Contracting in Belgium

With just a few clicks, you can calculate your take-home pay in Belgium and choose the optimal solution to get the most out of your contract. Use the app below to calculate your possible net retention in Belgium.

Employment

This is a standard form of employment – you officially work for a company who pays you a monthly salary.

Pros:

• Enrollment in the social security system, which includes health insurance, unemployment benefits, pension, paid time off and sick leave.
• Job security and stability.
• Income tax is deducted from your salary, so you do not need to worry about calculating how much you have to pay.

Cons:

• Lower retention rate compared to other solutions due to social security payments.
• More and more companies are looking towards independent contractors rather than employees, so it could be more difficult to find such employment, especially as a foreigner.
• Less flexibility – you do not get to choose the projects that you can work on, you must work on the tasks assigned to you by your employer.
• Formal working hours – you may have to work “9-5”, as determined by your employment contract, rather than being able to determine your own working hours.

Self-Employment

This includes independent contracting, or freelancing – you provide services to a company based on a contract, while not being officially employed by them. This could be a contract for up to several years where you get paid monthly, or a limited one where you are contracted to do a specific project and then part ways.

Pros:

• Possibility of gaining a higher rate of pay.
• Freedom to choose projects that interest you.
• Freedom to choose your own working schedule.
• You still get social security benefits (although you do have to pay the contributions).

Cons:

• You will need to sort out payments of income tax and social contributions yourself, or you could consider engaging a payroll company like Access Financial.
• There can be a fine line between self-employment and regular employment. If, for example, you end up doing too much work exclusively for a specific company, you could be classified by an audit as falsely self-employed, which can result in very hefty fines and the possibility of some legal action against you/your client.

Limited Company

At Access Financial we specialise in enabling contractors/freelancers from EU and EFTA Member States to utilise their Limited Company for contracting in Belgium.

How it works?

If you have an existing Limited Company you may be able to utilise this (depending upon the circumstances). Alternatively, if you don’t have an existing Limited Company, we will assist you with formation of a UK Limited Company.

Your Limited company will pay you a reasonable and justifiable salary for your services while working on your contract in Belgium. Any remaining profits, after tax, may be distributed to the shareholder(s) by way of dividend.

Pros:

• The process is quick and easy and can be arranged within 24 hours.
• In order to set up a UK Limited Company there is no requirement for the shareholder(s)/director(s) to be a UK citizen or to have had any prior connection with the UK in any respect.
• Possibility of gaining a higher rate of pay.
• Reduction of income tax by calculating justified business-related expenses
• All income and losses are attributed to the company as opposed to you personally.

Cons:

• Limited Company solution is suitable only for EU citizens and EFTA members.
• Fees for incorporation (in case you don’t already have a registered Limited Company)
• As a Director/Owner of your own limited company, you have some significant responsibilities in regard to the company activities and reporting obligations. To navigate such responsibilities, it is best advised to engage professional advisors and accountants, such as Access Financial and our sister company Access Tax and Accounting Limited.

 Fixed-term single permit

This is the most standard work and residence permit, which is required if you’re planning to stay and work in Belgium for longer that 3 months.

Requirements:

• Valid job offer in Belgium
• Health insurance coverage in Belgium
• You will need to report to your local municipality and apply for a Belgian residence card after you enter the Country.

 Indefinite term work permit

This permit can only be obtained after you have worked in Belgium under a fixed-term permit. This permit allows you to take a job under any Belgian employer.

Requirements:

• You have been working in Belgium for 4-5 years
• You are a long-term resident of another EU state and have worked in Belgium for at least a year.

 EU Blue Card

This is a visa for highly skilled professionals from non-EU/EFTA countries.

Requirements:

• Employment contract of at least 1 year’s length in Belgium
• Gross annual income of at least €51,235 (Flanders) or €55,431 (other regions).
• Degree from a higher educational institution.

 Work visa for self-employed, freelancers, and entrepreneurs

This is a visa for non EU/EFTA nationals who wish to either freelance or open a company in Belgium. They are generally valid for 2-3 years, but can be extended.

Requirements:

• Need to apply for a professional card.
• Need to apply for a Long Stay (type D) visa
• Need to apply for a residence permit for a long stay in Belgium

EU, EAA, Switzerland

You do not need a visa or a permit to live and work in Belgium. However, if you intend to stay for more than 90 days, you need to apply for a Belgian Residence Card (eID) at the local municipality.

Other Foreign Nationals

If you are a third country national, you need a visa and a work permit in order to live and work in Belgium. You need a long stay visa in order to enter the country, and then apply for a residence permit with work rights.

If you are an entrepreneur or self-employed, you must apply for a professional card (Belgium Freelance visa). You will also have to register VAT and with a social insurance fund for self-employed workers.

As an Employer of Record, we conclude an agreement with you and your client. We become your legal employer while your client maintains control over your work relationship, ethics, tasks, and daily responsibilities.

Why is this needed?

Not all companies have registered legal entities in the countries where they need employees. Moreover, not all companies want to bother with payroll, work permits, taxes, social security, and in general paperwork when employing workers. That’s why it’s more profitable and convenient for them to turn to an EOR provider (such as Access Financial) who already has local experience and can take on all the worries associated with hiring employees and be responsible for their paperwork and compliance.

Here are just some of the services we offer in Belgium:

• Assistance in obtaining the necessary visas/work permits for employees from third countries.
• Registering employees with the tax and social security office.
• Providing consultations on Belgian labour regulation & benefits.
• Setting up the Payroll system compliantly.
• Submitting wage tax returns and national insurance forms.
• Keeping our clients up-to-date and compliant with changes in Belgian regulations.

We provide a full set of services in Belgium, allowing corporate clients, recruitment agencies and professional contractors to operate in an optimal manner, while ensuring that all local compliance obligations are taken care of.

Access Financial offers the following services in Belgium:

• Contract Management
• Outsourced Payroll
• Employer of Record (EOR)
• Limited Company Solution
• Work Permits & Immigration Assistance