I agree. Indeed unlimited work permit can not compensate the freelance card as well if there is still a dependency on the employer. I can stay without a contract for few months without worrying on my stay in Belgium. I renewed myvprofessional card and residence card every 2 years.

I never intend to work as an employee so I didn't check seriously with Partena Professional / Securex etc. Though once they inform me one can work as an employee as well.

Good luck.

1 member reacted to this post

patiltush Active member

77POSTS

4 years ago

#20

Thanks for the very assuring input. It will help me to process mine without worries.

Thanks.

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#21

Thank you Jimsen, this is anyway a good information!

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#22

@Kostadorn, Royal decree covers Flanders as well, so depending on your family situation and nationality, there are exceptions and you can apply for unlimited single permit after 2 years if you are eligible. I shared above the link for application, there you can see the exceptions.

patiltush Active member

77POSTS

4 years ago

#23

Can employer file the indefinite single permit? Or it is upto the employee to file?

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#24

In my experience it is up to employee. I'm pretty sure on that because you will not be dependent to an employer anymore. So you will be the owner of the process and all communication flow to you.

I'm still waiting for the Annex 46, it has been almost 4 months since I started the process; it took much longer than my single permit (processed by my employer) when I first came to Belgium.

AlexFromBelgium Animateur Belgique EN/FR

1739POSTS

4 years ago

#25

Indeed, you'll get your unlimited work permit after 4 years of work & stay.
You won't need a work permit anymore, but you'll physically get it once you renew your resident permit.

1 member reacted to this post

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#26

Hi, do you know how final SP/Annex 46 is communicated for the UNLIMITED SP? vie email/post? or to the Commune?

mohan garg Member

17POSTS

4 years ago

#27

What is the difference in unlimited sp and card B/D/L ?

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#28

Bel_expat wrote:
Hi, do you know how final SP/Annex 46 is communicated for the UNLIMITED SP? vie email/post? or to the Commune?

I finally received and learned Commune sent a mail to invite me to change my card. I requested them to share the Annex 46 and there it is!

So the time line was (Flanders/unlimited SP):
- Application - 27 October
- Transfer to Flanders - 1 Nov
- WP additional docs for Flanders: 19 Jan
- WP Approval: 26 Jan
- Annex 46: 24 Feb

1 member reacted to this post

AlexFromBelgium Animateur Belgique EN/FR

1739POSTS

4 years ago

#29

mohan garg wrote:
What is the difference in unlimited sp and card B/D/L ?

unlimited work permit means you don't need an authorization from the region to start working.
B/C/L (previously known as D) are permanent resident and you'll get your permanent resident permit automatically renew if you don't leave Belgium for more than a year.

jay.vaishnav52 Member

13POSTS

4 years ago

#30

Hello Bel_expat,

I also applied for it and got annexe 46. It is unlimited work permit with Residence approval of 1 year and every year residence approval need to be renewed from the local commune.

Regards
Jay

1 member reacted to this post

Jimsen Contributor

123POSTS

4 years ago

#31

So after 4 years of work/stay in Belgium, you can get an unlimited work permit?

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#32

Jimsen wrote:
So after 4 years of work/stay in Belgium, you can get an unlimited work permit?

Hi Jimsen, it depends your family status and nationality. You can check the conditions here 鈥� -unlimited

Krishna.Kumar1 New member

9POSTS

4 years ago

#33

Hi all,

Can someone shed the light on processing times for single permit in Flanders region. I am living in France, planned to move job to Belgium by Aug 1

My application submitted today.

How long it will take to get the work permit

NS12 Member

1POSTS

4 years ago

#34

@Bel_expat can you please tell when did you resign from previous employer as mentioned in your post?

did you resign after getting approval of unlimited WP ?

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#35

@Bel_expat can you please tell when did you resign from previous employer as mentioned in your post?

did you resign after getting approval of unlimited WP ?
- @NS12

Hi, I got the letter from Immigration Office (via Commune) that my residence permit is approved. Then I sent all documents - work permit&residence permit to my new employer to be sure that they are ok, and than I resigned. My new employer was not ok with Annex 49, that鈥檚 why I didn鈥檛 want to take any risk for my family. Immigration Office鈥檚 approval is definitive, within 2 weeks I received my new ID.

bunchofguys Member

14POSTS

4 years ago

#36

@Bel_expat

Is this website apply even for Flanders?

Because as this link mentioned I can have my permeant resident permit after only 3 years, but i am not sure if this apply even in Flanders

Any one knows more?

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#37

Well it does, I live in Flanders and I applied when it was 2 years and 10 months for me. I received my unlimiyed work permit 3 months ago.

bunchofguys Member

14POSTS

4 years ago

#38

Well it does, I live in Flanders and I applied when it was 2 years and 10 months for me. I received my unlimiyed work permit 3 months ago.
- @Bel_expat

Thank you for your response, But I mean Unlimited Resident Permit and Not Unlimited work permit.

I have my unlimited work permit too after 2.5 years here, but I wonder based on the website that you posted here (economy-employment.brussels) is this apply even in Flander or not.

Because based on this link (agii.be/thema/verblijfsrecht-uitwijzing-reizen/langdurig-ingezetene/langdurig-ingezetene-in-belgie/wat-zijn-de-voorwaarden-voor-een-langdurig-ingezetene) it seems not聽

Bel_expat Active member

59POSTS

4 years ago

#39

Well it does, I live in Flanders and I applied when it was 2 years and 10 months for me. I received my unlimiyed work permit 3 months ago.
- @Bel_expat

Thank you for your response, But I mean Unlimited Resident Permit and Not Unlimited work permit.

I have my unlimited work permit too after 2.5 years here, but I wonder based on the website that you posted here ([link under review]) is this apply even in Flander or not.

Because based on this link (agii.be/thema/verblijfsrecht-uitwijzing-reizen/langdurig-ingezetene/langdurig-ingezetene-in-belgie/wat-zijn-de-voorwaarden-voor-een-langdurig-ingezetene) it seems not
- @bunchofguys

Hi, as far as I know unlimited residence permit is not provided before 5 years indeed.

glassofsoda Member

21POSTS

3 years ago

#40

Well it does, I live in Flanders and I applied when it was 2 years and 10 months for me. I received my unlimiyed work permit 3 months ago.
- @Bel_expat

Hi @Bel_expat, when you applied and you lived in Flanders, did you apply in Brussels for an unlimited work permit? Or in Flanders? Because in Flanders website, it says that it's 4 years. Also how did you get approved in your application? Is it your nationality? Or did is your spouse with you?