Single Permit for Researchers

The Single Permit for Researchers was introduced as part of Belgium's broader transition toward a unified application process for non-EU nationals. It integrates the authorization to reside and the authorization to work into a single administrative document, streamlining the complex multi-agency approval process. This permit fills the gap created by the need to harmonize immigration procedures with regional labor market regulations, ensuring that researchers—who were previously often exempt—now have a standardized, transparent, and legally secure status that covers both their right to live and their right to work in Belgium.

This permit is for researchers who have a valid hosting agreement with a research institution officially recognized by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO). It is distinctive because it is a comprehensive, single-application solution that requires proof of sufficient means of subsistence and institutional backing. It is ideal for post-doctoral scholars, scientific assistants, and researchers who need a clear, long-term legal framework to conduct their work. It provides the necessary flexibility for researchers to integrate into the Belgian labor market while maintaining their primary focus on scientific inquiry.