Belgium — Complete Emigration Guide 2026
11,825,551 people · Capital: Brussels · Western Europe
Updated H2 2026 · Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis
Overview
Belgium is located in Western Europe, with a population of 11,825,551. Its currency is the euro. Our database tracks 36 visa pathways for Belgium, each linked to a named source.
See also: Belgium country profile
Compiled from official government sources, re-checked on a rolling basis. See our methodology and data sources.
Visa Pathways (36)
Sponsored Employment (5)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU Blue Card (Carte Bleue européenne) | €5,735/mo | €358 | 24 mo | — |
| Highly-Qualified Worker — Single Permit (Travailleur hautement qualifié, non-Blue-Card) | €4,435/mo | €358 | 12 mo | — |
| Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT, Art. 61/34) | €2,000/mo | €358 | 12 mo | 180d |
| Single Permit / Permis Unique (work + residence >90 days) | €2,190/mo | €358 | 12 mo | 120d |
| Worker ICT | €6,522/mo | — | — | — |
Entrepreneur & Business (2)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional card | €140/mo | €140 | 24 mo | 90d |
| Self-Employed / Professional Card (Carte Professionnelle) | — | €358 | 24 mo | 90d |
Study (5)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Au pair | €450/mo | €242 | 12 mo | — |
| Student Visa / Residence permit (Étudiant, Art. 58) | €1,062/mo | €138 | 12 mo | — |
| Study | — | €251 | 12 mo | — |
| Trainee / Stagiaire (Art. 61/13/18) | — | €138 | 6 mo | — |
| Trainees | — | €152 | 12 mo | 90d |
Research & Academia (2)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Researcher Permit (Chercheur, Dir 2016/801) | €2,500/mo | €358 | 12 mo | 30d |
| Researchers | — | €152 | — | 60d |
Working Holiday (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Working Holiday Programme | — | — | 12 mo | — |
Job Seeker (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post-Study Job Search Permit | — | €152 | 12 mo | 90d |
Seasonal Work (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasonal Worker (Travailleur saisonnier) | €2,190/mo | €358 | 9 mo | 90d |
Family Reunification (3)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Member of EU Citizen (Art. 40bis) | €2,000/mo | €100 | 60 mo | — |
| Family Reunification with Belgian National (Art. 40ter) | €2,409/mo | €200 | 60 mo | 30d |
| Family Reunification with Third-Country National (Art. 10) | €2,409/mo | €138 | 12 mo | — |
Spouse & Partner (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by Declaration — Belgian Spouse/Parent of Belgian Child (Art. 12bis § 1, 3°) | €1,500/mo | €150 | 60 mo | 30d |
Birthright (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by Birth in Belgium (Jus Soli, Art. 11) | — | — | — | 120d |
Free Movement (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intra-EU Long-Term Resident Mobility (Art. 61/7) | — | €358 | 12 mo | — |
General Residence (2)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU Long-Term Resident (Résident de longue durée — UE, Art. 15bis) | €1,038/mo | €358 | 12 mo | 30d |
| Visa D (Long-stay national visa, >90 days) | €1,314/mo | €180 | 12 mo | — |
Permanent Settlement (2)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment Permit (Établissement, Carte C/K) | €2,917/mo | €358 | — | — |
| Long-term resident | €1,038/mo | €202 | 60 mo | 150d |
Naturalisation & Citizenship (5)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgian citizenship | €1,000/mo | €1,000 | — | 120d |
| Citizenship by Declaration — 5y residence (Art. 12bis § 1, 2°) | €3,900/mo | €150 | — | — |
| Citizenship by Declaration — Disabled / Pensioner (Art. 12bis § 1, 4°) | — | €150 | 60 mo | 120d |
| Citizenship by Declaration — Long Residence 10y (Art. 12bis § 1, 5°) | — | €150 | — | 120d |
| Reacquisition of Belgian Nationality (Recouvrement, Art. 24) | €3,750/mo | €150 | — | 90d |
Exceptional Merit (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by Exceptional Merit | — | €150 | — | 90d |
Cultural Exchange (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| European Voluntary Service Volunteer (Art. 61/13/27) | €2,000/mo | €138 | 12 mo | — |
Humanitarian & Protection (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Regularisation (Art. 9ter) | — | €358 | 12 mo | — |
Tourism & Short Stay (1)
| Programme | Min Income | Fee | Duration | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schengen Visa (Type C, short-stay) | — | €90 | 3 mo | 20d |
Cost of Living
| Item | Belgium | W. Europe Avg | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (1BR) | €865 | €1,200 | -28% |
| Rent (3BR) | €1,400 | €2,000 | -30% |
| Groceries | €299 | €350 | -15% |
| Transport | €105 | €80 | +31% |
| Utilities | €180 | €150 | +20% |
| Dining (meal) | €16 | €15 | +7% |
Salary & Employment
| Sector | Median (gross, €/yr) |
|---|---|
| Construction | €45,000 |
| Education | €42,000 |
| Engineering | €58,000 |
| Finance | €62,000 |
| Healthcare | €38,000 |
| Hospitality | €32,000 |
| IT | €48,000 |
| Retail | €30,000 |
Shortage Occupations
- Software Developer (Information Technology)
- Nurse (Healthcare)
- Construction Worker (Construction)
- Data Scientist (Information Technology)
- Mechanical Engineer (Engineering)
Tax
Healthcare
Education
| University | QS Rank | English Progs | Tuition (Intl) |
|---|---|---|---|
| KU Leuven | 37 | 156 | €4,800 |
| Ghent University | 85 | 142 | €4,500 |
| Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) | 157 | 98 | €5,200 |
| Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) | 201 | 105 | €5,100 |
| UCLouvain | 174 | 87 | €4,900 |
Practical Info
Banking
Driving
Phone & Internet
Credentials
Quality of Life
Official sources
The visa data on this page is compiled from official government sources — 37 of the 37 pathways link directly to the government page they were verified against, and 48 financial requirements below carry the exact quote from the official source. Values that fail verification are removed, not guessed — see the live verification freshness index.
- ejustice.just.fgov.be · 7 pathways · verified 2026-06-22
- ibz.be · 4 pathways · verified 2026-06-23
- diplomatie.belgium.be · 2 pathways · verified 2026-06-23
- dofi.ibz.be · 2 pathways · verified 2026-06-22
- dofi.ibz.be · 2 pathways · verified 2026-06-25
- dofi.ibz.be · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-22
- home-affairs.ec.europa.eu · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- dofi.ibz.be · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- dofi.ibz.be · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-21
- dofi.ibz.be · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-24
- dofi.ibz.be · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-22
- justice.belgium.be · 1 pathway · verified 2026-06-09
Verified requirements — exact official citations
Each figure below was verified verbatim against the official page linked, on the date shown.
Student Visa / Residence permit (Étudiant, Art. 58) · 3 verified requirements
Requirement: “Federal redevance €138 (lower tier under AR fixant le montant) — student application is included in Art. 1/1 § 2 7° 'l'article 60'” — dofi.ibz.be
Minimum income: “For the 2026 - 2027 academic year, this amount is 1.062 euros net/month.” — dofi.ibz.be, 2026-07-09
Savings / proof of funds: “the deposit of a sum of money equivalent to twelve times the minimum monthly amount a student is required to have (12 X 1.062 euros)” — dofi.ibz.be, 2026-07-09
Trainee / Stagiaire (Art. 61/13/18) · 3 verified requirements
Requirement: “Federal redevance €138 (lower tier) per Art. 1/1 § 2 17° 'l'article 61/13/18'” — dofi.ibz.be
Minimum income: “Official monthly means of subsistence for trainee residence permit: EUR 1,314.20/month. The 14,570 previously stored in savings_min_eur was this subsistence figure misfiled as a lump-sum savings requirement. Founder-reviewed correction 2026-07-08.” — dofi.ibz.be, 2026-07-08
Savings / proof of funds: “To prove sufficient means of subsistence, proof must be presented that the applicant has the amount in article 14, par. 1, 2, of the Act of 26 May 2002 on the right to social integration and as indexed according to article 15 of the aforementioned Act i.e. EUR 1,214,13 net per…” — dofi.ibz.be, 2026-07-06
Au pair · 3 verified requirements
Requirement: “Age 18–25; €450/mo pocket money; max 12mo; €242 D-visa fee — employment.belgium.be 2025” — employment.belgium.be
Minimum income: “pay the au pair a monthly sum of at least 450 € by bank transfer, as pocket money;” — employment.belgium.be, 2026-07-06
Savings / proof of funds: “pay the au pair a monthly sum of at least 450 EUR by bank transfer, as pocket money” — employment.belgium.be, 2026-07-06
Highly-Qualified Worker — Single Permit (Travailleur hautement qualifié, non-Blue-Card) · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “IBZ contribution-fee table: Highly-qualified worker residence permit = EUR 152.” — dofi.ibz.be, 2026-07-08
Minimum income: “Highly qualified staff: 3.703,44 euros per month (2025 rate maintained for 2026 pending updated Statbel data)” — economy-employment.brussels, 2026-07-09
Study · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “€251 fee for public higher education; annual renewal; sufficient resources required — dofi.ibz.be 2025” — dofi.ibz.be
Savings / proof of funds: “For the 2026 - 2027 academic year, this amount is 1.062 euros net/month.” — dofi.ibz.be, 2026-07-09
Seasonal Worker (Travailleur saisonnier) · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “Federal redevance €358 per Art. 1/1 § 2 12° 'l'article 61/29-4'” — dofi.ibz.be
Minimum income: “All workers 2.189,81 euros per month” — economy-employment.brussels, 2026-07-09
Single Permit / Permis Unique (work + residence >90 days) · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “Federal redevance €358 (highest tier under AR fixant le montant de la redevance, indexed annually per Loi 15/12/1980 Art. 1/1 § 1); regional employment-authorisation fee additional and varies by Region” — dofi.ibz.be
Minimum income: “All workers 2.189,81 euros per month” — economy-employment.brussels, 2026-07-09
Family Reunification with Third-Country National (Art. 10) · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “IBZ contribution-fee table (effective 1 Jan 2026): Family members of authorized foreigners (Art. 10 third-country-national-sponsor reunification) = EUR 218.” — dofi.ibz.be, 2026-07-08
Minimum income: “The means of existence must be at least equal to 120% of the amount referred to in Article 14, par.1, 3, of the Law of 26 May 2002 on the right to social integration, i.e. Euro 2,173.88 net/month.” — dofi.ibz.be, 2026-07-09
Trainees · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “Max 12 months; host employer applies; higher-ed degree required; €152 fee — dofi.ibz.be 2025” — dofi.ibz.be
Savings / proof of funds: “To prove sufficient means of subsistence, proof must be presented that the applicant has the amount in article 14, par. 1, 2, of the Act of 26 May 2002 on the right to social integration and as indexed according to article 15 of the aforementioned Act i.e. EUR 1,214,13 net per…” — dofi.ibz.be, 2026-07-06
Long-term resident · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “€1,038/mo net single; 5yr residence; €202 contribution fee — dofi.ibz.be 2025” — dofi.ibz.be
Minimum income: “E1,038 for a single person and E346 for each dependant;” — dofi.ibz.be, 2026-07-09
Professional card · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “€140 app fee + €90/yr issuance; 2yr initial/5yr max; self-employed — economy-employment.brussels 2025” — economy-employment.brussels
Minimum investment: “Your project must benefit the prosperity of the Brussels-Capital Region. [...] Your project must concern a supply of goods or services that is not currently abundant in the Brussels-Capital Region. It must contribute to one or more of the following economy and development aspects” — economy-employment.brussels
Post-Study Search Year Permit (Art. 61/1/9 ff) · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “contribution fee table effective 1 January 2026: EUR 152 (138 was pre-indexation)” — dofi.ibz.be
Savings / proof of funds: “proof that he has adequate means of subsistence ... During the year granted to find work or set up a business, the third-country national may not become a burden on the Belgian public authorities. (No numeric savings threshold stated — qualitative means-of-subsistence…” — dofi.ibz.be
EU Blue Card (Carte Bleue européenne) · 2 verified requirements
Requirement: “EU Immigration Portal Belgium Blue Card page: initial application fee EUR 126.” — home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, 2026-07-08
Minimum income: “The other regions set the threshold at 60 998 [U1: mensal = anual provado / 12]” — home-affairs.ec.europa.eu, 2026-07-06
Naturalisation (Exceptional Merits, Art. 19) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “€150 droit d'enregistrement (Article 238 Code des droits d'enregistrement)” — ejustice.just.fgov.be
European Voluntary Service Volunteer (Art. 61/13/27) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Federal redevance €138 (lower tier) per Art. 1/1 § 2 18° 'l'article 61/13/27'” — dofi.ibz.be
Citizenship by Declaration — Long Residence 10y (Art. 12bis § 1, 5°) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “€150 droit d'enregistrement per Article 238 Code des droits d'enregistrement, d'hypothèque et de greffe (payable to FPS Finance)” — ejustice.just.fgov.be
Schengen Visa (Type C, short-stay) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “EU Visa Code harmonised: 'Adults €90' per Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 fee schedule for Schengen visas — published at FPS Foreign Affairs visa page: 'All the information concerning visa applications for Belgium ... If you apply for a short stay visa (up to 90 days)'” — diplomatie.belgium.be
Citizenship by Declaration — Belgian Spouse/Parent of Belgian Child (Art. 12bis § 1, 3°) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “€150 droit d'enregistrement per Article 238 Code des droits d'enregistrement, d'hypothèque et de greffe (payable to FPS Finance) — same fee across all Art. 12bis declarations” — ejustice.just.fgov.be
Humanitarian Regularisation (Art. 9bis) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Federal redevance €358 per Art. 1/1 § 2 2° 'l'article 9bis'” — dofi.ibz.be
Working Holiday Programme · 1 verified requirement
Savings / proof of funds: “Belgium requires that a participant have at least 2,500 euros (€)” — dofi.ibz.be
Citizenship by Declaration — Disabled / Pensioner (Art. 12bis § 1, 4°) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “€150 droit d'enregistrement per Article 238 Code des droits d'enregistrement, d'hypothèque et de greffe (payable to FPS Finance)” — ejustice.just.fgov.be
Belgian citizenship · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “€1,000 fee; 5yr legal residence; language proof (no CEFR specified) — justice.belgium.be 2025” — justice.belgium.be
Researchers · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Hosting agreement with recognised research org required; salary ≥ GAMMI; €152 fee — dofi.ibz.be 2025” — dofi.ibz.be
Medical Regularisation (Art. 9ter) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Federal redevance €358 per Art. 1/1 (applies to Art. 9 family — Art. 9ter is a subset)” — dofi.ibz.be
Reacquisition of Belgian Nationality (Recouvrement, Art. 24) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Code de la nationalité belge — registration fee (droit d'enregistrement) for nationality declarations: €150 per Article 238 of the Code des droits d'enregistrement (Belgian federal tax code) as applicable to nationality declarations under the Code Nationalité; consistent with…” — ejustice.just.fgov.be
Visa D (Long-stay national visa, >90 days) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Federal Visa D fee €180 set by Visa Tarif Royal Decree (Loi du 30 mars 1995); the Art. 1/1 redevance for the residence permit is paid separately” — diplomatie.belgium.be
Citizenship by Declaration — 5y residence (Art. 12bis § 1, 2°) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “€150 droit d'enregistrement per Article 238 Code des droits d'enregistrement, d'hypothèque et de greffe (payable to FPS Finance)” — ejustice.just.fgov.be
Intra-Corporate Transferee (ICT, Art. 61/34) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Federal redevance €358 per Art. 1/1 § 2 13° 'l'article 61/34'” — home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
Establishment Permit (Établissement, Carte C/K) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Federal redevance €358 (highest tier under AR fixant le montant for établissement applications under Loi 15/12/1980 Art. 14)” — dofi.ibz.be
Researcher Permit (Chercheur, Dir 2016/801) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Federal redevance €358 (highest tier) per Art. 1/1 § 2 9° 'l'article 61/12'” — home-affairs.ec.europa.eu
Intra-EU Long-Term Resident Mobility (Art. 61/7) · 1 verified requirement
Requirement: “Federal redevance €358 per Art. 1/1 § 2 8° 'l'article 61/7'” — dofi.ibz.be
Family Reunification with Belgian National (Art. 40ter) · 1 verified requirement
Minimum income: “The means of existence must be at least equal to 110% of the guaranteed average minimum monthly income (GAMMI), i.e. €2.408,79 net/month. (Amount indexed on April 1, 2026) This amount must be increased by 10% for each additional dependent family member” — ibz.be
Frequently Asked Questions
How many visa pathways does Belgium have?
Our database tracks 36 visa pathways for Belgium across 18 categories, the largest being Naturalisation & Citizenship, Study, Sponsored Employment. Each entry links to a named source — 10% direct to an official government portal, the rest to a named embassy or professional reference while we complete direct verification.
What is the minimum income for the EU Long-Term Resident (Résident de longue durée — UE, Art. 15bis)?
The EU Long-Term Resident (Résident de longue durée — UE, Art. 15bis) lists a minimum income of EUR 1,038 per month, according to the official source (last checked 2026-06-23).
What is the average salary in Belgium?
The average gross salary in Belgium is EUR 5,808 per month. The statutory minimum wage is EUR 2,112 per month.
How much does rent cost in Belgium?
A one-bedroom apartment in Belgium averages EUR 865 per month, and a three-bedroom apartment averages EUR 1,400 per month.
What is the top income tax rate in Belgium?
The top personal income tax rate in Belgium is 50%. The standard VAT rate is 21%.
How long does it take to qualify for citizenship in Belgium?
Among the pathways we track, the Reacquisition of Belgian Nationality (Recouvrement, Art. 24) lists 1 years to citizenship. Timelines vary by route and personal circumstances — check the official source for your case.
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