Work permit - for non-EU nationals (employed status)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Due to the current health security instructions for combatting the spread of the coronavirus, below are the temporary procedures introduced in the Walloon Region relating to work permits:
- The physical offices are closed until further notice
- The services can be contacted by telephone or email
- Creation of two specific email addresses:
- permisdetravail@spw.wallonie.be – Requests for general information
- permisdetravail.entreprises@spw.wallonie.be – New permit applications
These modalities do not call into question the deadlines set out in the decree of the Walloon Government of 16 May 2019, which remain in force.
Contact:
- Exclusive email address for general information:
- By telephone: telephone lines open every morning from 9.30am to 12pm
Tel: +32 (0)81/33.43.92
New permit applications
The sending of applications by email replaces the need to send them by post; they should be sent to the following address: permisdetravail.entreprises@spw.wallonie.be. You do not need to send the original application as well. The original must be kept carefully in the event of a subsequent inspection.
Permit renewals - impact on temporary unemployment
Periods of temporary unemployment between 1 March and 31 May 2020 will not be taken into account when checking compliance with:
- pay scales
- the thresholds for specific admissions to work
- the guaranteed average monthly minimum income level
To qualify for this measure, a declaration from the body that pays temporary unemployment benefits must be attached to the individual annual remuneration statements for 2020 that are sent to the Administration.
The employer does not have to inform the Administration that the worker's employment has been suspended.
These measures can be extended as the situation develops.
Decision or request for supplementary information
The Administration sends decisions and requests for supplementary information to employers and agents only by post
Foreign nationals prevented from leaving Belgium for reasons of force majeure
If a foreign national becomes stuck in Belgium for reasons outside their control (e.g. cancelled flight), they must send a work permit application to the Administration:
Work permit application (force majeure):
- Send by email to: permisdetravail.enteprises@spw.wallonie.be
- Stating the full names and contact details of the employer AND the worker,
- Attaching the worker's temporary residence permit,
(issued by the short-stay service of the Immigration Office or the municipality in which the worker lives)
- Attaching the employment contract if the previous contract has expired.
Issuing of work permits (force majeure)
- The Administration issues a temporary employment permit to the employer
- The Administration issues a B work permit to the worker, regardless of the worker's previous situation*
The period of validity of these documents corresponds to the period of validity of the residence document.
*Specific situations:
- the worker has a B work permit,
- the worker has a single permit,
- If the extension of the period (of residence and work) takes the worker over 90 days
