There are essentially two ways to obtain one, however the processes may differ depending on the applicant's unique circumstances.
The first step is also the simplest: locate a company willing to sponsor your visa. People who come to Belgium and find employment there prior to their arrival are essentially set; their employer bears the bulk of the administrative burden.
The second option is a little trickier since it calls for people to apply to work as self-employed professionals—basically, those who are not employed in Belgium by a firm, like independent journalists. The entire administrative responsibility in this situation rests with them.
These people ought to obtain a Professional Card, which is the legal authorization for foreign nationals to work for themselves in Belgium.
The trickiest part of applying for a visa, though, is getting the Professional Card. However, obtaining the real work visa is rather simple once you have it.
The application can be broken down into three parts, which typically each take up around a month, however the precise collection of documents required will vary from person to person depending on each applicant's unique circumstances.
Read this illuminating how-to essay by my colleague Thomas Moller-Nielsen to navigate the maze of Belgian bureaucracy, learn what to anticipate while applying for a work visa in Belgium, what the fees are, and how to approach the entire procedure. He is an expert in the subject at hand.
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