Info about the process (single permit)

@balksuleyman

Hi and welcome !

Just to better understand your situation, could you clarify if your application was submitted directly by an employer in Belgium or through an agency?

Also, when you mention the process, are you referring to a single permit (work + residence permit) application?

All the best

Bhavna

   Submitted by an employer for "Single Permit"!

@balksuleyman

My employer submitted my single permit documents on the 25th of November 2025.

I received the single permit on the 18th of February 2026.

It takes around 4 months to receive the single permit.

I applied to the VISA D for me and my family and I am currently waiting. The applications were forwarded to the Immigration Office. Will let you know if I get any updates. I have no clue about how long this process can take to be honest. I've been asking everywhere but no one gave me an answer.

Thank you for your sharing your situation. Yes this is new for me to. The thing i want to know that your documents already must have  been evaluated in immigration office if you already receive single permit. You should have been taken annex46 already. Why you still waiting for immigrant office or why the authorities steered you like that?

Here is the steps by Gemini

Employment Contract: An employment contract is signed between you and the employer.

Document Preparation: Essential documents (criminal record, health report, diploma) are apostilled and translated.

Employer Application: The employer submits an online application to the regional Ministry of Economy/Labor.

Work Permit Approval: The Labor Ministry reviews market conditions and salary criteria and grants approval.

Immigration Office Approval: The file is automatically forwarded to the immigration office for security and residency vetting.

Receiving Annex 46/47: Once both agencies approve, an official "Annex 46" (or equivalent) approval document is issued to you.

Visa Appointment: You schedule a "Type D" (long-stay) visa appointment at the consulate or the authorized visa center in your home country.

Visa Issuance: Based on the Annex document, the consulate grants and stamps the entry visa into your passport.

Arrival: You travel to the destination country and enter through the border.

Municipal Registration: Within 8 days of arrival, you register your residential address at the local municipality.

Issuing the Card: The municipality takes your fingerprints and issues your "Single Permit" card within 2–3 weeks.

Summary: The employer submits the application to the Ministry; Labor and Immigration offices provide approval; you obtain a Type D visa with the issued Annex document, travel to the country, and receive your single permit card from the local municipality.

@balksuleyman

I am now in the Visa D step. I believe that since I applied to it with my Family, the embassy needs to forward it to the immigration office to review the whole file before approving the Visa.

if you’re applying by yourself, i think once you get the single permit, you apply for the visa D and the embassy can grant it to you directly

Yeah , exactly! Thank you.