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23 January 2026

Belgium announces significant changes to immigration rules for employers and foreign workers in Flanders

The Flemish authorities implemented significant changes to their immigration rules for foreign workers and employers on 1 January 2026. The Flemish authorities approved a proposal in May 2025, which included expedited processing for applications submitted by highly skilled workers and a new fee for applicants from outside the EU seeking to obtain work or single permits. The new policy builds on the May proposal and aims to allow highly selective labor migration to meet the needs of the Belgian labor market, develop a digital system to simplify application submission for employers and foreign workers, and address abuse and fraud through enhanced controls.

A Tax Alert prepared by EY's People Advisory Services, and attached below, provides additional details.

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Attachment

Full text of Tax Alert

Document ID: 2026-0270

 
 

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