Consular posts abroad are part of the Federal Public Service (FPS) Foreign Affairs and are responsible for visa applications outside Belgium.

The FPS Foreign Affairs — Department of Federal Immigration is the competent authority that issues residence authorizations through single permit applications and Belgian residence permits through type B work permit applications.

The federal state of Belgium consists of three regions: the Brussels-Capital Region, the Flemish Region in the north and the Walloon Region in the south.

Single permit (and type B work permit) applications are sent (via the digital platform) directly to the competent regional immigration ministries in one of the three regions. They are the relevant government offices that issue work authorizations through single permit applications as well as Belgian work permits.

The competent region is the Region where the foreign employee will perform their work.

• If the employer has several establishment units, the application must be filed with the Region where the employee will be primarily employed.
• If the employee is posted to Belgium, the employer must submit the application to the Region where the end‑user in the posting arrangement is established (as indicated, for example, in the assignment letter or on the payslips). The location of the client where the posted worker will carry out their activities is of secondary importance.
• If the employee’s main place of work cannot be determined (for example, because the employee works 50% in one Region and 50% in another), the employer must submit the application to the Region where the company’s registered office is located. This refers to the address under which the company is registered at the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (KBO).
• If the employer has no registered office or establishment unit in Belgium, the application must be submitted to the Region where the employee will carry out their activities.