Table of Contents

Belgium Single Permit Guide 2026: New Salaries & MAHIS Steps

Securing a career in Europe once felt like an uphill battle against a mountain of paperwork, but the Belgium Single Permit 2026 has rewritten the script for non-EU professionals. Think of this system as a modern digital bridge—it bundles your work and residence authorization into one neat package. The old days of chasing multiple permits through soul-crushing bureaucratic marathons are finally dead and buried.

But a word of caution: don’t let the “single” in the name fool you. The 2026 reforms have actually raised the stakes. Now, it’s not just about filling out forms; it’s about perfectly timing your submission with the MAHIS Digital Portal’s quirks to avoid a sudden, disappointing rejection.

1. What Exactly is the Belgium Single Permit?

The Single Permit (locally known as the gecombineerde vergunning) is the mandatory legal track for Non-EU National Employment exceeding 90 days. Think of it as a “digital handshake” between you, your employer, and the Belgian state.

Instead of the old, exhausting method of applying for a work permit and a residence visa separately, both are now bundled into one unified procedure. This “one-stop shop” approach effectively cuts through the soul-crushing bureaucratic marathons of the past, allowing the employer and the employee to follow a single, streamlined administrative path.

Annex 46 vs. Annex 47: Decoding Your Approval Documents

When the Belgian authorities finally give your application the “green light,” y If you are already legally residing in Belgium—perhaps you are transitioning from a student visa or switching employers—you will receive Annex 47. This acts as your official notification of approval while you are already on Belgian soil. In 2026, if the authorities fail to take a decision within the legal 4-month window, Annex 47 is also used as a “certification by default” to grant you the permit.ou won’t just get a casual email notification. You’ll receive one of two specific legal papers that dictate exactly how you enter or stay in the country:

Annex 46 (The Entry Ticket): This is the “Positive Decision” document you receive if you are applying from outside Belgium. It is your most prized possession—the essential piece of paper you must present at the Belgian embassy in your home country to secure your Visa Type D (Long-Stay). Without Annex 46, you cannot board your flight.
Annex 47 (The In-Country Stay):

2. Understanding 2026 Pay Scales: Why Your Salary is Your Permit

In the Belgian immigration system, your paycheck is much more than just a monthly figure—it’s the actual foundation of your legal right to stay. Since work permit rules are decentralized, the minimum salary you need to hit depends entirely on the region where your company is based. Whether you’re looking at a tech role in Flanders, an industrial position in Wallonia, or a corporate job in Brussels, these financial benchmarks are strictly non-negotiable.

It’s also vital to realize that these numbers aren’t fixed for life. They shift every year to keep up with the local cost of living. Following the January 2026 Salary Indexation, the bar has been pushed higher than ever. If your employment contract falls even slightly below these regional “floors,” the authorities won’t hesitate to toss out your application. In 2026, comparing your offer letter against these official numbers isn’t just a recommendation—it’s the most critical step of your entire relocation journey.

Official 2026 Minimum Salary Thresholds (Verified)

Professional Category	Brussels (Monthly Gross)	Wallonia (Annual Gross)	Flanders (Annual Gross)
Highly Skilled Talents	€3,703.44	€53,220.00	€48,912.00
Executives & Senior Managers	€6,647.20	€88,790.00	€78,259.00
EU Blue Card Holders	€4,748.00	€68,815.00	€55,052.00
Junior Talents (Under 30)	N/A	€42,576.00	€39,129.60

A Quick Heads-up for 2026: While Brussels and Wallonia have locked in their 2026 rates, Flanders is playing a slightly different game this year. The Flemish region is currently in a “waiting period” until Statbel (the national statistics office) releases the final wage index. This means mid-year adjustments are highly likely. Before you sign any contract, make sure to double-check your specific job code on the MAHIS Digital Portal to ensure the goalposts haven’t moved on you.

3. Shortage Occupations: The Bottleneck Fast Track

If your job title is on the Bottleneck Professions (Knelpuntberoepen) list, you’ve essentially found the “VIP lane” for Belgian immigration. These roles are the lifeblood of the Belgian economy, facing such severe talent shortages that the government has stripped away the usual red tape to get non-EU experts on the ground.

Why a Shortage Role is Your “Golden Ticket:

Labor Market Test Exemption: Normally, an employer has to prove that no Belgian or EU citizen could do the job. For bottleneck roles, this exhausting step is waived.
No 9-Week Wait: Standard applications require a mandatory 9-week local advertisement period. In the fast track, you skip this entirely.
MAHIS Priority: These dossiers are often flagged for faster review within the MAHIS Digital Portal, sometimes cutting weeks off the wait time.

Wait—The 2026 Shift: Don’t rely on old 2025 lists! As of January 1, 2026, Flanders has slashed its shortage list by over 35%. Common roles like truck drivers and bakers are out, while niche technical roles like diamond cutters and asbestos removal specialists are in. Always cross-reference your ISCO-08 Code with the regional list before you commit.

4. The 2026 Application Process: A Step-by-Step Blueprint

Applying for a Single Permit in 2026 is a purely digital game, but it requires “surgical precision.” One wrong scan or a mismatched date can reset your 4-month clock. Here is the actual workflow you’ll follow:

Step 1: The Contract Audit

Before any papers are signed, verify that your gross salary hits the 2026 regional floors. Remember, if you’re under 30 in Flanders, your threshold is lower, but the moment you turn 30, your salary must be indexed upward immediately to keep the permit valid.

Step 2: Digital Submission via MAHIS

Your Belgian employer (or their legal rep) will upload your dossier to the MAHIS Digital Portal. You’ll need:

Complete Passport Copy: Every single page, even the empty ones!
Medical Certificate: Must be from an embassy-approved doctor and not older than 6 months.
Clean Criminal Record: This needs an Apostille or legalisation from your home country.
Health Insurance Proof: A policy that covers you from day one in Belgium.

Step 3: The Two-Key Review

This is where the waiting game begins. Your file goes through a dual check: the regional ministry approves the “work” side, and the Federal Immigration Office clears the residency side. In 2026, expect a 60 to 90-day window for a final decision.

Step 4: Collecting Your Annex 46 & Visa D

Once approved, you’ll receive Annex 46 (the Positive Decision). You take this to the VFS or Belgian Embassy in your country to get your Visa Type D (Long-Stay). This sticker in your passport is what actually lets you board the plane to Brussels.

5. Avoiding Rejection: Why “Small” Errors Cost Big

In the 2026 landscape, most rejections aren’t because the candidate isn’t qualified—it’s because the paperwork was lazy. The MAHIS portal is now integrated with automated data-sharing, making it easier for officials to spot inconsistencies.

Top Rejection Traps to Avoid:

Outdated Salary Data: Submitting a 2026 application using 2025 salary figures is an instant “Inadmissibility” trigger.
The Translation Trap: If your police certificate or diploma isn’t in Dutch, French, or German (translated by a sworn translator), it’s as good as blank paper.
Low-Res Scans: If the digital portal can’t read your passport’s MRZ (the bottom code), the system will flag the file as “incomplete,” giving you only 15 days to fix it before rejection.

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I change my employer once I have a Single Permit?

A: For the first year, your permit is “restricted” to your specific employer. If you want to switch jobs, you must start a new Single Permit application.

Q: What happens if my salary is not indexed mid-year?

A: It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure your salary always matches the current indexation. Failure to do so can lead to your permit being revoked during a renewal.

Q: Is there a fast-track for the EU Blue Card?

A: Yes, the EU Blue Card Belgium is designed for elite talent with even higher salary thresholds but offers more flexibility for moving within the EU after a certain period.

Conclusion: Your Professional Future Awaits

The Belgium Single Permit 2026 is your “golden ticket” to one of Europe’s most stable and high-paying economies. While the digital reforms have made the process faster, they have also made it less forgiving of mistakes. Precise documentation, understanding your Annex 46/47, and hitting the right Salary Thresholds are your three pillars of success.

Disclaimer

Created this guide to help you out, but we aren’t official lawyers or government agents. Belgium’s laws and salary rules (like the differences between Flanders and Brussels) tend to shift quite often. Because of this, please make sure to chat with an expert consultant or double-check the official MAHIS portal before making any big moves. We try our best to keep the info spot-on, but following it is ultimately your own responsibility.