Search Q&A
Work permit B to Work permit A
Hoi,
I am a non EU citizen(work permit B holder) working with the same employer in Belgium for the 4th consecutive year now . The contract with my current employer will end next year after one more renewal i.e. on completing 5 years.
Does anyone know when i am allowed to apply for a work permit A, or is it the employer who should apply?(Remember, my contract ends on completing 5 years:|)
Is it during the 5th year or after the 5th year?
I also see some information in government websites that the 5 year (permit B) requirement is relaxed to 4 years if your spouse is also employed in Belgium. Can anyone confirm that?
Any info/advice on this matter is highly appreciated:)
Happy holidays!
I think you get permanent residency to Belgium after 5 years, but this would depend on your employment contract. If it's a Belgian one with 100% BE taxes, you're safe. If it's an expatty contract, you're going to need a new job with a new sponsor to stay.
Your company would need to file the 6th and last WP B only then you can be assured of permanent residency that would be given on the basis of that last WP B filed.
WP A is not requested so often simply because the PR card (card B) replaces the need of the WP A. In any case for WP A (like wp C), its not a company that requests it but the person himself/herself but you need to be eligible to apply for it.
About the relaxation to 4 years, ask your commune that very question and they might ask immigration to confirm.
Bottomline is that for your PR you definitely need your last WP B filed so make sure that is done. In case your company should not object because ideally the WP A is applied for way before the current card expires and so once they do that and the PR card B is issued you wont need to work further than the 5 years but make sure they do apply for that last WP B.
Correction in last paragraph, 3rd line:
"ideally the WP B is applied for"
No its not the same. But as mentioned on the werk website, you would need to request for a WP A once you've completed the 4 yrs on WP B. But its an application and I wouldnt know if this will get approved or rejected, its something that you will need to wait for the response from your application. Best to ask your commune.
