In 2025, Flemish authorities issued around 21.460 work permits to non-EU nationals, up from 18.980 in 2024. Seasonal work saw a particularly strong increase, with 7.228 permits granted. The number of medium-skilled and highly skilled permits remained high. Both first-time applications and renewals contributed to the total, continuing a multi-year upward trend. Workers posted from abroad are not included in these figures, although they also account for substantial numbers.

Following the high number of permits in 2025, the Flemish Government introduced changes from 1 January 2026, reducing the number of occupations eligible for an accelerated admission procedure from 29 to 21. Six occupations were added to the list, including diamond worker, while fourteen were removed, such as truck driver, bus driver, butcher, and baker. The reductions are based on the “concentric circles” principle, which gives priority first to domestic jobseekers, then to EU candidates, and only then to non-EU nationals. The stated objective of the changes is to increase activation of the local labour supply while continuing to address labour shortages in technical and specialised roles.

Stakeholder reactions differ. Employer organisations, including UNIZO and other business groups, have stated that foreign workers remain necessary to fill vacancies in shortage occupations. They argue that stricter rules may worsen labour shortages and limit economic activity. They also note that firms may increasingly rely on short-term posting arrangements, which are less directly regulated. Political actors, such as Vlaams Belang, emphasise the importance of activating domestic labour supply and monitoring migration flows.

For further information, please read this press article from Belga (in English), and another press release in De Standaard (in Dutch).