Belgium Blue Card

Highly qualified employment with a recognised higher-education diploma of at least three years, an employment contract of at least six months (or permanent), and for ICT managers and specialists three years of relevant experience in the last seven years; the salary is higher than for the highly qualified category. The Blue Card is issued within a single permit. ^{1 2 3 4}

What you must show

• Income of at least EUR 68,815 a year (≈ $76,900) · EU Blue Card minimum gross annual salary 2026 (Wallonia). ²
• Income of at least EUR 4,748 a month (≈ $5,300) · EU Blue Card minimum basic gross monthly remuneration from 1 January 2026 (Brussels-Capital Region, 100% of the average gross salary). ³
• Income of at least EUR 55,052 a year (≈ $61,500) · Blue Card for workers with under 3 years of experience, 2026 (80%, Wallonia). ²

Requirements

• A recognised higher-education diploma of at least three years. ^{1 2 3 4}
• ICT managers and specialists need three years of relevant experience in the seven years before the application. ^{1 4}
• Wallonia 2026: EUR68,815 (≈ $76,900) gross a year. ^{2 3}
• Wallonia 2026: EUR55,052 (≈ $61,500) for juniors with under 3 years of experience. ^{2 3}
• Wallonia from 1 January 2027: EUR70,741 (≈ $79,000) gross a year (EUR56,593 (≈ $63,200) for juniors). ²
• Brussels-Capital 2026: EUR4,748 (≈ $5,300) gross a month. ^{2 3}
• Flanders sets the Blue Card salary at 130% of the average gross annual salary in Belgium. ⁴
• An employment contract of at least six months, or permanent. ^{1 4}
• The Blue Card is issued within a single permit. ^{1 2 3 4}
• Changing employer in the first 12 months needs notification and can start after 30 days unless refused. ^{1 4}
• After 12 months the card is valid for any employer meeting the conditions. ^{1 4}

Stay

• Wallonia issues the authorisation for up to 36 months, renewable. In Flanders the first renewal, after 24 months, gives a 3-year Blue Card valid for any employer.
• First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Employment under the Blue Card conditions; valid for any employer after one year of effective employment.

Family

Spouse or registered partner and children can apply for a long-stay D visa for family reunification; it is issued quickly when filed within six months of the worker's visa.

Checked 2026-10-11

Official sources

1. European Blue Card (Wallonia) · Public Service of Wallonia – Employment (emploi.wallonie.be) · checked 2026-10-10
2. Work authorisations and B work permits: salary thresholds for employers (2026 and 2027) · Public Service of Wallonia – Employment and Vocational Training (emploi.wallonie.be) · checked 2026-10-10
3. Single permit: minimum remuneration (Brussels-Capital Region) · Brussels Economy and Employment · checked 2026-10-10
4. Employing a foreigner in Flanders: European Blue Card · Government of Flanders · checked 2026-10-10
5. Law of 15 December 1980 on access, residence, settlement and removal of foreigners, Articles 10, 10bis and 40ter · Moniteur belge (Justel) · checked 2026-10-11
6. Code of Belgian nationality (Art. 12bis: acquisition by declaration after 5 years of legal residence) · Belgian Official Gazette (Moniteur belge / Federal Public Service Justice) · checked 2026-10-11