Working in Belgium from Brazil: Visa, Permit, Costs (2026)

How moving from Brazil to Belgium actually works

Moving from Brazil to Belgium for trade or manual work is possible, but you must understand the rules before spending money. Belgium does not allow you to enter as a tourist and look for a job on the spot. You need a confirmed job offer from a registered Belgian employer before you can apply for a work permit or visa. If you do not have a contract, you cannot get a work visa.

Belgium is a strict target for non-EU manual workers because employers must first prove they could not find a Belgian or EU citizen for the position. If you want a simpler pathway with shared language and easier legal immigration, countries like Portugal or Spain are often much more accessible for Brazilian citizens. However, if a Belgian company is willing to sponsor you because of specific skills, there is a clear, official route you can follow.

The legal route: The Belgian Single Permit

For most non-EU trade workers, the correct path is the Belgian Single Permit. In local languages, it is called the Gecombineerde vergunning in Dutch or the Permis Unique in French. This single authorization combines both your permission to work and your right to live in Belgium. It is not an EU Blue Card, which is reserved for university-educated specialists with very high salaries.

The application order is essential to understand:

• Step 1: Employer files in Belgium - Your Belgian employer must submit the application first to the regional employment authority where the job is located (VDAB in Flanders, Forem in Wallonia, or Actiris in Brussels). You cannot start this step yourself from Brazil.
• Step 2: Regional approval - The Belgian regional authority checks if the job qualifies under local shortage lists or special skill exemptions.
• Step 3: Visa application in Brazil - Once the Single Permit approval is issued in Belgium, you apply for a long-stay national visa (Type D visa) in Brazil to enter the country legally.

Processing times for the Single Permit approval and visa usually take approximately 2 to 4 months from the day your employer submits the full file in Belgium.

Where to apply and required documents in Brazil

You apply for your Type D visa in Brazil after your employer receives the regional permit approval. You will submit your application at the Belgian Consulate General in São Paulo, the Belgian Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro, or the Belgian Embassy in Brasília, depending on which state you live in. In some regions, application intake is managed through authorized visa processing centres like VFS Global.

You must gather a set of personal and professional documents in Brazil. Every official Brazilian document must be legalized with a Hague Apostille (Apostila de Haia) at a local registry office (Cartório) and translated by a sworn translator (Tradutor Juramentado) into Dutch, French, or English depending on where your workplace is located.

Your application file will require:

• Valid passport - Must have at least 12 months of validity remaining and two blank pages.
• Signed employment contract - Provided directly by your Belgian employer.
• Single Permit approval document - Sent to you by your employer once approved in Belgium.
• Brazilian police clearance - The Certidão de Antecedentes Criminais issued by the Polícia Federal, apostilled and sworn translated.
• Medical certificate - Issued by a doctor recognized by the Belgian diplomatic mission in Brazil, confirming you carry no dangerous public health conditions.
• Proof of qualifications - Work records (Carteira de Trabalho), diplomas, or certificates showing your skill in your trade.
• Biometrics - Fingerprints and photo taken in person at the consulate or visa centre.

Official fees and worker costs in Brazil

There are two types of costs: official fees set by the Belgian state, and personal preparation costs you pay in Brazil. In Belgium and across the EU, employers must cover recruitment fees. It is illegal for any employer or employment agency to charge you money for giving you a job. Watch out for scammers in Brazil who ask for payment to give you a contract or interview.

Official Belgian government fees vary based on region and age, but you can expect approximately:

• Belgian administrative fee (Retribution) - Approximately €126 to €220 (about R$ 700 to R$ 1,200) paid online directly to the Belgian migration office before filing.
• Type D visa application fee - Approximately €180 (about R$ 1,000) paid at the consulate or visa centre in Brazil.

Your out-of-pocket costs on the Brazil side will vary depending on your location and requirements, but typical ranges include:

• Hague Apostilles - Approximately R$ 60 to R$ 120 (€10 to €20) per document at a cartório.
• Sworn translations - Approximately R$ 150 to R$ 350 (€25 to €60) per page.
• Medical examination - Approximately R$ 400 to R$ 800 (€65 to €130) depending on the approved clinic.
• Flight ticket to Belgium - Approximately R$ 4,000 to R$ 7,500 (€650 to €1,200) for a one-way economy flight.

Trades that Belgian employers hire foreign workers for

While general un-skilled work rarely receives visa approval, Belgian companies actively seek international trade workers in sectors facing severe local labor shortages:

• Industrial welders and metal fabricators - Port cities and industrial zones like Antwerp and Ghent frequently look for certified welders who can read technical blueprints.
• Heavy equipment and truck drivers - Logistics companies hire experienced C/CE drivers, though you must convert your Brazilian license to a Belgian driver license after arrival.
• Specialized construction workers - Electricians, pipefitters, and specialized installers are hired across Flemish and Walloon regions for commercial building projects.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can enter Belgium on a tourist visa and start working legally.
  Fact: Working on a tourist status or visa waiver is illegal. You must hold an approved Single Permit and a Type D visa before you start any job.
• Myth: You can pay an agency in Brazil to secure a Belgian work permit for you.
  Fact: Work permits are issued directly by Belgian regional authorities based on a real job offer. Paying a recruiter for a job offer is illegal in Europe and a clear sign of a scam.
• Myth: Speaking Portuguese is enough to work in Belgium.
  Fact: You will need functional knowledge of Dutch (in Flanders), French (in Wallonia), or English on industrial job sites to understand safety rules.
• Myth: Your Belgian work permit allows you to work anywhere in Europe.
  Fact: The Belgian Single Permit only gives you the right to live and work for your specific approved employer inside Belgium.

Before you sign

Before you commit to moving or signing any document, go through this safety checklist:

• Check your job contract - Ensure the salary, working hours, and job title match what you discussed, and that the workplace location is clearly listed in Belgium.
• Confirm the regional authority - Ask your employer whether they filed your permit with VDAB (Flanders), Forem (Wallonia), or Actiris (Brussels).
• Prepare your cartório documents early - Request your Polícia Federal clearance and get your Hague Apostilles ready, as cartório processing can take time.
• Verify medical details - Make sure your medical check is done only by a clinic officially recognized by the Belgian embassy or consulate.
• Never pay for your job offer - If anyone asks for a recruitment fee, processing deposit, or job deposit, stop communicating immediately.

Build your Workuro profile

If you want European employers to find you, make sure your profile highlights the exact details that matter. List your trade skills, your experience level, the languages you speak, and confirm that your Brazilian passport is valid and ready. Having your trade certificates and police records organized makes it much easier when a Belgian employer wants to start your Single Permit application.

Workuro is free for workers - employers pay to search the register, and nobody may charge you for a job.