There are more than a million self-employed people in Belgium, and most of them, especially in Brussels, are foreigners.
Belgium has an open economy, and the business culture in Belgium is quite formal, like its European neighbors. According to EU statistics, there are over 620,000 active businesses in Belgium. Most of them are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
If you are planning to start a business in Belgium, do some research on the local market. If you think you have a business idea that is worth developing, you can get support from the European Enterprise Network. There are many sectors in which expats can start a business in Belgium. The largest sector in the country is the service sector, with travel, financial and IT services showing strong positions. Manufacturing is also a key sector, accounting for about one-sixth of GDP. Petrochemicals, food and beverages, and scientific equipment are the leading sectors of Belgian manufacturing.
Who can start a business in Belgium?
Starting a business in Belgium is quite easy for anyone who is a resident and over 18 years old (16 years old for artisans and craftsmen). Foreigners can set up a business in Belgium, although non-EU/EFTA nationals may need a visa to enter Belgium as well as a Belgian residence permit.
Depending on the industry in which you are starting a business, you may need to provide evidence that you have certain skills (e.g., a degree), including entrepreneurial and management skills. Some professions in Belgium are regulated and subject to licensing, which means that you must meet certain conditions before you can start working. More information about regulated professions can be found on the website Business Belgium. If you start your own business, you must also register with the social security fund and pay contributions;
How to start a business in Belgium if you are an expat?
1. Obtaining a professional card (Belgian permit) to start a business
- EU/EFTA citizens do not need a permit
If you are an EU/EFTA citizen, you can open a business in Belgium without any restrictions and do not need a permit.
- Citizens of non-EU/EFTA countries need a professional card
If you are a non-EU/EFTA citizen, if you do not already have a residence permit in Belgium, you must apply for a professional card (carte professionelle/ beroepskaart) to start a business in Belgium. The professional card acts as your work permit. You can apply for the card when you apply for your Belgian visa by contacting the Belgian embassy or consulate in your home country before you arrive in Belgium. They will forward your application to the authorization service of the Federal Public Service (FPS) for a fee of 140 euros. You will also be advised on the required documents, which may include information about your proposed business, finances, qualifications and experience.
If your application is successful, the FPS will issue you a card that will initially be valid for 1-5 years. You can then renew the card for 90 euros per year. More information on the Belgian Professional Card and how to apply in the different regions can be found on the Business Belgium website.
2. Registration of your business
It involves several steps:
- Choosing a company name - This is the first step after deciding on the legal structure of your business. This is the name under which you register and brand your business. The choice of a company name in Belgium is free and has no restrictions, provided that no other company has an identical name. More information, as well as a link to search for existing companies, can be found on the FPS website.
- Preparation of company documents - If you are setting up a limited liability company and registering a business in Belgium, you will need to draw up a memorandum of association and have it notarized.
- Registering with Crossroads Bank for Enterprises - Before you can carry out business activities, you need to register for trade. After that, you will receive a company number, which also serves as a VAT and social security number. This can be done at any authorized office. For a list of offices in Belgium, see here.
- Registration with the VAT authorities - Companies providing goods or services subject to the Belgian VAT code must register for VAT.
- Registration with the social security fund - All self-employed workers in Belgium are responsible for their own social security and must register with the social security fund through which social security contributions are made. Also make sure that you are registered with a health insurance fund in Belgium.
The authorized offices where you register your business in Belgium work as one-stop centers where you can also deal with VAT and social security issues. You can find the nearest office on the FPS website.
3. Setting up an offshore company
If you are considering setting up an offshore company, i.e. a company that is registered, incorporated or established outside your country of residence, there are a few key pros and cons to keep in mind.
4. Offshore incorporation is a simple process in all popular offshore financial centers and tax havens around the world. They can provide a wide range of benefits for the company and its executives.
Starting an online business in Belgium
In 2018, the e-commerce market in Belgium was worth 10.67 billion euros, and the number of online-only companies is growing every year. The process of setting up an online business in Belgium is much the same as setting up a standard business. You still need the necessary business permit, you must register the business and follow the same tax and administrative procedures.
Business visa is a permit of the specified destination country/countries within the Schengen area issued to citizens of countries with mandatory visa requirements from the Schengen area for the sole purpose of doing business in Belgium.
The visa holder is not required to be a citizen of the country in question to engage in his or her business program, but such a permit also has its limitations.
The following documents are required to apply for a Schengen business visa:
1) Application for a visa. Fully completed and signed.
2) Two recent photographs must be attached. Both photos must be taken within the last three months in accordance with the photo requirements for a Schengen visa.
3) A valid passport. It must be valid for at least three months after the date you plan to leave the Schengen area. Old passports with visas (if available).
4) Reservation or round-trip itinerary. It should include dates and flight numbers indicating entry and exit from the Schengen area. You can use visa consulting services like this one. The representatives of the consulting agencies can fulfill most of the mandatory requirements for your business visas, such as flight itineraries and hotel reservations, as well as free consultations by email.
5) Travel insurance policy. A document that confirms that you have medical insurance for traveling throughout the Schengen area with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency, such as illness, accidents, and even repatriation in case of death. An insurance policy accepted by the EU authorities when applying for a business visa.
6) Proof of residence. A document stating where you will live during your stay in the Schengen area. It can be a hotel reservation, a lease agreement or an invitation letter from the host where you will live.
7) Proof of financial means. Proof that you have enough money to support yourself financially during your business trip to Belgium. It can be one of the following:
а) A bank account statement showing that you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement must be no older than 3 months.
b) Sponsorship letter - from another person confirming that he/she will financially support your trip to the Schengen area. For this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement from the sponsor not older than three months.
в) A combination of your bank statement and a sponsorship letter.
8) Confirmation of payment of the visa fee.
9) Cover letter. Explanation of the purpose of the visit to the Schengen country.
10) A brief description of the applicant's work.
11) Letter from the employer. A detailed description of the purpose of the trip and the route of the days spent in the Schengen area.
12) Invitation letter. Written by a partner company in the Schengen area, also sent by fax to the relevant consulate. This letter should look like an invitation to attend meetings or other relevant events related to trade, industry or work.
13) Proof of financial means. The employer's letter or invitation from the partner company must state that one of the parties will cover the applicant's travel expenses during his/her stay in the Schengen area.
For employees:
- Employment contract.
- A current bank statement within the last 6 months.
- Permission for vacation from the employer.
- Income tax return (ITR) form or certificate of withholding tax collection.
For the self-employed:
- A copy of your commercial license.
- a bank statement of the company within the last 6 months.
- Income tax return (ITR).
You must apply for a Schengen business visa at the consulate or embassy of the country you will most often enter or stay in during your business trip.
- If you are planning to visit only one country, then you need to contact the embassy/consulate/visa center of the country you are going to visit.
- If you are planning to visit more than one country, where you need to apply depends on the number of days you will spend in each of the countries you will be traveling to.
- If you stay an equal number of days in each country, then you need to contact the embassy/consulate/visa center of the country where you arrive first.
- If you stay unequal number of days in each country, then you will need to contact the embassy/consulate/visa center of the country where you will spend more time.
When applying for a business Schengen visa, you need to follow a few simple steps:
- Check which embassy/consulate you need to apply to. In order to apply for a business visa in the right place, you need to know which country should issue you a business visa (if you plan to visit more than one Schengen state).
- Make an appointment at the embassy/consulate/visa center
- Attend the visa interview. Take all the necessary documents for a business visa.
- Wait for a response. In the meantime, the embassy will process your visa, which will pass through EU security systems such as the Visa Information System and the Schengen Information System.
When to apply for a business visa?
The earliest deadline for applying for a business visa is three months before the planned trip, and the latest deadline is no later than 15 business days before you are going to travel to Europe for business purposes.
The best time to apply for a business Schengen visa is at least three weeks before your business trip to Belgium.
How long is a business Schengen visa valid for?
A business visa is usually valid for a stay of no more than 90 days. If you will be traveling a lot and not only in one Schengen country, it is recommended to fill in the "multiple entry" box in the application form. This way, you will be able to enter and leave the Schengen area at your own discretion during the time allowed by your visa.
Please carefully read the labels attached to the business visa sticker, including the period that allows you to stay in Belgium, otherwise there may be consequences for an overstayed Schengen visa.
How long does it take to get a Schengen work visa?
On average, the processing time for a business Schengen visa is 10 working days. During this period, the applicant will be informed whether the business Schengen visa has been granted or rejected.
However, depending on the situation, the processing time for a business visa to Europe may take longer if there is something extraordinary in a particular case or if a political situation is developing.
Please note that Belgium has legalized the four-day work week. Belgians are offered to work four days a week, provided that the working day lasts 9.5 hours. This means that their working week will be slightly shorter than the traditional one - 38 hours instead of 40.
Usable resources
The Federal Public Service for the Economy of SMEs, the Self-Employed and Energy (FPS) provides information on self-employment in Belgium, most of it in English.
Business Belgium - also part of the FPS, contains detailed official information in English on starting a business in Belgium.
Belgian Social Security (Service Public Federal Securite Sociale) - the website of the FPS social security.
Belgium is one of the economic centers of Europe with a large number of international companies and institutions. There are many open positions in the country, but there is a shortage of qualified specialists. The main economic activity is concentrated in Flanders and the Brussels region in such cities as Antwerp, Ghent, Leuven, Kortrijk, Ypres, Hasselt, and Brussels. Wallonia has the most developed tourism and agricultural sectors.
Types of work contracts
Unofficial work in Belgium is strictly punishable by law, so you can work only after obtaining a work permit and signing a work contract. Main types of contracts:
Interim - is arranged through a third party - an interim office that hires you and sells your services to other companies. Usually, it is concluded for a week for a certain amount of work and is extended as needed. It is a very popular type of contract.
Temporary contract - concluded either through an interim office for a longer period than an interim contract, or directly with the employer for a specified period.
Permanent contract - concluded directly with the employer for an indefinite period.
Belgium has many large-scale industrial productions, plants and factories, as well as large ports and highways, so the most popular industries are
- Chemical industry
- Food industry
- Pharmacology
- Transportation and logistics
- Manufacturing (metallurgy, textiles, clothing)
- Construction
- International trade
- STEM (science, technology, engineering, math)
The most popular professions
The competition for talent in the Belgian labor market is very strong. The economy is currently recovering from the covid crisis and most companies are in need of qualified specialists.
Among the current specialties:
- technical staff: electricians, plumbers, production handymen, etc;
- healthcare professionals: doctors, nurses, caregivers;
- logisticians;
- sales and customer service specialists;
- support managers;
- business analysts;
- project managers;
- financiers and insurance agents;
- IT specialists, engineers;
- HR and recruiters;
- service sector workers (HORECA, home care).
Job Search Resources
- Regional employment services
- in Flanders - VDAB;
- in Wallonia - Forem;
- in the Brussels region - Actiris.
- Intercom offices
- Adecco
- Forum Jobs
- Tempo-team
- Accent Jobs
- Page Personnel
- Recruitment agencies
- Hays
- Hudson
- Michael Page
- Mercuri Urval
- Robert Half
Here are some ways to increase your chances of getting a job in Belgium:
Improve your language skills
The labor market in Belgium is highly competitive and multilingual workers are in high demand. Speaking one or more of the country's three official languages can increase your chances of finding a job.
Language requirements in Belgium
Belgium has three official languages, which include:
- Netherlands: The Flemish community speaks Dutch and lives in the capital Brussels and the Flanders region in the north of the country.
- French: This is the main language of the Walloon region, which lies south of Brussels.
- German: Most German speakers in Belgium live in the southeastern region.
Some Belgian citizens speak one or more of these languages as well as English. Although English is used in multinational companies and international organizations, a basic knowledge of the language used in the region where you plan to move can help you communicate with colleagues and other members of the community;
Take online courses or use language apps to improve your Dutch, French, and German.
Join an international company
The European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are both based in Brussels. Such international organizations and multinational companies are more likely to hire foreign workers who are fluent in English. Searching for jobs in English-speaking organizations can help you find a suitable position even if you do not speak the national language.
Job search through state employment centers
Each of the four administrative regions of Belgium has a separate state employment center, for example
Actiris for Brussels
- Le Forem for Wallonia
- VDAB for Flanders
- ADG for the German community
You can visit these sites to search for jobs in your region and industry. In addition to listing available vacancies, these sites offer professional career guidance and training courses to suitable candidates. Alternatively, you can check with your current employer to see if they have any relocation programs to temporarily relocate to a branch office in Belgium.
Update your resume
When you are looking for a job, a resume is your first opportunity to inform a prospective employer about your skills, professional experience, education, and work achievements. Here are some tips to help you create a resume:
- Briefly describe your experience. Emphasize skills and previous experience that are relevant to the position. Read the job description and the job posting to determine the skills required for the position and include them in your resume.
- Customize your resume. Rewrite or rephrase your resume to emphasize why you are the best fit for the position. Focus on numbers, data, and other facts to demonstrate your relevance to the position.
- Make it easy to read. Use clear, simple language to make your resume easy to read and effective.
- Use reverse chronological order. List your most recent experience or educational qualifications first, followed by your previous ones. Check for grammatical, spelling and typographical errors. You can also ask a trusted colleague or friend from Belgium or other EU countries to give feedback and advice on your resume.
Belgium