In a detailed guidance note released on 20 July 2026, the Belgian Immigration Office clarified documentation and income thresholds for applicants seeking permanent residency after five years of legal stay. The note, published via The Brussels Times, consolidates disparate commune-level practices into a single checklist and reiterates the five-year uninterrupted residence rule, with limited allowances for absences up to 12 months for study, illness or overseas postings. Key take-aways include: proof of stable monthly income (typically the last three to six months of bank statements), mandatory health-insurance coverage, and confirmation that the applicant still meets the conditions of the original visa (e.g., continued employment for work-permit holders). Processing remains with local communes but the Immigration Office now has a statutory five-month decision deadline. The guidance is timely for employers converting assignees to local Belgian contracts. A permanent-residence card allows work without a separate permit, simplifies mortgage applications and grants access to full social-security benefits—making Belgium more attractive for retention. HR teams should budget roughly €40 in municipal fees and advise staff to book commune appointments well ahead, especially in Brussels where slots can take six weeks to secure. The note also clarifies that EU Blue Card holders can count time spent in other EU states toward the five-year requirement, an advantage for rotational managers. UK nationals covered by the Withdrawal Agreement must use a different ‘M-card’ track, but the benefits align once permanent status is granted.
Source: The Brussels Times
