Belgium Introduces New Regulations for Cross-Border Workers, Effective August 2026
Current rules
Cross-border workers residing in Germany, France, Luxembourg, or the Netherlands who hold an Annex 15 permit will receive a 12-month grace period to comply. Cross-border workers residing in the United Kingdom will no longer be able to enter Belgium with an Annex 15 as cross-border workers and are advised to apply for a long-term visa (D visa) at the Belgian Embassy in London.
Overview
Belgium is implementing new regulations for cross-border workers, replacing those from 1981. The updated framework will apply to individuals working across Belgian borders, with specific transitional arrangements for those from Germany, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and new D visa requirements for UK residents. These changes are expected to take effect in August 2026, following publication in the Belgian Official Gazette.
Who is affected by the latest change
- Cross-border workers living in France
- Cross-border workers living in Germany
- Cross-border workers living in Luxembourg
- Cross-border workers living in the Netherlands
- Cross-border workers living in the UK
- Non-EU citizens working in Belgium while living in a neighbouring country
- Employers hiring cross-border workers in Belgium
What changed in the latest version
Before
Rules for people who work across borders were from 1981. These rules allowed entry with an Annex 15 permit. This was for people who lived in Germany, France, Luxembourg, or the Netherlands and worked across the border. It also implicitly allowed this for people who lived in the United Kingdom and worked across the border.
After
People who work across the border and live in Germany, France, Luxembourg, or the Netherlands will get a 12-month grace period. They must have an Annex 15 permit. This grace period gives them time to follow the new rules. People who work across the border and live in the United Kingdom can no longer enter Belgium with an Annex 15 permit. They must apply for a long-term visa (D visa). They should do this at the Belgian Embassy in London. A D visa is a visa for stays longer than 90 days, often for work or study.
This policy change is important because it makes the rules for working across borders more modern. It replaces old rules from 1981. For people who live in the UK and work across the border, this changes how they can enter Belgium. They will need a long-term visa (D visa) instead of the old Annex 15 permit. A D visa is a visa for stays longer than 90 days, often for work or study. This directly affects their ability to travel and work in Belgium. People who live in certain EU countries or Luxembourg get a 12-month grace period. This helps reduce problems right away. It gives them time to adjust. This update affects companies that employ staff who work across borders. It also affects individual workers' visa applications and how they follow the rules.
Explained simply
Imagine the old rulebook for people working across the border in Belgium was written a long, long time ago, back in 1981. It's like trying to use a map from the 80s to navigate a modern city – it just doesn't work anymore. So, Belgium is getting a brand new rulebook starting in August 2026. If you're a worker from Germany, France, Luxembourg, or the Netherlands with a special permit (called an Annex 15), you'll have a year to get used to the new rules. But if you're a worker from the UK, you can't just use your old permit anymore; you'll need to apply for a completely different, long-term visa to continue working in Belgium.
Frequently asked
Version history
- v1Effective 17 Aug 2026EffectiveHigh impactBelgium Introduces New Regulations for Cross-Border Workers, Effective August 2026
Belgium will start new rules for people who work across its borders. These rules begin in August 2026. The old rules were from 1981. They are now being updated. Under the new rules, people who live in Germany, France, Luxembourg, or the Netherlands and work across the border in Belgium can use their Annex 15 permit for 12 more months. This is a grace period. After this, they must follow the new rules. People who work across the border from the United Kingdom can no longer enter Belgium with an Annex 15 permit. They must apply for a long-term (D) visa. They must do this at the Belgian Embassy in London. A D visa is a visa for stays longer than 90 days, often for work or study.
goborda provides monitoring and explanation of publicly available policy information. It is not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration professional before acting.