In Flanders (economic added value category): minimum initial capital of €22,838 held in a financial account in the applicant's own name, plus stable means of subsistence of at least 110% of the Guaranteed Average Monthly Minimum Income (€2,408.79 net/month after 1 April 2026 indexation, approximately €28,905/year, +10% per dependant). The innovative added value category has no capital requirement. In Brussels-Capital and Wallonia, financial viability is assessed through the business plan with no fixed capital threshold.
⏱️ Duration
Initial card typically granted for a 2-year probationary period (up to 3 years in Flanders for the innovative added value category). Maximum validity of 5 years. Renewable as long as the business remains compliant and economically viable.
👪 Dependants
Yes
Spouse or registered/cohabiting partner (in a stable relationship of at least 1 year) and dependent children may apply for family reunification once the primary applicant holds a residence permit valid for more than 3 months. Sponsor must demonstrate stable income (at least 120% of the social integration income), adequate accommodation, and health insurance. Family members receive their own residence permit and spouses may work without a separate work permit.
🛂 Citizenship Path
Yes — after 5 years
After 5 years of continuous legal residence, eligible to apply for EU long-term resident status (D-card or B-card) subject to stable income and health insurance requirements. Belgian citizenship is also possible after 5 years of legal residence subject to integration and other conditions.
Belgium's Professional Card (Carte Professionnelle / Beroepskaart) is the official authorization allowing non-EU/EEA nationals to carry out self-employed professional activities in Belgium, including founding and operating a business, working as a freelancer, or serving as a managing director or company partner. Since the 2015 sixth state reform, the three Belgian regions — Brussels-Capital, Wallonia, and Flanders — each administer their own procedures, though the federal Immigration Office (IBZ) handles the subsequent D-visa and residence permit. The professional card is personal and non-transferable, specifies the authorized activities, and serves as the gateway document: once approved by the relevant regional authority, the applicant may obtain a Type D long-stay visa and then a residence permit (A-card) upon registration with the local municipality.
Belgium does not have a separate "startup visa" — third-party sources sometimes use this term, but the professional card is the only official pathway for non-EU entrepreneurs to establish themselves through self-employed activity.
Requirements
Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national wishing to engage in self-employed activity in Belgium
Must not already hold an unlimited Belgian residence permit
Business plan demonstrating economic, innovative, social, cultural, or artistic added value to the region
Clean criminal record from country of origin or last residence (less than 6 months old)
No threat to Belgian public order or national security
Each region applies different criteria:
Flanders uses a formal category-based system:
Economic added value: minimum initial capital of €22,838 (held in a personal financial account), stable means of subsistence of at least 110% of the Guaranteed Average Monthly Minimum Income (€2,408.79 net/month after 1 April 2026 indexation; ~€28,905/year), +10% per dependant, plus a minimum secondary education diploma (qualification level 4)
Innovative added value: no capital requirement; must demonstrate genuine innovation
Sporting/cultural/artistic added value: for relevant professionals in those fields
Brussels-Capital: business plan assessed for contribution to regional prosperity; no fixed capital or income threshold; business plan limited to 20 pages
Wallonia: business plan evaluated for economic usefulness including job creation, exports, and innovation; financial projections, 3-year forecast, market study, draft contracts, and company statutes required
Required Documents
Completed professional card application form (signed and dated)
Business plan (max 20 pages in Brussels; comprehensive with financial projections and market analysis in all regions)
Criminal record extract or certificate of good conduct (less than 6 months old)
Proof of financial resources and/or initial capital
CV and diplomas (minimum secondary education diploma for Flanders' economic category)
Proof of any sector-specific licenses or authorizations
Identity card or passport copy
Two identity photographs
D-visa application (via VisaOnWeb), valid passport (less than 10 years old, at least 2 blank pages, valid for trip duration plus 3 months)
Medical certificate (less than 6 months old)
Proof of contribution fee payment (€242 D-visa contribution fee from 1 January 2026; €140 professional card application fee; €90 per year of card validity for the issuance fee)
All documents must be in French, Dutch, German, or English; documents in other languages require sworn translation with apostille certification.
Duration & Renewal
The professional card is initially granted for a probationary period of up to 2 years (up to 3 years in Flanders for the innovative added value category), with a maximum validity of 5 years. The A-card residence permit is tied to the card's validity period. Renewal applications must be submitted before expiry — 2 months in Brussels, 3 months in Wallonia and Flanders. Renewal requires demonstrating continued regulatory compliance, fiscal and social obligation fulfilment, and ongoing economic viability, supported by 2 years of tax declarations, certified balance sheets, income statements, social security attestations, and VAT declarations.
Family Members
Spouse or registered/cohabiting partner (in a stable relationship of at least 1 year) and dependent children may apply for family reunification once the primary applicant holds a Belgian residence permit valid for more than 3 months. The sponsor must demonstrate stable income (at least 120% of the social integration income), adequate accommodation, and sickness insurance for the family. Family members receive their own residence permit and spouses may work in Belgium without a separate work permit.
Tax Implications
Belgian residents are subject to progressive personal income tax (25%–50%) on worldwide income. Self-employed professionals must register for VAT if annual turnover exceeds €25,000. Mandatory quarterly social security contributions are payable to an approved self-employed social insurance fund (caisse d'assurances sociales / sociaal verzekeringsfonds), covering pensions, healthcare, family benefits, and disability insurance.
Application Process
The process has two main tracks:
From abroad: Submit the professional card application and D-visa application simultaneously at the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country of legal residence. The consulate forwards the professional card dossier to the competent regional authority based on where the business will operate. The regional authority assesses: (1) right of residence, (2) regulatory compliance, and (3) economic/innovative added value. Processing takes approximately 3 months in Brussels-Capital, up to 120 days in Flanders, and with no fixed deadline in Wallonia (admissibility check within 5 working days). Upon approval, the embassy issues the D-visa.
Already in Belgium: Applicants with a valid Belgian residence document apply directly to an accredited enterprise counter (guichet d'entreprise / ondernemingsloket). In Flanders, digital applications via the WSE online service counter are mandatory since 1 February 2022.
Upon arrival in Belgium, holders must register at the municipal administration (commune/gemeente) within 8 working days. After residence verification, the municipality issues the A-card. Holders must then collect the professional card from an accredited enterprise counter, register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (BCE/KBO), register for VAT if applicable, and affiliate with a self-employed social insurance fund.
Important Considerations
The professional card authorizes only the specific activities listed on it; any change, expansion, or addition of activity requires a new application treated as a first application
A refused applicant must generally wait 2 years before reapplying, unless new evidence is available, the refusal was procedural, or the new application concerns a different activity
Incomplete applications may be refused without a request for missing documents
The assessment of economic or added value is discretionary and varies by region, creating potential inconsistency in outcomes depending on the region where the business will operate
British nationals require a professional card following Brexit, unless they held a Belgian residence permit before 31 December 2020
Operating without a valid professional card is a criminal offence (imprisonment of 8 days to 3 years and/or fines of €26 to €6,000, multiplied by legal surcharges)