The federal government has announced that rules regulating the employment of foreign workers will be simplified next year for various non-EU employees,

State Secretary for Administrative Simplification Vincent Van Quickenborne said last month the main changes relate to non-EU researchers and managers of Belgian-based multinationals.
 
According to the plans, non-EU researchers who are employed within a Belgian university or a recognised research facility will no longer need a work permit to work in Belgium.

Non-EU managers who are employed by a multinational with a European head office in Belgium will also be exempted from the work permit obligation.
 
The exemptions will be granted for an unlimited period of time.

However, several temporary exemptions freeing expats from the need to be in possession of a work permit will be introduced in future also.

These concern:

• An exemption for certain intra-company trainees (for a maximum period of 3 months),
• An exemption for non-EU nationals coming over to Belgium to attend meetings or congresses (for a maximum period of four weeks),
• An exemption for specialised technicians who come over to repair foreign-built machines/installations (for a maximum period of four weeks),
• An exemption for test-drivers (for testing prototypes during a maximum period of three months).

Instead of an application for a work permit, a "certificate of exemption" will need to be requested with the competent immigration authorities before the assignment to Belgium.
 
However, further details regarding the implementation of these new rules are not yet clear. Nevertheless, the new regulations are expected to enter into force sometime next year.

Salary indexation levels

The salary level that highly skilled expats from outside the EEA need to earn before being granted a work permit to work in Belgium will be raised again next year.

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