IT Specialists Now Exempt from Immigration Salary Thresholds for Short-Term Permits
July 25, 2014
Belgian labor and migration officials recently confirmed to Fragomen that foreign IT specialists are eligible for B Work Permits for Specialized Technicians. These permits are used by foreign entities to send employees to Belgium for up to six months to install or repair machinery or equipment produced, supplied or designed by the entity abroad. Officials also clarified that the permits can be used to install or repair software in addition to machinery and equipment.
B Work Permits for Specialized Technicians are exempt from the annual immigration salary threshold of €39,422 that applies to standard work permits used by other highly skilled foreign nationals. They are, however, subject to the minimum salary requirements for the IT sector, which amounts to half of the general salary threshold. The permits are also exempt from standard work permit educational or labor market test requirements.
What This Means for Employers
Expanding eligibility for B Work Permits for Specialized Technicians to IT specialists provides cost savings to employers sending these workers to Belgium for short-term technical work, as the general minimum salary for the IT sector is half of the standard immigration threshold of €39,422 per year.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email [email protected].
© 2009 - 2015 © Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
B Work Permits for Specialized Technicians are exempt from the annual immigration salary threshold of €39,422 that applies to standard work permits used by other highly skilled foreign nationals. They are, however, subject to the minimum salary requirements for the IT sector, which amounts to half of the general salary threshold. The permits are also exempt from standard work permit educational or labor market test requirements.
What This Means for Employers
Expanding eligibility for B Work Permits for Specialized Technicians to IT specialists provides cost savings to employers sending these workers to Belgium for short-term technical work, as the general minimum salary for the IT sector is half of the standard immigration threshold of €39,422 per year.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email [email protected].
© 2009 - 2015 © Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

