Flanders Introduces New Fee for Combined Permit Applications
Current rules
From 1 September 2026, employers in the Flemish Region must pay a fee of 180 euros per application for initial or renewal combined permits for workers from outside the EEA or Switzerland. This fee covers administrative costs and is indexed annually on 1 January. Payment must be made via the Unique Counter within 15 days of submission, or the file will be closed.
Overview
The Flemish government has announced a new administrative fee of 180 euros for combined permit applications in the Flemish Region. This fee applies to both initial applications and renewals for workers from outside the EEA or Switzerland. It is designed to cover the administrative costs associated with processing work authorisation applications and becomes effective on 1 September 2026.
Who is affected by the latest change
- Employers recruiting and employing workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland in the Flemish Region
- Initial applications for a combined permit
- Renewal applications for a combined permit
What changed in the latest version
Before
Before 1 September 2026, employers did not pay a specific Flemish administrative fee for combined permit applications in the Flemish Region. However, they still paid a national fee for the residence application.
After
From 1 September 2026, employers in the Flemish Region must pay a fee of 180 euros per application. This applies to new or renewal combined permits. It is for workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. This fee covers administrative costs. The amount will change each year on 1 January. Payment must be made through the Unique Counter within 15 days of sending the application. If not, the application will close.
This change adds new administrative and financial rules for employers in Flanders. It affects those who want to employ workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. The 180-euro fee is compulsory for new and renewal combined permit applications. It will increase each year. This means ongoing costs for businesses. Payment within 15 days is now a condition for the application to be accepted. If employers do not pay on time, the application will automatically close. This could delay or stop the employment of foreign talent. Employers must also manage payment processes carefully. The fee is non-refundable, no matter what happens with the application.
Explained simply
Imagine you want to bring a friend from a country outside Europe to work for your family business in Flanders. From 1 September 2026, you'll need to pay an extra charge of 180 euros just for the application to let them work. It's like paying an admin fee for a school trip; it covers the school's paperwork, but you still have to pay for the trip itself. You have 15 days to pay this fee after you send in the application, or they'll just close it. And remember, you won't get this money back, even if your friend's application isn't approved.
Frequently asked
Version history
- v1Effective 1 Sept 2026EffectiveHigh impactFlanders Introduces New Fee for Combined Permit Applications
The Flemish government will introduce a new fee for combined permit applications. This applies to workers from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. From 1 September 2026, employers in the Flemish Region must pay 180 euros for each application. This includes both new and renewal applications for a combined permit. The fee covers administrative processing costs. It will increase annually. Employers must pay the fee through the Unique Counter within 15 days of sending the application. If the fee is not paid on time, the application will automatically close. The government will not formally process the application until the fee is paid.