Non-EEA citizens (citizens living outside the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) or persons who do not have Swiss nationality, wishing to carry out an independent activity in Belgium as a natural person or representative of a company or association must apply for a professional card (Beroepskaart).
If you live abroad, the application form must be submitted to a Belgian Embassy or consular service post in your country of residence. If you already live in Belgium and are in possession of valid electronic foreigner card A or a registration certificate A (Attest van immatriculatie A) also known as the `orange card´, the application form below must be submitted to a recognized Company Counter (ondernemersloket) of your own choice, who will then transfer it to the Regional Economic Migration Service. In order to be granted a professional card (Beroepskaart), several criteria need to be met:
- A legal permanent or temporary residence in Belgium;
- Compliance with all applicable regulations in the sector you will be working in;
- The work you will be carrying out in Belgium must have a certain level of importance for Flanders: that interest is assessed in terms of economic benefits, such as responding to an economic need, job creation, useful investments, the economic impact on businesses in Flanders, promoting export, innovative or specialized activity. (to the discretion of the above mentioned Regional Economic Migration Service ).
The professional card is valid for one year. When the renewal application is submitted, it will be checked whether the value for Flanders as provided in the first professional card application (e.g. job creation, investment,...) was effectively realized.
Therefore, it is important to have a complete and comprehensive first file before submitting. It is advisory to be assisted by a specialized lawyer during the completion of that process.
For more information on professional cards for foreign entrepreneurs, please check the website of Flanders (working in Flanders).