Professional Card for Self-Employed Foreign Nationals (Carte professionnelle / Beroepskaart)

Year establishedPublished

1965

Governing lawPublished

Law of 19 February 1965 on the exercise by foreigners of independent professional activities, implemented by regional decrees (Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia)

Responsible authorityPublished

Regional economic administrations — Brussels Economy and Employment (SPRB), Flanders Department of Work and Social Economy, SPW Economie-Emploi-Recherche (Wallonia); federal filing abroad via FPS Foreign Affairs / Belgian embassies and consulates

What the program providesPublished

Turn a self-employed business plan into the right to work independently anywhere in Belgium

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Minimum ageUnknown

Unknown

Clean criminal record requiredPublished

Yes

Local health insurance requiredUnknown

Unknown

Nationality restrictionsPublished

No

Basic eligibilityPublished

Right of residence in Belgium (or filed via embassy from abroad), professional qualifications/diplomas or at least 3 years' relevant experience, and a business plan showing the activity's economic added value (turnover, job creation, investment or innovation) to the region

Employment statusPublished

Self-employed

Generational limitPublished

Not applicable

Family sponsorshipPublished

Yes

Spouse includedPublished

Yes

Children includedPublished

Yes

Child age limitPublished

18 years

ChildrenPublished

Spouse and minor children may file for standard family reunification once the applicant holds the professional-card residence permit (Annex 15 / visa D route); a simultaneous filing within 6 months of the sponsor's visa D gets a fast-track procedure

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Processing timePublished

13–17.4 weeks

Can apply without travelingPublished

Yes

How you applyPublished

Filed at the Belgian embassy/consulate in the applicant's country of residence (no travel to Belgium needed to submit); in-Belgium filing possible at a regional enterprise counter for those already resident

Required in-person stepPublished

Register with the local commune and collect the residence card/professional card in Belgium after the visa D is issued

What the processing time measuresPublished

3 months for a complete file per the Brussels Economy and Employment site; up to 4 months noted by the Belgian embassy in London

Official application routePublished

https://economy-employment.brussels/professional-card

Minimum investmentUnknown

Unknown

Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published

None required

Minimum active investment (July 2026)Unknown

Unknown

Processing feePublished

$105

Application feePublished

$164

Total cost to applyPublished

$269

Monthly income requiredUnknown

Unknown

Monthly pension income requiredPublished

None required

Monthly rental income requiredPublished

None required

Savings requiredUnknown

Unknown

Proof of sufficient fundsUnknown

Unknown

Local bank deposit requiredPublished

No

Minimum local bank depositPublished

None required

Fees paidPublished

Before approval

Cost notesPublished

Brussels-Capital Region fee schedule: EUR 140 at submission (~$164) plus EUR 90 per year of card validity paid at issuance (~$105/year); fees vary slightly by region

Stay required to keep statusUnknown

Unknown

Physical presence requiredPublished

Yes

In-country visit requiredPublished

Yes

Move-in windowPublished

0 months

Length of residencyPublished

24 months

Residency is lifetimePublished

No

RenewablePublished

Yes

Maximum durationPublished

60 months

Maximum duration is lifetimePublished

No

Stay rule (Sept 2026)Published

No fixed away-limit found; the permit requires the holder to genuinely reside in Belgium and actively run the approved business, since it is tied to the underlying right of residence

Time to permanent residencyPublished

5 years

Time to citizenshipPublished

5 years

Work for a local employerPublished

No

Start a businessPublished

Yes

Remote or freelance workPublished

Yes

Local healthcare accessPublished

Yes

University accessPublished

Yes

Can buy landPublished

Yes

Local bankingPublished

Yes

Permanent residence timeline basisPublished

Years stated

Citizenship timeline basisPublished

Years stated

Plan B note (Sept 2026)Published

Not a passive Plan B asset: the card is tied to actually running a self-employed business in Belgium and lapses if the activity stops. No fixed investment threshold in law — each region assesses a business plan case by case for expected turnover, job creation and economic benefit; the competitor list price of ~$27,000 could not be confirmed on any Belgian government source.

Official program websitePublished

https://www.belgium.be/en/work/coming_to_work_in_belgium/self_employment

Plan B sources (Sept 2026)Published

https://economy-employment.brussels/professional-card | https://economie-emploi.brussels/carte-professionnelle | https://unitedkingdom.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/travel-belgium/working-belgium/professional-card-application | https://wallex.wallonie.be/contents/acts/0/480/1.html?doc=29463 | https://lawsupport.be/self-employed-visa-belgium/

Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.