The Flemish, Walloon, and Brussels Regions have communicated the new minimum salary requirements for individuals working in that region, applicable as from 1 January 2024. In order to obtain the appropriate permit allowing employment of non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals in Belgium, minimum salary requirements must be met.

      Why this matters

      In order to obtain the appropriate permit allowing employment of non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals in Belgium, the respective minimum salary requirements must be met.

      Employers need to monitor whether salary requirements are met and need to budget for increases in order to help ensure the continued legal employment in Belgium of their workforce.

      Non-compliance with these minimum salary requirements may lead to a finding by the authorities of illegal employment by the employer and consequently can lead to the imposition of administrative and/or penal sanctions on the employer1:

      • Employing a non-EEA national without a legal right to work in Belgium can result in a penalty between EUR 400.00 and EUR 8,000.00 per infraction.
      • Employing a non-EEA national without a legal right to work nor a legal right to reside in Belgium can result in a penalty between EUR 2,400.00 and EUR 48,000.00 per infraction. In addition to the fines, in theory, a sentence of imprisonment of six (6) months to three (3) years may be imposed.

      New Minimum Salary Thresholds

      The Flemish, Walloon, and Brussels authorities have communicated the increased amounts for 2024.

      Amounts for 2024

      Brussels Region2

      Flemish Region3

      Walloon Region4

      Highly-skilled employees

      EUR 50,310

      EUR 46,632*

      EUR 50,310

      Management personnel

      EUR 83,936

      EUR 74,611

      EUR 83,936

      Intra-corporate Transferee (specialist)

      EUR 52,042

      EUR 46,632

      EUR 52,042

      Intra-corporate Transferee (trainee)

      EUR 32,526

      EUR 46,632

      EUR 32,327

      Intra-corporate Transferee (Management)

      EUR 65,053

      EUR 74,611

      EUR 65,053

      EU Blue Card

      EUR 65,053

      EUR 55,958

      EUR 65,053

      Trainee

      Min. salary (sector)

      Sufficient means of existence

      Min. salary (sector)

      Medium-skilled employees in bottleneck professions

      N/A

      Min. salary (sector)

      N/A

      Source: KPMG in Belgium

      * For employees with a local Belgian contract working in the Flemish Region and under 30 years of age, the amount is EUR 37,305.60. The higher amount needs to be met as soon as the employee turns 30.

      KPMG Insights

      Prior to employing non-EEA nationals in Belgium, companies must obtain a Belgian work permit, or a Single Permit for these employees. The conditions to obtain such a permit are very strict. Except for specific categories of employees above, a labour market investigation is required. Such investigations can be time consuming and can lead to a refusal to grant the permit by Belgium’s immigration authorities.

      It may be advisable to consult with your usual qualified immigration counsel or a member of the Immigration team with KPMG in Belgium (see the Contacts section).

      Contacts

      Saâdia Abdi

      Director, Global Mobility Services

      KPMG in Belgium

      Premila Autar

      Immigration coordinator

      KPMG in Belgium

      Additional Resources

      pdf

      Download the PDF


      Footnotes

      1 Article 175 of the Belgian Social Penal Code, “Sociaal Strafwetboek/ Code pénal social”: https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/change_lg.pl?language=nl&la=N&cn=2010060607&table_name=wet .

      Service public fédéral Emploi, Travail et Concertation sociale (Federal Public Service Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue, Belgian Immigration Office), “Poursuites pénales” at: https://emploi.belgique.be/fr/propos-du-spf/infractions/cheminement-dun-proces-verbal/poursuites-penales .

      2 Minimum salary thresholds for the Brussels Region: dedicated Single Permit page (in English, but also in Dutch and French versions) of the official website of the Brussels Region.

      3 Minimum salary thresholds for the Flemish Region: dedicated Single Permit page (in Dutch) of the official website of the Flemish Region.

      4 Minimum salary thresholds for the Walloon Region: dedicated Single Permit page (in French) of the official website of the Walloon Region.


      Disclaimer

      * Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not offer immigration services or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.

      The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Belgium.

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