How to Hire Truck Drivers from Abroad in Belgium (2026)

7 min

The shortage in Belgium and what non-EU recruitment actually involves

If you run a fleet in logistics hubs around Antwerp, Ghent, Liege, or Genk, you already know the scale of the driver shortage. The Belgian transport sector faces thousands of unfilled heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver positions every year. Local training pipelines are not keeping up with retirements, and cross-border recruitment from neighboring EU countries has hit a saturation point. Looking outside the EU is a viable option, but it is not a quick fix.

Hiring a heavy vehicle driver from outside the EU into Belgium involves strict legal requirements. You cannot simply put an experienced candidate straight into a truck upon arrival. Drivers must obtain a Belgian Single Permit (work and residence authorization), possess a recognized category C or CE driving license, and secure a valid European Union Certificate of Professional Competence (Code 95). Many non-EU driving licenses cannot be automatically swapped for a Belgian equivalent without a practical test, and Code 95 qualifications obtained outside the EU are generally not recognized in Belgium.

Because of these qualification hurdles, hiring from abroad works best for Belgian transport companies that plan six to nine months ahead and are prepared to support candidates through local driving test modules and Code 95 certification upon arrival. If you need a driver behind the wheel next week, recruiting from outside the EU will not solve your immediate problem.

The legal route: Single Permit and license recognition in Belgium

In Belgium, economic migration for non-EU workers is a regionalized procedure managed through the Single Permit system (Enkele Machtiging / Permis Unique). The administrative responsibility is split between regional employment agencies and federal immigration services.

Regional authorities: You must submit the permit application to the economic migration office in the region where your company is registered. In Flanders, this is the Departement Werk en Sociale Economie. In Wallonia, it is the SPW Emploi, Formation et Recherche. In Brussels, it is Bruxelles Economie et Emploi.
Federal authority: Once the regional authority approves the employment conditions, the file moves to the Federal Public Service (FPS) Interior Immigration Office (Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken / Office des Etrangers), which handles the residency check and issues the final decision.
Labour market test: HGV drivers (category C/CE) are officially listed as a shortage occupation (knelpuntberoep / metier en pénurie) in Flanders and Wallonia. This listing simplifies the labour market test, meaning regional authorities acknowledge that local candidates are unavailable, provided your application meets all salary and contract thresholds.
Driving license exchange: Foreign driving licenses are regulated by the FPS Mobility and Transport (FOD Mobiliteit en Vervoer / SPF Mobilite et Transports). Belgium holds bilateral agreements with certain non-EU countries allowing direct license exchange. If your candidate holds a license from a non-recognized country, they must pass a local theoretical and practical exam at an accredited Belgian test center before they can drive commercially.
Code 95 qualification: Drivers must hold a valid EU CPC (Code 95). Candidates from outside the EU usually must complete a mandatory initial qualification course (35 hours of periodic training or full examination, depending on background) in Belgium or another EU member state before operating commercially. Always confirm current qualification equivalence rules with the FPS Mobility and Transport prior to making an offer.

Realistic timeline: From job offer to first route

Recruiting a non-EU driver to Belgium requires careful scheduling. Expect the full timeline to range between 4 and 9 months from the moment you sign a employment contract to the worker's first solo route.

Contract signing and document prep (1 to 2 months): Collecting apostilled police checks, medical certificates, foreign driver documentation, and translating official records into Dutch or French.
Single Permit processing (3 to 4 months): Regional employment review takes 4 to 8 weeks, followed by federal immigration checks taking another 4 to 8 weeks. Regional backlogs can extend this period.
Visa issuing and arrival (2 to 4 weeks): Once the Single Permit document (Annex 46) is issued, the candidate presents it to the Belgian embassy in their home country to receive a Type D visa and travel to Belgium.
Local registration and Code 95 completion (1 to 2 months): Upon arrival, the driver registers at the local municipality (gemeentehuis / maison communale) to receive their Belgian residence card (A-card). During this time, they complete any required Code 95 coursework or take the local driving exam through an approved test center.

Mandatory pay, Joint Committee 140.03, and working conditions

Pay rates and employment conditions for drivers in Belgium are legally governed by sector-specific collective bargaining agreements. As an employer, you must comply strictly with the rules established by Joint Committee 140.03 (Paritair Comité 140.03 / Commission Paritaire 140.03) for Road Transport and Logistics for Third Parties.

Base wage rates: Under PC 140.03, HGV drivers are categorized by vehicle type and task complexity. Base gross hourly wages generally range between 14.50 EUR and 16.50 EUR per hour (2025/2026 baseline rates, subject to mandatory indexation). This translates to a minimum gross base pay of roughly 2,500 EUR to 2,900 EUR per month for standard 38-hour work weeks.
Allowances and premiums: Truck drivers in Belgium receive additional statutory compensation. This includes night premiums, weekend bonuses, overtime rates, and the mandatory ARAB expense allowance (an index-linked net daily reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred on the road, typically around 1.50 EUR to 2.00 EUR per hour worked). With realistic overtime and allowances, gross monthly driver compensation often reaches 3,200 EUR to 4,000 EUR.
Working hours and rest periods: Drivers are strictly subject to European driving time regulations (Regulation EC 561/2006). Tacho data is closely audited by the Belgian Labour Inspection (Sociale Inspectie / Controle des lois sociales). Direct non-compliance leads to severe legal penalties.
Housing obligations: Belgian labor regulations require that foreign workers recruited on a Single Permit have access to decent, suitable accommodation. While you are not legally required to pay for the driver's rent permanently, you must ensure housing is secured prior to arrival. Most employers arrange initial transitional accommodation (such as a furnished apartment or temporary studio) for the first 1 to 3 months, deducting standard rent from salary only if explicitly agreed in writing within legal limits.

What this costs you, roughly

Hiring a non-EU driver involves direct administrative costs, legal fees, and operational expenses during their integration period. Below is a realistic breakdown of costs per driver:

Belgian administrative fees: 150 EUR to 360 EUR (regional application fee plus federal administrative fee).
Visa and document legalization: 200 EUR to 500 EUR (diplomatic fees, official translations, and apostilles paid in the candidate's home country).
Code 95 training and driver testing: 1,200 EUR to 3,000 EUR (costs for local Belgian driver training, theory, practical exam, and Code 95 registration fees).
Travel costs: 300 EUR to 800 EUR (one-way flight or travel arrangements to Belgium).
Transitional housing support: 800 EUR to 2,000 EUR (covering initial setup, security deposit, or short-term rent subsidies for the first month or two).
Relocation / integration assistance: 500 EUR to 1,500 EUR (optional third-party agency assistance for municipal registration, banking setup, and tax number filing).

Protecting candidates and your business from recruitment fraud

Legitimate recruitment in Europe operates under a strict legal principle: the employer pays for recruitment, never the worker. Belgian social security legislation and international labor standards prohibit charging jobseekers fees for placement or permit processing.

If a candidate reports that an agency, recruiter, or intermediary asked them for money to secure a job offer at your firm, that intermediary is committing fraud. Candidates who are charged illegal fees often arrive financially stressed, indebted, or under fraudulent paperwork, exposing your company to severe legal liability from the Belgian Labour Inspection. You should conduct direct interviews with candidates, clearly communicate that your company covers all legal application costs, and ensure no third party is collecting money from applicants on your behalf.

How to search the Workuro registry for truck drivers

Workuro operates a direct registry of international workers who want to relocate and work legally in Europe. It is not a recruitment agency, does not charge per-hire fees, and takes no commission from employment contracts.

To find potential truck drivers for your Belgian operations, you can browse worker profiles directly on the platform. You can filter candidates based on their current location, driving license categories (such as C or CE), language skills, and willingness to relocate to Belgium. When you identify suitable candidates, you contact them directly through the platform to arrange interviews, evaluate their experience, and manage your own hiring process.

Please note that the Workuro registry is young and still growing. You will not find tens of thousands of instantly available non-EU drivers on the platform today. What you will find is a direct, transparent channel to connect with motivated workers who are actively seeking job opportunities in Belgium, allowing you to run your own legal recruitment pipeline without agency markups.