Asylum seekers can now obtain a C work permit four months after applying for asylum

Since 9 November 2015, an asylum seeker can be granted a C work permit at the earliest four months after applying for asylum. Previously such permit could only be granted at the earliest six months after the application was made.

An asylum seeker, being a person who has submitted an application for asylum with the Immigration Office but for whom no decision has yet been taken on the application, resides legally in Belgium as from the date of his application. Unless the asylum seeker is exempted from having to hold a work permit, he must have such to be able to work in Belgium.

Initially, an asylum seeker could obtain a C work permit at the earliest six months after submitting the asylum application and under the condition that there was no final decision with respect to his application. Taking into account the recent asylum problems, the question of a shortening the waiting period arose. In this way, asylum seekers could more rapidly integrate into the community and also generate their own income.

The six month waiting period was thus cut to four months by a Royal decree of 29 October 2015. The Royal Decree entered into force on 9 November 2015.

> Action point

As from 9 November 2015, an asylum seeker can already obtain a C work permit four months after applying for asylum. The employer must verify whether the asylum seeker disposes of a C work permit prior to the recruitment.