Long term mobility

 

Third-country nationals, who have obtained an authorization for researcher in another member state, can work on part of the research project in Belgium. If the mobility in Belgium is for over 180 days, the mobility will be called a “long-term mobility”. In this case, the researcher will need an authorization for long-term mobility for researchers. A researchers who wants to come to Belgium for long-term mobility has also to be linked with a hosting agreement to a research organization recognized in Belgium.

In order to carry out a research activity in Belgium, the third country national will need an authorisation for researcher delivered by the first member state as well as an authorization for long-term mobility for researchers.

This authorisation for long-term mobility for researchers should be applied for by the recognized research organization at the competent regional government through the single permit platform.

The application must be submitted 30 days before the start of the long-term mobility. If the application for long-term mobility is submitted following short-term mobility, the application must be submitted 30 days before the end of the short-term mobility.

Submission of an application for an authorisation for long-term mobility for researchers (single application procedure)

The application procedure for an authorisation for long-term mobility for researchers is a "single application procedure", where the authorisation includes both the authorisation to stay (“residence” component) and the authorisation to work (“work” component).

The recognized research organisation applies for this authorisation for long-term mobility for researchers to the competent regional authority through the single application platform.

Supporting documents relating to residence and work must be submitted at the same time. The research organisation shall attach the following documents relating to the stay to the application:

  • Proof of the authorization for researcher delivered by the first member state;
  • proof of payment of fee;
  • a copy of the valid passport or a copy of an equivalent travel document;
  • the hosting agreement, concluded with a research organization recognized in Belgium;
  • sufficient resources to cover subsistence costs without having recourse to the Belgian social assistance system, and return travel costs to the first member state;
  • a medical certificate proving that he does not suffer from any of the diseases listed in the Annex to the Act of 15 December 1980 ;
  • if the researcher is over eighteen years of age, an extract from the criminal record or an equivalent document, and where appropriate its legalised translation, issued by the country of origin or the country of his/her last residence, which is not older than six months and confirms that the researcher has not been convicted of crimes or misdemeanours of common law;

These documents should at least reflect the following information:

  • Belgian diplomatic or consular post where the visa will be applied for;
  • Personal e-mail address of the researcher and e-mail adess of the research organization

If the documents are in a language other than German, English, French or Dutch, the documents submitted must be accompanied by a legalised translation into one of these four languages.

Examination period

If all the documents are attached to the application, the regional authorities responsible for employment  will examine if the application is admissible. The regional authority and the Immigration Office have 60 days to take a decision once the application is found to be admissible.

However, if not all the required documents are attached to the application, the applicant will be asked to supplement the file with the missing or additional documents within 15 days. The examination period will be suspended during this additional period.

Attention: The long-term mobility can already start before a decision has been taken but must be submitted at least 30 days before it starts. It is also possible to switch from short-term mobility to long-term mobility, this must be done at least 30 days before the end of the short-term mobility.

Provisional residence document (annex 49)

After arriving in Belgium, the researcher has to go to the commune of the place of residence as soon as possible, and at the latest within 8 working days, for the registration in the foreigners' register.

The commune will send a district agent to check if the researcher is staying at the specified place of residence. If this check is positive, the researcher will receive an authorisation for long-term mobility for researchers on submitting the positive decision received (annexe 46).

However, since it takes some time to create the electronic card of this authorisation (a so-called A card), the municipality will issue a provisional residence document (a so-called "Annex 49").

The provisional residence document (Annex 49) is valid for 45 days and can be extended by the same duration each time until the authorisation for long-term mobility for researchers is issued.

Note: It is recommended to take into account the possible waiting period to obtain an appointment at the municipal administration.

Right of residence as a researcher

The authorisation for long-term mobility for researchers (A-card) contains both an authorisation to stay and an authorisation to work. The granted duration of authorisation to stay is equal to the granted duration of authorisation to work by the regional authority competent for employment. Please note that this permit cannot be renewed, making it very important to estimate the duration of the project to be carried out in Belgium well in advance.

The authorization cannot be renewed.

The research project comes to an end

If the hosting agreement comes to an end, the researcher can apply for an orientation year in Belgium in order to seek employment or to start a business.

Switching from the status of “researcher” to a single permit or to a permit for researcher

If the researcher wants to be employed in Belgium by another employer and not as a researcher, they must apply for a single permit. If the research organization wants the researcher to continue employing the researcher after the research project, the research organization must submit an application for a permit for researcher.