Single permit processing 2025

@TJ_Bel , Hello, I’m in the same situation as you !

My company applied for the single permit for me in May, there were some documents missing. And we provided the documents on June. The same day right after providing the documents, the work permit got approved (very fast). But the residency is taking longer. I’ve also contacted them and they told me that they are waiting for some informations from an external governmental organization. I wonder which external governmental organization it is and why it takes so long to get the infos they are looking for.

Right now I have the search year residency card. I’m here since October 2017. I’ve first done a bachlor, after that I’ve done a bridging year for the master. And after that I’ve done my master.

First-time application.
Region: Flanders
Applied on: Jun 27
WP: Waiting
RP: Waiting

The portal indicates that the application is "Newly submitted." Does anyone have an idea how long it takes to get the first approval in Flanders these days? - @teaenjoyer27

Update

Region requested extra documents: 26/08/2025

Work Permit: 30/09/2025

Residence Permit: Waiting

I hope they process the RP a bit faster given that it took so long for the WP but lets see.

@TJ_Bel

I have been (and still am 😅) in the same situation as you. Based on the advice I received from my own municipality, I renewed my student card.

Here is the information I gathered:

1 - You can reside in Belgium while your file is being processed by the Immigration Office. However, if the decision is negative and, at the time the decision is handed to you, you do not have a valid residence permit, you would need to leave the country. Therefore, it is wise to have a backup residence application. (Source: municipality employee)

2 - For students, it is mandatory to submit your request 15 days before the expiration of your card. If you do not have all the documents at that time, you can legally ask for a 15-day extension period (Annex 33ter) to complete your file. At any time during this 15-day period, you can submit the remaining documents and complete your request without facing any problems. (This way, you can buy yourself two more weeks for your single permit results.) (Source: IBZ renewal process procedure and my own personal experience.)

3 - It is completely fine to have two simultaneous residence permit applications. (Source: phone conversation with IBZ)

My final suggestion: Get your student renewal documents ready in advance. Fifteen (or 16 to be safe) days before the expiration of your card, go to the municipality and submit all the documents except one (e.g., Annex 1 and 2 / Proof of solvency), and ask for a 15-day extension period to provide the remaining documents. If you receive no news regarding the single permit during that period, submit the missing documents and initiate your student residence permit process.

I hope you receive your single permit before having to go through all this administrative work! Best of luck!

@vt_bh

Thanks a lot. Really helpful ...

Guys, please help‼️❌

I’m in Belgium on an orientation year residency with a pending single permit application. I got the work approval 3 months ago, but the IBZ approval is still pending.

My card expires in 10 days. I booked an appointment with the commune, thinking I could get some kind of annex to prove I’m legally staying. But today they told me they cannot issue ANYTHING because I don’t have Annex 46 yet.

I’m worried, my card expires soon, and they’re saying I have to wait without any proof of legal stay. Is this normal? What can I do? ❌

@Eline Paul

The commune is legally bound to give you Annex49 as a temporary (45 days) extension while you are waiting for the decision.. But that will be issued on the day of expiration of card. Take your workpermit to the commune as a proof with all neccessary document  and ask them to give you Annex 49

The municipal administration gives the worker  which covers their temporary stay for 45 days, pending the outcome of the residence check. The Annex 49 may be extended twice for 45 days (2 X 45 days).

If the residence check is positive, the municipal administration will issue the worker an A card. This residence permit bears a reference to access to the labour market (single permit).

@Eline Paul
The commune is legally bound to give you Annex49 as a temporary (30 days) extension while you are waiting for the decision.. But that will be issued on the day of expiration of card. Take your workpermit to the commune as a proof with all neccessary document and ask them to give you Annex 49 - @TJ_Bel

https://dofi.ibz.be/en/themas/onderdane … gle-permit

you can read about it here

At which point the status changes from “positive work decision” to “in treatment by the office”. It’s been a little over 12 weeks that I got the work approval and it still shows “positive work decision” only. Anyone at a similar situation

@TJ_Bel

Thanks for your reply. From where did you get this information please?

That is what I thought as well, but to my surprise today when I called the commune they said they only issue annex 49 to first time applicants after getting the annex 46. I asked, okay, what can you give me to proof I am staying here legally and waiting for my single permit. She said: « We can’t give you ANYTHING, you just have to wait ». So many questions started raising in my mind like wt…I asked again, « so am I supposed to stay with an expired card and that’s it » , she said again «  Yeah, we can’t issue you with ANYTHING »

I am low key freaking out rn, idk what is this…

@Eline Paul

No it is not normal contact directly Brussels. If you have a gap then you will have a issue for your nationality...

@Eline Paul

I quoted from the IBZ website ... you can contact the IBZ and tell them your situation and asked them to give you the solution ... Drop an email today at singlepermit@ibz.fgov.be and infodesk@ibz.be and explain your situation and ask them to give you the way forward.

Or visit your commune directly and speak with them there till they give you a way forward.. You should not just simply wait after the expiry of your card.

I don't know if it is a good idea but also contact [link under review] they might be able to help you in this matter as well if the commune or ibz doesn't respond properly.. They have a legal team that might guide you but I am not sure..

@TJ_Bel

Thanks. I can’t access the link you posted with the information source it says [link under review]. Can you please tell me how to look it up

@Eline Paul

Hello Eline,

Don't panic, your situation is not normal (as per common sense), but it is common!

The important thing is that your stay in Belgium is legal while you are waiting for the results of your single permit application, and this waiting period will not create a gap in your residence (Source: phone conversation with IBZ and municipality employee).

I had the same question regarding my own situation. The information I’ve gathered so far is as follows:

(Source: Phone conversation with IBZ) Whether or not you are entitled to receive an annex should be indicated in your work authorization letter (If you don't have a copy of your work authorization letter, you can find it at http://single-permit.socialsecurity.be/). From what I’ve gathered, for people residing in Belgium, you will only receive an annex if you are renewing your single permit. Nothing can be issued for first-time applicants residing in Belgium! Borrowing the words of the IBZ helpdesk employee, in this case, you enter a "gray zone"! You are legal, but do not receive any annex in lieu of your residence permit card!

However, the worst-case scenario, though the chances of it happening are slim, is receiving a negative decision, which would result in you having to leave the country. If you have any backup visa options (e.g., a student visa), it's best to have them prepared. Since you are in your search year, I believe the 15-day rule before the expiration date for renewal request submission should not apply to you.

@vt_bh

Thank you very much for your reply.

What I don’t understand is, if I don’t receive any annex or document during the waiting period between my current card’s expiration and the issuance of Annex 46, what should I do with my expiring card?

Should I return it to the commune before or during the day it expires, or should I simply wait until I receive Annex 46 and then go to the commune with my expired orientation year card to request Annex 49 and apply for the single permit ID?

It just feels strange to be left without any valid document proving my legal residency during that “gray zone.”

@Eline Paul

you can search for " federal ombudsman "

First-time application.
Region: Flanders
Applied on: Jun 27
WP: Waiting
RP: Waiting

The portal indicates that the application is "Newly submitted." Does anyone have an idea how long it takes to get the first approval in Flanders these days? - @teaenjoyer27
Update
Region requested extra documents: 26/08/2025
Work Permit: 30/09/2025
Residence Permit: Waiting

I hope they process the RP a bit faster given that it took so long for the WP but lets see. - @teaenjoyer27

Update

Received Annex 46 today (01/10/2025). All the best, everyone!

@teaenjoyer27

Great news congrats 🎉

Did you contact them or do anything special to speed up the process?

the status on my application still shows only « positive decision work », did it change in your case to « in treatment by the office » before they issued the annex 46?

@Eline Paul

No, I didn't do anything. It went straight from positive decision work to positive decision residence.

@Eline Paul

you will be just fine i know its easy to say don't panic but don't as long as you have an open process it's ok i'm sure they will sort it out soon as someone said before is not uncommon to be in the gray area

Got Annex 47 today .. Finally

First-time application.

Region: Brussels

Applied on: 9 May

WP: 15 May

RP: 1 Oct

Thanks everyone for the help and guidance...

Good luck and best wishes to all who are still waiting for the decision.

The status changed to « in treatment by the office », hopefully I will get an answer before the 10

Stupid question, but where do I go to track the status of the application? Do I just need to ask my employer for the status or is there another place that I can check myself? I didn't want to keep bothering my recruiter.

@deliarose123

You can only track it yourself if you already reside in Belgium. Just go to single permit website and login with your Itsme. If you live abroad unfortunately you can’t

@Eline Paul

Thanks for letting me know!

First-time Application

Region: Flanders

Highly-skilled worker

Application Date: 08/04/2025

Work Permit: 18/04/2025

Residence Permit: Waiting 😢

My employer has contacted IBZ several times and nothing. I have sent emails to different addresses and nothing, only automated replies. I called the support number, but didn't manage to get anyone, the call is always on hold. I am afraid my employer will just get tired and cancel the offer. Any recommendations?? Thanks

@Dmente44

I just received an email with the Annex 46. Apparently my employer put a wrong contact email address. IBZ requested additional documents on August 12th, but alas, nobody got that email (because the email address was wrong). We sent the requested document today, and in a few hours they sent me the Annex 46. Finally!!

@Dmente44

Congrats 🥳🎉

How did you manage to contact them finally and knew what was going wrong? Through which platform? Were you not following the progress through the single permit website?

@Dmente44

When they request additional documents do they do it just by email? They do not mention it as a status in the single permit website?

@Eline Paul

We sent so many emails that I am not really sure which one worked. I am not in Belgium; only my employer has access to the website. The status was always "In process by DBZ"

@Eline Paul

On the website, the status was always "In process by DBZ". They only asked by email, at least in my case

@Dmente44

Oh I see! Thanks for the share, something to definitely keep an eye on

What documents did you have to provide extra if you don’t mind me asking?

@Eline Paul

Right now I am in Germany. They asked for an updated German residence permit

@teaenjoyer27

We applied on the same day, but my Annex 46 hasn't arrived. This is the fourth work permit I've received, and I'm constantly struggling with this paperwork, and it really stresses me out. I'm waiting for my ID card, and it's due in four days.

@yamackadir

I applied on 2 June and I also still didn’t receive the annex 46…sometimes they don’t respect dates and orders I guess 🤷

@Eline Paul

This Friday, our IDs expire. The municipality said they would give an appointment, but they didn't. I'm not going to work this Friday. My family and I will go to the municipality. We will probably get an annex49 because there is no annex46.

@yamackadir

Is it your first single permit? My card expires this Friday as well ( orientation year) , and they told me they cannot give me any sort of annex while the annex 46 still didn’t come out, and that I am supposed to just wait (possibly with an expired ID) until I get the annex 46.

is it your first application as well? Did yoir commune say they will provide any type of annex?

Also what status does your application show now?

@Eline Paul

This is my fourth work permit, so I'm still waiting at the door. The door is always closed.

Hi everyone,

First-time application for single permit (highly skilled worker) currently residing in Belgium after  completing my Masters just last year

Region: Brussels

Applied on: Jun 20th

WP: July 8th

RP: Waiting

I have emailed IBZ several times and they said I should expect to receive my annex 46 in 13-17 weeks from July 8th. Although I find them hard to believe, I really hope I will receive it soon, as this week is the 13th week. I will most likely send them a reminder email every week. If anyone has any other tips, I am open to suggestions. Thank you.

@mfpratama

Applied 2 June

wp: 26 June

Still waiting as well…

15.6 weeks already since the WP

Hopefully we hear some news soon