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Hello,

An interruption in legal residence will only occur if you make no effort to renew your residence permit or if your application for renewal is denied. However, if you (and your employer) submit the necessary documents before your current card expires, the municipality will issue an Attest 15 (or possibly a document with a different number). This document will cover your stay in the Kingdom while your renewal application is being processed. If this application is subsequently approved, there will be no interruption in your official legal residence.

As for multiple jobs, I’m sorry, I can’t provide any advice as I’m not familiar with how that works.

Answer of your first question : NO

As long as your future employer or current one applies for an extension or new application you will get an application form from region.

In such an extreme case with this form you will apply  an annex 49 from your municipality to extend your residency for 90 days. (can be extended another 90 days if still resident permit not issued yet in IBZ) This annex allows you reside in Belgium. Not work, not travel out of country.

This document will cover your residence untill final decision made my Ibz.

So you don't need to be worried.

Only technicall detail here is :

If your single permit close to expire , and if your employer apply for it  before a few weeks or month and

if either your single permit or annex 49 couldn't be issued due to the bureaucracy then you CAN NOT Work after your single permit expired.

Good luck

@Mia0210

Hello mia i have a question, I was working for one year using the orientation visa and then i found a job on October 31 on the day my visa expires so I had to leave Belgium while they process the single work permit application (first time), is that an interruption and they won't take it into account? 

@Unknown fan

It depends on several factors:

1.If you removed your registration (deregistered) from your Belgian address, that would automatically lead to an interruption of your residence. If you still have a registered address in Belgium, proceed to point 2.

2.If you submitted your application for the Single Permit in Belgium, you should have received a document (Attest) confirming the acceptance of your application. This document ensures that there will be no interruption in your official residence.

However, if you submitted your application for the Single Permit from abroad (through the Belgian consulate), unfortunately, your residence will be interrupted. This is because no information about your legal stay is registered in the internal National Register, since your previous visa/permit expired. The register will automatically exclude you from the population register due to "verlies van verblijfsrecht" (loss of residence rights), even if you have a registered address in Belgium.

@Mia0210

Thank you very much for your answer! I indeed had to deregister and will apply from abroad, following the instructions of my employer.

Hi,

I would like to know if family do not stay in Belgium for long time, will residence permit cancel or affected?

Please advise.

@Renu_Ananya

Hi,

You’ve provided very little information, so I can only respond in general terms. The impact on your residence permit depends on several factors, such as:

1. The type of residence permit you hold.
2. The procedure under which it was granted (e.g., family reunification, employment, student status).
3. Whether you maintain an active registered address in Belgium.
4. The length of your absence from Belgium.
5. The country where you stayed during your absence.
6. Whether or not you informed your municipal administration about your absence.

The allowed duration of absence and its impact on your residence permit can vary widely based on these factors. For instance:

Holders of permanent residency typically have more flexibility regarding absences.

Temporary residency holders (e.g., Card A) usually face stricter requirements and may risk losing their permit.

Hi @Mia0210

I am a non-EU citizen and working as an intern at one of the international institutions in Brussels.

My employer (HR team) started the process of getting the Annex 46 while I was in Brussels.  However, while we were waiting for it, I moved into my new place (also the commune had changed) and I do not live there anymore (talking about the first address that I used for Annex 46).

I have a formal lease agreement for  my new address, I received my work permit and also my Annex 49 but I haven’t received my single permit (Annex 46).

Can I register at Schaarbeek (my new address) while still waiting for my single permit?

Thank you so much!!

@kicktheyeg

Hi,

Yes, you can, and you should register at your new address since you are actually living there. This will not affect your current residence permits, requests, or procedures, as moving and obtaining residence permits are separate processes.

However, make sure to inform your employer or the commune that you have moved so that they can update your work permit application with your new address.

Additionally, remember to register at your new address rather than deregistering from your old address. Deregistering without registering at the new place will interrupt your legal stay. Also, be prepared for a police check at your new residence.

Good luck!

@Mia0210

Hi, hope you’re doing well. After reading a lot of comments I thought maybe I can get your help😊

I started to work for a company in Jan 2023 with single permit. Then with mutual agreement the contact ended in July 23. Then I found another job and got another single permit in November 2023.

I want to apply for a permanent residence or citizenship after Jan 2028 but I wonder would that be a problem to change the employer? Does permanent residence or citizenship also requires an uninterrupted work for the same employer until the first renewal of the single permit? Or can I change job as much as I want?

At some countries like Sweden, as I know people cannot change their job until the first renewal of their cards otherwise they start to count from zero even though they are in Sweden for a year for example.

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

Aycan

@Aycan Gunal

You can change jobs as much as you want with different companies. What is important is that your residence remain uninterrupted and there is not much gap (no job) while switching. Only some time of Administrative processing is allowed.