Changing Employer - Permit Processing Time - 2023

Hi Amoral,

I  am in the same situation. Please do share updates.

What do you mean by mutual agreement between your current and future employer ? Was there à communication between both of them ? Or do do you mean between you and both employers separatly ?

Thank you

Hello,

It is the second time I changed employer.

First one for Brussels, second for Flanders.

The one in Brussels took 2 weeks to receive the Work Authorization and another week to receive the Resident Permit.

The one for Flanders is already taking 8 weeks, and nothing yet. I still didn't receive my Work Authorization and only god knows when I will receive it.

So, I suggest you to consider these period to save money or enjoy a little bit of holiday, as it may take several weeks.

Quick update:

I just received my WP.

It took exactly 8 weeks!

From 27/04 to 22/06.

Congratulations

Happy for you

When you say Brussel / Flanders is it related to your residence or to your the location of your employer ?

Thank you

@gafarvictoir they are according to the company's location.

They have different processing time.

Wallonia is the faster due to less applications. My friend applied and got his Work Authorization in less than 1 week.

Then comes Brussels, I believe the line is around 2-3 weeks now.

And then Flanders, which the line is around 8-10 weeks now.

So take these processing times to plan your change.

@nabazuki  it should be a miracle, congratulations. Mentioned date 27.04.23 was for application date or  when status was admissible.

Because I have applied at 10.03.23 and was admissible at 02.05.23.

Since then no news. 3,5 months 🙄 is not normal...

@maharaji1984 hi,

I received the admissal and the work permit in the same day (22/06).

Are you changing your employer? Are you currently living in Belgium?

I might be good to call them to check.

You can also check in the government's website.

I was following there, refreshing the page every hour for 2 months.

Yes for both questions. And I do everyday. Their standar reply is :

The treatment period can take around +/- 10 to 12 weeks through our services (French files 12 to 14 weeks). This counts from the date of the region's decision. Our handlers do everything in their power to keep this treatment period as short as possible

@nabazuki Thank you very much for your reply and for sharing.

If both of your expérience, did the administration inform your employer at the time of application that another company was applying for a work permit for you.

If they do inform, it is better to discuss this with my manager.

If they don't, I will until approval.

What is your experience and advice on this.

Thank you very much

@gafarvictoir Hi,

One of the steps to get another Single Permit is to provide the Resignation Letter, because the government needs to know when you left (or will leave) your previous job.

You can apply to a new Single Permit while you are still working, however you must give the Resignation Letter to your current employer to sign.

@nabazuki  Thanks for your response. Very helpful.

I have a question.

Do you know, if there is, for example, a month gap without salary (between previous and new employment) will that have an impact on unlimited WP and citizenship application?

Thanks

@nabazuki hello

was it 8 weeks for the WP only? Or for the single permit in total?

also, when you change employer and receive a new single permit, do you keep the same residency card as long as its valid or do you need to get a new one from the city hall?

@gafarvictoir hi, not sure about it.

As I know, you need to complete 365+- working days during 5 years. It doesn't matter if you didn't work during some months. Since you are paying taxes, government is happy to have you here.

But again, I am not sure about it.

@Ralph Bou ghanem hi,

Only WP. I think SP will take another 10 weeks.

You can keep your SP (if valid) while you are waiting for the new Resident Card.

Here the answer from my consultancy: "Note that you are allowed to start working for XXX with the employment approval since your current ID card is still valid until DD MM 2025.

The processing time to receive the second approval (i.e. annex 46) from the Belgian Immigration office is approximately 10 weeks. Upon receipt of this second approval you can proceed with a new SP ID card via the town hall."

And yes, you will get another ID Card plus 3 years of expiration. You will need to do the same process, but police doesn't need to do the visit.

Hello

I hope you are all doing well.

I was hired by a company, and they assisted me to get my Visa D ( single permit).

But after i got my visa. The company sent me a mail indicating that they will prospone my arrival to belgium to next year because of vacancy shortage

My question is : in my situation, if i find another company we can use my current visa ( come to belgium with my current visa and just get a new work permit ) or should we repeat the whole process (6 months) to get a new visa and come to belgium

Thank you a lot for support

@nabazuki

Hi,

I have read through your replies and I have few questions:

1) I am changing the employer and I have a valid RP till 2026. I understand from your replies that we can start working for the new company once we get the Work Authorization from Bruxelles Économie et Emploi.

But, there is a discussion in another forum where a person is quoting that has was asked to wait for the RP approval (Annex 46) and not only work authorization. (Attached the link for reference)

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 57#5486606

What is your view on this? Is there any official page to be referred?

2) On considering the single permit processing time, my new employer has given the contract with the future date in November mentioning 'as the latest' and informed me that if the approval is quick, I can start working early.

In this situation, if I have to give the resignation now (1 month notice) then I would be having max. of 3 months gap to join the new employer.

Is it mandatory to give the resignation immediately or shall I wait till some progress happens with the SP application?

Kindly advice

Hi,

Is there anyone who has an current experience with the changing employer situation?

Are we allowed to start working once the work permit is granted, or do we have to wait for the RP? Any recent experiences are highly appreciated.

@SSKK yes in general once the work permit is approved, if your residency permit is still valid you can start working with the new employer.

That was at least the case for me late last year

Wouldn’t harm anyway to send an email to the region where your new SP is submitted just to be 100

@RSSS

Great, thank you. I have a valid residency permit until June 2026. Initially, I thought that my residency permit was linked to my employer, leading me to assume that I would need to wait for a new residency permit to be issued before I could commence work again.

If only the work permit was enough for you to start working for the new employer, I believe it would be the same in my situation as well.  Thanks again.

@SSKK Yes that was case for me. You can start working but of course you will need a positive decision for the residency for you to be able to ask for your new residency permit and take your new card from the city hall

My student visa application has been sent to the Immigration since 9th August and whenever I track it online I don't get any info. How do I know that it's being processed. The embassy in Hanoi kept it for 3 weeks before informing that they have transferred to Immigration due to some reason.

@AppuBala

Did you find the answer to your questions?

@aromal235 Hi, your new employer applied for your new work permit before your resignation (after you gave the resignation letter) or after you left you old employer ?

@RSSS

Did they ask you to provide a resignation or termination letter for the new permit application process?

Hello,

I am changing my employer in Wallonia, here is the processing time;

Application date: 05/09/2024

Admissible: 11/09/2024

WP: 25/09/2024

Now, I am waiting for the Annexe 46.

Good luck everyone

PS: they did not ask for any resignation letter or they did not let my old employer know the new application.

@uygurdamla5 are you changing the employer within the same region ?

@uygurdamla5 and When is your start date of employment with your new employer?

@arunpecchem2489 Yes, they are in the same region.

Normally it's on the 4th of November.

In Wallonie, the single permit takes 2 months generally.

@uygurdamla5 can you conform from your permit application , if the new employer mentioned the start date in the application ?

@arunpecchem2489 it has to be a start date on the work contract to have the new permit starting from that date. Apart from that they did not mention.

@uygurdamla5 Thanks . My timeline is

no reply : 24 sep

Admissble : 25 sep and no change till date . Just wondering when will i receive . My start is 4th Nov

@arunpecchem2489 even if you have it after the 4th of November, you can start working anytime on your work permit period.

Hello,

Update!!!

I am changing my employer in Wallonia, here is the processing time;

Application date: 05/09/2024

Admissible: 11/09/2024

WP: 25/09/2024

SP: 17/10/2024

Good Luck 😀