Belgium’s northern region is experiencing its biggest influx of foreign talent in a decade. New statistics released on 13 February 2026 show that Flanders issued more than 19,000 single-permits to non-EU nationals in 2025, a 53 percent jump on the five-year average. Employment minister Zuhal Demir (N-VA) argues that the surge, fuelled partly by Ukrainian nationals and acute skills shortages, risks depressing local wages and eroding political support for labour migration.
In response, Flanders brought a toughened decree into force on 1 January 2026. Low- and mid-skilled occupations that once enjoyed automatic fast-track treatment—truck drivers, bakers, butchers and several care roles—have disappeared from the regional ‘bottleneck’ list. From this month employers must prove they have advertised locally and EU-wide for at least five weeks before sponsoring a third-country worker. Wage thresholds have also risen and renewal criteria tightened.
Business federations Voka and Agoria warn the clamp-down could backfire. Construction firms already report project delays because subcontractors cannot replace retiring welders and electricians fast enough under the new screening rules. Some multinationals are exploring short-term posting arrangements from neighbouring Netherlands or Luxembourg, an avenue that gives authorities less oversight over housing, tax and social-security compliance.
![Record Wave of Work-Permits in Flanders Triggers Stricter Rules for Non-EU Talent]()
VisaHQ’s dedicated Belgium team can help employers and foreign professionals navigate these tighter Flemish work-permit requirements by pre-checking eligibility, assembling compliant documentation and scheduling the earliest possible appointments. Full details of their end-to-end visa and immigration support are available at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
For mobility managers the message is clear: hiring timelines will lengthen. Companies should budget three to four months for a combined work/residence permit and factor in potential appeals. Employers that rely heavily on third-country talent—particularly in IT, biotech and logistics—are advised to front-load recruitment, review salary packages against the new regional minima and track renewal dates in a central HRIS to avoid gaps in work authorisation.
Longer term, Demir is pushing the federal government to align Wallonia and Brussels with the Flemish model, signalling that stricter gate-keeping of non-EU labour could become the national norm by 2027.
In response, Flanders brought a toughened decree into force on 1 January 2026. Low- and mid-skilled occupations that once enjoyed automatic fast-track treatment—truck drivers, bakers, butchers and several care roles—have disappeared from the regional ‘bottleneck’ list. From this month employers must prove they have advertised locally and EU-wide for at least five weeks before sponsoring a third-country worker. Wage thresholds have also risen and renewal criteria tightened.
Business federations Voka and Agoria warn the clamp-down could backfire. Construction firms already report project delays because subcontractors cannot replace retiring welders and electricians fast enough under the new screening rules. Some multinationals are exploring short-term posting arrangements from neighbouring Netherlands or Luxembourg, an avenue that gives authorities less oversight over housing, tax and social-security compliance.
VisaHQ’s dedicated Belgium team can help employers and foreign professionals navigate these tighter Flemish work-permit requirements by pre-checking eligibility, assembling compliant documentation and scheduling the earliest possible appointments. Full details of their end-to-end visa and immigration support are available at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
For mobility managers the message is clear: hiring timelines will lengthen. Companies should budget three to four months for a combined work/residence permit and factor in potential appeals. Employers that rely heavily on third-country talent—particularly in IT, biotech and logistics—are advised to front-load recruitment, review salary packages against the new regional minima and track renewal dates in a central HRIS to avoid gaps in work authorisation.
Longer term, Demir is pushing the federal government to align Wallonia and Brussels with the Flemish model, signalling that stricter gate-keeping of non-EU labour could become the national norm by 2027.
