Less than 24 hours after Belgium rang in 2026, the Flemish Government quietly switched on its refurbished Single-Permit portal, enabling employers to submit applications for both fixed-term and unlimited-duration work-and-residence authorisations in a single digital workflow.
The portal, which went live on 2 January, is the technological backbone of regional legislative reforms that took effect a day earlier. Among the headline changes are new document-upload standards, an integrated “Mahis” mandate workflow for third-party representatives and automated data-sharing with Belgium’s national social-security database—a long-requested feature that promises real-time validation of salary thresholds.
VisaHQ can help companies and individuals navigate these updates by offering streamlined visa and permit processing services, personalised guidance on document requirements and real-time status tracking. Its dedicated Belgium page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) aggregates the latest regulatory changes, salary thresholds and procedural checklists, making it a useful companion to the new Single-Permit portal.
![Flanders’ Upgraded Portal Opens, Bringing Unlimited-Duration Single Permits Online]()
Because the system was offline on New Year’s Day, many employers delayed filings, creating a 48-hour backlog. Regional officials warn HR teams to clear browser caches and use up-to-date eID certificates to avoid login failures. The official processing-time target remains 60 days, but authorities concede that “learning-curve” delays are likely throughout January, prompting global-mobility managers to lodge March start-dates without delay.
The reforms also tighten criteria for medium-skilled roles: occupations no longer on the shortage list now require proof of a €43,396 annual salary. Employers failing to meet the new benchmark must demonstrate exhaustive EU recruitment efforts, a shift aimed at steering economic migration towards higher-value skillsets.
For assignees, the biggest win is the ability to apply online for indefinite-duration permits after five years’ residence—eliminating repeat paper renewals and reducing compliance costs. Immigration advisers predict that Brussels and Wallonia will adopt the same back-end within 18 months, paving the way for a unified national gateway.
The portal, which went live on 2 January, is the technological backbone of regional legislative reforms that took effect a day earlier. Among the headline changes are new document-upload standards, an integrated “Mahis” mandate workflow for third-party representatives and automated data-sharing with Belgium’s national social-security database—a long-requested feature that promises real-time validation of salary thresholds.
VisaHQ can help companies and individuals navigate these updates by offering streamlined visa and permit processing services, personalised guidance on document requirements and real-time status tracking. Its dedicated Belgium page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) aggregates the latest regulatory changes, salary thresholds and procedural checklists, making it a useful companion to the new Single-Permit portal.
Because the system was offline on New Year’s Day, many employers delayed filings, creating a 48-hour backlog. Regional officials warn HR teams to clear browser caches and use up-to-date eID certificates to avoid login failures. The official processing-time target remains 60 days, but authorities concede that “learning-curve” delays are likely throughout January, prompting global-mobility managers to lodge March start-dates without delay.
The reforms also tighten criteria for medium-skilled roles: occupations no longer on the shortage list now require proof of a €43,396 annual salary. Employers failing to meet the new benchmark must demonstrate exhaustive EU recruitment efforts, a shift aimed at steering economic migration towards higher-value skillsets.
For assignees, the biggest win is the ability to apply online for indefinite-duration permits after five years’ residence—eliminating repeat paper renewals and reducing compliance costs. Immigration advisers predict that Brussels and Wallonia will adopt the same back-end within 18 months, paving the way for a unified national gateway.
