Professional Card – What after my A-card expires?

1POSTS

last year

Hi everyone,

I’m a non-EU national living in Flanders. I completed my PhD here and recently applied for a Professional Card (beroepskaart) on October 1, 2025 to start self-employment in my field (engineering/R&D).

My current A-card, based on the orientation year visa, will expire on December 31, 2025.

Since the professional-card decision can take several months, I’d like to ask:

1. Am I legally allowed to stay in Belgium while waiting for the decision?

2. Will the gemeente issue an Annex 15 (Bijlage 15) or another temporary document after my A-card expires?

3. Has anyone here gone through a similar status change (orientation year → self-employed)?

I already received confirmation of payment from the Economic Migration Department.

Any advice or first-hand experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

1 member reacted to this post

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Eline Paul Active member

49POSTS

last year

@NomadResearcher

I switched from orientation year to single permit. Once my orientation year card expired the commune refused to give me any sort of annex. I was just told to wait until I get a decision. But my stay remains legal as i had an ongoing application

1 member reacted to this post

sahagaurav18 New member

1POSTS

last week

Hello fellow expats. Chat GPT has led me here. I'm currently going through the exact same stuff, waiting for my professional card approval but my orientation year visa ends on 31 October (Its currently 26th October). Did it work for you guys? I'm loosing my mind overthinking the hell out of this situation. At least it's comforting to see others have gone through this type of situation.

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SimCityAT Expert

14424POSTS

last week

@sahagaurav18

Under Belgian immigration, as long as you have submitted your application for a status change (like a professional card or single permit) before your current residence permit expires, your right to stay in the country is protected while a decision is pending.

• The Waiting Phase: When your orientation year visa expires on October 31st, your legal stay is covered by the ongoing application.

• The Commune Reaction: It is very common for local communes to refuse to issue a temporary extension document (like an Annex 15) while a professional card decision is pending. Some will tell you simply to wait. This does not mean you are undocumented; it just means the bureaucracy moves slower than your visa timeline.