From 1 September 2026, employers in Flanders recruiting workers from outside the European Economic Area or Switzerland must pay a €180 fee for each application for a single permit. The fee applies to both first applications and renewals and is separate from the federal fee payable for the residence application.

Flanders granted around 21.460 work permits to non-EU nationals in 2025, the highest level in recent years. Seasonal work and medium- to high-skilled positions accounted for a large share of the permits. New rules introduced in January 2026 give priority to domestic and EU labour before non-EU recruitment. Stakeholders, including employer organisations and political parties, have expressed differing perspectives on these developments.