Self-employed workers

EU nationals

EU nationals are free to exercise a self-employed activity in Belgium without restriction.

Non EU-nationals

Non-EU nationals who want to exercise a self-employed activity in Belgium must obtain a professional card (carte professionelle). They can apply for this to the Belgian embassy or consulate in their home country, or, once they have arrived in Belgium, to the municipality of their place of residence. Applications are forwarded by the municipality to the Federal Public Service for the Economy.

The application is subject to an investigation. In the event of a favorable opinion, the municipality issues the card for a maximum of five years. It includes an exact description of the authorised activity.

documents required:

• a completed registration form;
• a photocopy of the passport of residence permit;
• a medical certificate;
• a certificate of good conduct from the last country of residence (or an equivalent document recognised by the Belgian authorities);
• a CV.

More information:

Service Public Fédéral Economie, Classes Moyennes, PME et Energie, Tour WTC III, Boulevard Simon Bolivar 30, 1000 Brussels, phone. 02 277 80 85 http://economie.fgov.be/en/entreprises/Market_Regulation/Trading_permits/professional_card_foreigners/