Flanders introduces a €180 fee for single permit applications
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.
Until 1 September 2026, employers did not have to pay a regional fee for the employment authorisation part of the single permit application in Flanders. Although the legislation allowed such a fee to be introduced, this possibility had not previously been implemented. The new fee therefore introduces an additional cost for employers submitting single permit applications in Flanders.
The €180 fee is intended to cover the administrative costs incurred by the authorities in processing and checking applications. According to the Flemish Government, the revenue will also support investments in additional administrative capacity, technology and IT systems to improve checks and detect fraud more effectively. The fee is paid by the employer through the Single Point of Contact (‘Uniek Loket’).
The fee must be paid within 15 days of submitting the application. If it is not paid, or is not paid in full within this period, the application is closed without further processing. The amount will be indexed annually on 1 January. The fee does not apply to applications for an employment card (arbeidskaart), which are exempt from the charge.
For further information on the Flemish fee for single permit applications, see (in Dutch) the overview provided by Vreemdelingenrecht.be.
