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

The Single Permit route for Kenyan nationals

If you are a Kenyan worker with experience in a skilled trade like welding, driving, construction, or machinery operation, moving to Belgium requires a clear understanding of Belgian immigration law. Belgium is generally a more strict destination than countries like Poland or Croatia. It does not offer general open work quotas or entry-level visas for un-sponsored foreign workers. However, a legal path exists for skilled trades through Belgium's regional shortage occupation lists.

The official visa and work authorization route for Kenyan citizens moving to Belgium for long-term work is the Single Permit (known as Enkele vergunning in Dutch or Permis unique in French). This document combines your work permit and your residence authorization into a single decision.

• Who applies first: Your Belgian employer must initiate the application in Belgium. They submit the file to the regional employment agency where the job is located (VDAB in Flanders, Forem in Wallonia, or Actiris in Brussels). You cannot apply for the work permit yourself from Nairobi.
• Shortage occupation list: To hire you from outside the EU, the employer must prove that the trade is on the official shortage list or that no suitable local candidate was found.
• National D Visa: Once the regional authority approves the work authorization, the Belgian migration office issues a official clearance. Only then do you apply for your long-stay national visa (Type D) in Kenya.

Where to apply and document requirements

Once your Belgian employer receives authorization from the government, you must submit your visa application in Kenya. You will do this in Nairobi through the official visa application centre contracted by the Belgian government, TLScontact Nairobi.

You must attend your appointment in person to present your file, pay local processing fees, and record your biometrics (fingerprints and facial photo). Never send your passport or money to unverified agents claiming to process visas outside this official channel.

To prepare a strong application, you need specific documents from Kenya, many of which require official attestation before the embassy will accept them:

• Signed employment contract: A binding offer from your Belgian employer detailing your position, working hours, and salary.
• Valid passport: A Kenyan passport valid for at least 12 months with at least two blank pages.
• Police clearance certificate: A Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nairobi. This document must be recent (usually under six months old).
• Medical certificate: A specialized health form completed by a medical doctor approved by the Belgian Embassy in Nairobi.
• Trade qualifications: Verified trade test certificates, diplomas, or official letters of work experience showing you are qualified for the specific job.
• Document legalisation and apostille: Official Kenyan public documents, including your DCI police certificate and academic or trade credentials, must be legalised or apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi before your visa submission.

Costs, fees, and processing times

Moving legally to Belgium involves fees set by the government as well as preparation costs in Kenya. It is important to separate official visa fees from your local outlay.

Official administrative fees are controlled by Belgian authorities:

• Single Permit administrative fee: Set by Belgium, this regional fee ranges approximately from 150 EUR to 350 EUR and is typically paid directly during the initial application process in Belgium.
• Type D Visa fee: Paid at the visa centre in Nairobi, approximately 180 EUR.
• Processing time: The full timeline from employer filing to visa approval ranges approximately from 2 to 4 months.

On the Kenya side, you must budget for personal document preparation costs:

• DCI Police Clearance: Approximately 1,050 KES (around 8 EUR).
• Ministry Legalisation or Apostille: Approximately 1,000 to 3,000 KES per document (around 8 to 25 EUR).
• Approved medical exam: Approximately 10,000 to 22,000 KES (around 75 to 160 EUR), depending on the panel clinic in Nairobi.
• Visa centre service fee: Approximately 4,000 to 6,000 KES (around 30 to 45 EUR) paid to the submission centre.
• Flight from Nairobi to Brussels: Approximately 70,000 to 130,000 KES (around 500 to 950 EUR), depending on season and airline.

Under Belgian and European Union rules, recruitment agencies and employers cannot legally charge workers a fee for securing a job or placing them with a company. The costs of recruitment belong to the employer. Be extremely cautious of agencies in Nairobi or online demanding thousands of Euros as a processing fee or job deposit. These are common scams targeting Kenyan jobseekers.

Trades currently hiring in Belgium

Belgium actively recruits qualified foreign talent for essential technical roles where local labour supply is insufficient:

• Heavy vehicle drivers: Logistics companies across Flanders and Wallonia frequently seek certified long-distance truck drivers holding valid international driving credentials.
• Industrial welders: Specialized fabrication shops and shipyards in port areas hire certified welders who pass strict practical testing.
• Construction technicians: Experienced industrial electricians and pipefitters are consistently listed on regional shortage registries.

Myths vs facts

• Myth: You can fly to Brussels on a visitor visa and start working legally while you look for a job.
  Fact: Working on a tourist visa is strictly illegal in Belgium. You must obtain an approved Single Permit before you travel.
• Myth: An agent in Nairobi can issue you a Belgian work permit directly for a fee.
  Fact: Only the Belgian regional governments can issue work authorizations, and the application must come directly from a registered employer in Belgium.
• Myth: You must speak fluent Dutch or French before you can ever get a job offer.
  Fact: While basic local language skills help greatly, many technical trade roles in logistics, industrial welding, and construction accept functional English if you hold strong practical skills.
• Myth: You have to pay your employer back for the cost of your work permit application.
  Fact: Belgian regulations prohibit employers from charging candidates for work authorization expenses or placement fees.

Before you sign

Before agreeing to an offer or sending any personal documents, run through this protective checklist:

• Verify company details: Ensure the hiring company is a legally registered business in Belgium with a valid enterprise number (KBO/BCE number).
• Confirm the permit path: Check that the employer is officially filing for the Single Permit with VDAB, Forem, or Actiris.
• Review salary terms: Confirm that the contract meets Belgian statutory minimum wage levels for your specific sector and skill grade.
• Complete document legalisation: Get your DCI police record and technical diplomas stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi ahead of time.
• Keep official records: Keep copies of all signed agreements, medical certificates, and official correspondence with the visa centre.

Create your Workuro profile today

If you are ready to explore legal opportunities in Europe, present your trade skills clearly. Make sure your profile details your specific practical experience, valid licenses, language capabilities in English, French, or Dutch, and whether your Kenyan documents are legalised and ready for processing.

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