Flanders Adds €180 Fee to Single Permit Applications from September

Employers hiring non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals in Belgium's Flemish Region need to update their assignment cost models. The Flemish Government has announced that a new administrative fee of EUR 180 will apply to all Single Permit applications in the Flemish Region from 1 September 2026, covering both initial applications and renewals. The fee is separate from and in addition to the existing federal retribution fee, meaning companies sponsoring employees in Flanders will face two distinct charges from September onwards.

What Has Changed

Belgium's Single Permit is the combined work and residence authorisation for non-EEA and non-Swiss nationals working in Belgium for more than 90 days. Applications are processed jointly: the regional employment authority handles the labour market assessment, and the federal immigration authority handles the residence component.

Until now, the only mandatory cost was the federal retribution fee. From 1 September 2026:

• A new Flemish administrative fee of EUR 180 applies to all Single Permit applications and renewals processed through the Flemish Region
• The fee covers the administrative costs of the labour market component processed by the Flemish authorities (VDAB / Departement Werk en Sociale Economie)
• Work permit applications are not affected — the new fee applies only to Single Permit applications
• The federal retribution fee remains unchanged and will continue to apply in addition to the new Flemish fee
• Employers in Flanders will therefore pay both fees from September 1

Belgium's three regions — Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-Capital — each handle the labour market component of Single Permit applications independently. At publication, only Flanders has announced this additional fee. Employers with staff in Wallonia or Brussels should monitor for equivalent regional announcements.

What This Means for HR and Mobility Teams

Cost planning: Any Single Permit application or renewal submitted in Flanders on or after 1 September 2026 will require payment of the EUR 180 Flemish fee in addition to the federal retribution. For programmes with multiple employees on Single Permits in the region, this will increase total permit costs materially — particularly given that the fee recurs at each renewal.

Application timing: Where a renewal is due in autumn 2026, consider whether it can reasonably be filed before 1 September to avoid the additional charge. Applications should not be filed prematurely in a way that disrupts the existing permission timeline, but early renewal is generally permissible in Belgian practice.

Renewals in scope: The EUR 180 applies to renewals as well as initial applications. Mobility programmes with ongoing Belgium headcount will see the fee recurring with each renewal cycle.

Action Steps

1. Identify all employees on Single Permits in the Flemish Region and map upcoming renewal dates
2. Update Belgium assignment cost models to include the EUR 180 Flemish administrative fee for all applications filed from 1 September 2026
3. Assess whether any renewals due in September–November 2026 can reasonably be filed before September 1
4. Monitor Wallonia and Brussels-Capital for equivalent regional fee announcements
5. Communicate the cost change to internal stakeholders and budget holders

xpath.global provides end-to-end Single Permit and work authorisation management for organisations deploying staff across Belgium. Our Belgium immigration specialists manage both the regional and federal components of the application process, and will ensure your cost models and compliance procedures reflect the updated fee structure.

Sources: Crown World Mobility — July 16, 2026.

xpath.global Editorial Team — July 2026