Working in Belgium under a Single Permit - Who your employer is - Brussels forum

ruslan.galkanov · 2025-07-17T10:55:46+02:00

Find insights on working in Belgium under a Single Permit, specifically about employer residency impacts and acquiring permanent residency.

Working in Belgium under a Single Permit - Who your employer is

ruslan.galkanov New member

Member since 28 August 2017

ruslan.galkanovNew member17 July 2025 08:55:46

I was told recently (and verified with with the Law on Foreigners of 1980) that even though your single permit can be granted continuously on a five-year basis, then, when you want to apply for an unlimited permit and later requalify it into another card (permanent residency), this apparently won't work if your employer is based outside of Belgium.聽 So, an example of mine: I am working for an American company with a branch in Belgium, and my contract is with the head office in the US.聽 I am a tax resident in Belgium, paying all those taxes, social security, etc., NOT UNDER AN EXPAT REGIME - the surprise is that all of that is futile, does not count towards anything, you pay huge taxes, and then at the end you can't convert it into anything tangible just because you work for an US entity, although its branch has a Belgian enterprise number (BCE), etc.聽 Did anyone encounter this?聽

Elena Igor Member

Member since 19 May 2025

Elena IgorMember17 July 2025 09:19:12

Why can鈥檛 the contract be under the belgian branch?

ruslan.galkanov New member

Member since 28 August 2017

ruslan.galkanovNew member17 July 2025 10:35:34

@Elena Igor

The contract can be with the Belgian branch (which is not a legal entity under Belgian law, or any law worldwide), but it does not change the underlying premise: the employer effectively remains an American one (in my case).聽 This was exactly the reason for the amendment of the law in 2020 - one has to demonstrate having worked continuously for a purely Belgian entity.聽 This truly defeats the purpose of streamlining one's path to the Belgian PR (and likely citizenship) by legally buying your way by paying taxes.聽

Jimsen Contributor

Member since 02 February 2021

JimsenContributor25 July 2025 18:03:19

123

The question is how did you get the work permit / visa for the first time (and extension).

it seems something is missing here.

Elena Igor Member

Member since 19 May 2025

Elena IgorMember25 July 2025 20:55:43

@ruslan.galkanov

There鈥檚 plenty of American multi national companies operating in Belgium with a Belgian branch, the issue you鈥檙e describing doesn鈥檛 happen so I鈥檓 trying to figure out the missing link鈥�