Wallonia has increased the minimum gross-salary requirements for foreign nationals seeking highly-skilled work permits, single permits or EU Blue Cards to €53,220 per year, while executives must now earn at least €88,790. The changes, published on 4 March and effective immediately for new and renewal filings, represent roughly a three-per-cent uplift designed to track wage inflation. (belgian-macedonian-business-club.org)
By contrast, the Brussels-Capital Region has frozen its thresholds at 2025 levels pending the release of Statbel’s updated wage data, and Flanders continues to apply last year’s €48,912 bar for highly skilled workers. This patchwork reflects Belgium’s federal structure, where each region can calibrate labour-migration policy within an overall national framework.
For employers navigating these differences, VisaHQ can streamline the process: its Belgium specialists walk companies through salary compliance, compile the supporting documents for highly-skilled permits or EU Blue Cards, and lodge applications online. See the latest requirements or start a case at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
![Regional Salary Floors for Work Permits Rise in Wallonia as Belgium Adjusts 2026 Thresholds]()
The higher floors are particularly relevant for ICT specialists, engineers and project managers supplied by multinational service companies whose Belgian assignments often straddle multiple regions. Employers must ensure that gross-salary clauses in local contracts meet the highest regional requirement where work will actually be performed, or risk rejection of permit applications and fines for underpayment.
Immigration advisers urge companies to fast-track pending transfers into Wallonia before payroll adjustments cascade through HR systems. Where intra-company transferees cannot meet the new pay level, firms may consider short-term business-visitor options (maximum 90 days) or split-pay arrangements—although tax and social-security implications must be carefully modelled.
Long-term, the divergence between regional policies could influence site-location decisions: Wallonia hopes the uplift will attract more senior talent, while critics argue that uneven thresholds complicate Belgium’s ability to brand itself as a single investment destination.
By contrast, the Brussels-Capital Region has frozen its thresholds at 2025 levels pending the release of Statbel’s updated wage data, and Flanders continues to apply last year’s €48,912 bar for highly skilled workers. This patchwork reflects Belgium’s federal structure, where each region can calibrate labour-migration policy within an overall national framework.
For employers navigating these differences, VisaHQ can streamline the process: its Belgium specialists walk companies through salary compliance, compile the supporting documents for highly-skilled permits or EU Blue Cards, and lodge applications online. See the latest requirements or start a case at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
The higher floors are particularly relevant for ICT specialists, engineers and project managers supplied by multinational service companies whose Belgian assignments often straddle multiple regions. Employers must ensure that gross-salary clauses in local contracts meet the highest regional requirement where work will actually be performed, or risk rejection of permit applications and fines for underpayment.
Immigration advisers urge companies to fast-track pending transfers into Wallonia before payroll adjustments cascade through HR systems. Where intra-company transferees cannot meet the new pay level, firms may consider short-term business-visitor options (maximum 90 days) or split-pay arrangements—although tax and social-security implications must be carefully modelled.
Long-term, the divergence between regional policies could influence site-location decisions: Wallonia hopes the uplift will attract more senior talent, while critics argue that uneven thresholds complicate Belgium’s ability to brand itself as a single investment destination.
