Question re 5-year residency and work

ruslan.galkanov Member

Member since 28 August 2017

ruslan.galkanovMember12 December 2025 12:11:53

I was told (and read) that even if you work (an a non-EU citizen) in Belgium for the required number of years, pay taxes and social, etc., but if your employer of record is a non-Belgian entity (in my case, it is an American company), all these years and taxes are in vain, because they won't count towards your accumulation of years in BE. Even if that company has a Belgian enterprise number (BCE). So, basically, you are throwing all those crazy taxes for nothing! Did anyone hear about this?

See also

Obtaining a work permit in Belgium - Guide
Belgian residency permit renewal - 4 Replies
PhD years and Permanent Residency in Belgium - 1 Reply
Question About Residency Card Change After Single Permit(From student) - 3 Replies
Interruption in my residency - 5 Replies
Regarding Permanent residency - 3 Replies
Pregnant and losing residency - 4 Replies

Elena Igor Active member

Member since 19 May 2025

Elena IgorActive member12 December 2025 15:40:08

@ruslan.galkanov

There are so many multinational corporations in Belgium which have a Belgian branch and don’t pose this issue. If you are on an expat contract (you pay less tax) within the company in belgium instead of the local contract, that would be the issue

ruslan.galkanov Member

Member since 28 August 2017

ruslan.galkanovMember15 December 2025 11:35:04

Thank you - I am not an expat, I do pay full tax and everything else.

Liwane Member

Member since 11 July 2018

LiwaneMember15 December 2025 13:09:22

I think if the company has a belgian VAT number it should be OK, I worked for a luxembourg company that has a "filiale" in Belgium and it was OK, I had a belgian work contract as well.