The waiting period for asylum seekers to be allowed to work in Belgium is reduced from 6 to 4 months following the registration of their application

As from 9 November 2015, an asylum seeker can obtain a C work permit four months after applying for asylum. The 6 month period was cut to 4 months by a Royal Decree which entered into force today.

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The Royal Decree of 29 October 2015 modifying Article 17 of the Royal Decree of 9 June 1999 implementing the Law of 30 April 1999 regarding the employment of foreign workers has been published and entered into force today, 9 November 2015.

According to the amended Article 17, asylum seekers, who haven't yet received a first instance decision in the asylum case, are now allowed to work with a work permit card C within four months following the registration of their asylum application. Previsously the work permit card C could only be granted at the earliest six months after the application was made.

In light of the current crisis and the increase in asylum applications, the question of shortening the waiting period arose with the willingness to allow asylum seekers to generate their own oncome more rapidly.

Publication Date: Mon 09 Nov 2015
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