Single permit processing 2025

Hi All, here is my timeline for renewal.

Application: 14 July 2025

WP: 25 Aug 2025

Annex 46: 7 Nov 2025

I see many people are worrying about these approvals and I was one of them too because I suppose to travel to my home country for family situation this month end.

I mailed to IBZ for requesting approval and they replied stating it will take 16-17 weeks from the date of WP approval.

I don’t know the reason but it is taking lot of time this year to process the application and it just took 2-3 months last two times for whole process.

To clarify, if you have WP approval, you can stay and continue work though your RP is expired but you need to visit(the next day of RP expired date) local Commune to obtain Annex 49(temporary permit valid for 45 days and after this you can take one more Annex 49 for another 45 days).

The only problem I see here is that you can’t travel outside Belgium holding Annex 49 but you can travel back to your home country by taking travel approval copy from local commune. To return back to Belgium, you have to go through the whole process by fresh application again.

Hello All,

Anyone recieved Annex 46 last week?

Kindly update !

Thanks,

Vidya.

Hi All,

Please find below my timeline regarding the unlimited work permit process in Flanders:

01/09/2025 – Application submitted

01/10/2025 – Application deemed admissible

07/10/2025 – Positive decision for work permit

20/11/2025 – File in treatment by Office

20/11/2025 – Positive decision for residence (Annex 46)

@ozlemozdemir227

It was your first application or renewal?

@yOrhan

None of them. This is a different category for people who have worked for a certain period of time and want to obtain a work permit without company sponsorship. It still falls under the A-card type, and you apply to it by yourself.

Hi all,

Below update !

Application date : 6th August

Work positive decision: 28 th August

Annex 46: 18th November

Good luck to all who applied!

@ozlemozdemir227

I am also waiting for same application. I received wp on 1st Oct and still I am waiting rp.

I contacted IBZ several times, and each time they confirmed that the processing time is typically 13–17 weeks after the work permit is issued. ( for unlimited category )

In my case, I received another job opportunity while my residence permit was still pending, and I couldn’t resign from my current position until the approval arrived. My commune sent an email to IBZ requesting to expedite the process, and on that same day, the application was approved.

@yOrhan

I contacted IBZ several times, and each time they confirmed that the processing time is typically 13–17 weeks after the work permit is issued. ( for unlimited category )

In my case, I received another job opportunity while my residence permit was still pending, and I couldn’t resign from my current position until the approval arrived. My commune sent an email to IBZ requesting to expedite the process, and on that same day, the application was approved.

@ozlemozdemir227

Could you please explain a little bit more how you request from your commune to contact with IBZ about your situation. Because I have same issue currently, I have new job however I cannot start due to pending rp.

Many Thanks

@yOrhan

  Sent pm.

@ozlemozdemir227

Hello Ozlem,

Can I have the pm too for the situation like Orhan ?

Update:

First application - Highly qualified - Flanders

Submission to Region: 15 July 2025

Further documents requested by the region: 28 July 2025

Work Permit: 29 July 2025

Under treatment by the office: 20 November 2025

Residence Permit: 25 November 2025

Best of luck to everyone!

@ngatsby

Hi,

Applied in June 2025, MOE approval came on 23rd September 2025.

@ngatsby Keep me posted