海角乱伦

@TJ_Bel , Hello, I鈥檓 in the same situation as you !

My company applied for the single permit for me in May, there were some documents missing. And we provided the documents on June. The same day right after providing the documents, the work permit got approved (very fast). But the residency is taking longer. I鈥檝e also contacted them and they told me that they are waiting for some informations from an external governmental organization. I wonder which external governmental organization it is and why it takes so long to get the infos they are looking for.

Right now I have the search year residency card. I鈥檓 here since October 2017. I鈥檝e first done a bachlor, after that I鈥檝e done a bridging year for the master. And after that I鈥檝e done my master.

First-time application.
Region: Flanders
Applied on: Jun 27
WP: Waiting
RP: Waiting

The portal indicates that the application is "Newly submitted." Does anyone have an idea how long it takes to get the first approval in Flanders these days? - @teaenjoyer27

Update

Region requested extra documents: 26/08/2025

Work Permit: 30/09/2025

Residence Permit: Waiting

I hope they process the RP a bit faster given that it took so long for the WP but lets see.

@TJ_Bel

I have been (and still am 馃槄) in the same situation as you. Based on the advice I received from my own municipality, I renewed my student card.

Here is the information I gathered:

1 - You can reside in Belgium while your file is being processed by the Immigration Office. However, if the decision is negative and, at the time the decision is handed to you, you do not have a valid residence permit, you would need to leave the country. Therefore, it is wise to have a backup residence application. (Source: municipality employee)

2 - For students, it is mandatory to submit your request 15 days before the expiration of your card. If you do not have all the documents at that time, you can legally ask for a 15-day extension period (Annex 33ter) to complete your file. At any time during this 15-day period, you can submit the remaining documents and complete your request without facing any problems. (This way, you can buy yourself two more weeks for your single permit results.) (Source: IBZ renewal process procedure and my own personal experience.)

3 - It is completely fine to have two simultaneous residence permit applications. (Source: phone conversation with IBZ)

My final suggestion: Get your student renewal documents ready in advance. Fifteen (or 16 to be safe) days before the expiration of your card, go to the municipality and submit all the documents except one (e.g., Annex 1 and 2 / Proof of solvency), and ask for a 15-day extension period to provide the remaining documents. If you receive no news regarding the single permit during that period, submit the missing documents and initiate your student residence permit process.

I hope you receive your single permit before having to go through all this administrative work! Best of luck!

@vt_bh

Thanks a lot. Really helpful ...

Guys, please help鈥硷笍鉂�

I鈥檓 in Belgium on an orientation year residency with a pending single permit application. I got the work approval 3 months ago, but the IBZ approval is still pending.

My card expires in 10 days. I booked an appointment with the commune, thinking I could get some kind of annex to prove I鈥檓 legally staying. But today they told me they cannot issue ANYTHING because I don鈥檛 have Annex 46 yet.

I鈥檓 worried, my card expires soon, and they鈥檙e saying I have to wait without any proof of legal stay. Is this normal? What can I do? 鉂�

@Eline Paul

The commune is legally bound to give you Annex49 as a temporary (45 days) extension while you are waiting for the decision.. But that will be issued on the day of expiration of card. Take your workpermit to the commune as a proof with all neccessary document聽 and ask them to give you Annex 49

The municipal administration gives the worker聽 which covers their temporary stay for 45 days, pending the outcome of the residence check. The Annex 49 may be extended twice for 45 days (2 X 45 days).

If the residence check is positive, the municipal administration will issue the worker an A card. This residence permit bears a reference to access to the labour market (single permit).

@Eline Paul
The commune is legally bound to give you Annex49 as a temporary (30 days) extension while you are waiting for the decision.. But that will be issued on the day of expiration of card. Take your workpermit to the commune as a proof with all neccessary document and ask them to give you Annex 49 - @TJ_Bel

[link under review]

you can read about it here

At which point the status changes from 鈥減ositive work decision鈥� to 鈥渋n treatment by the office鈥�. It鈥檚 been a little over 12 weeks that I got the work approval and it still shows 鈥減ositive work decision鈥� only. Anyone at a similar situation

@TJ_Bel

Thanks for your reply. From where did you get this information please?

That is what I thought as well, but to my surprise today when I called the commune they said they only issue annex 49 to first time applicants after getting the annex 46. I asked, okay, what can you give me to proof I am staying here legally and waiting for my single permit. She said: 芦 We can鈥檛 give you ANYTHING, you just have to wait 禄. So many questions started raising in my mind like wt鈥�I asked again, 芦 so am I supposed to stay with an expired card and that鈥檚 it 禄 , she said again 芦聽 Yeah, we can鈥檛 issue you with ANYTHING 禄

I am low key freaking out rn, idk what is this鈥�

@Eline Paul

No it is not normal contact directly Brussels. If you have a gap then you will have a issue for your nationality...

@Eline Paul

I quoted from the IBZ website ... you can contact the IBZ and tell them your situation and asked them to give you the solution ... Drop an email today at singlepermit@ibz.fgov.be and infodesk@ibz.be and explain your situation and ask them to give you the way forward.

Or visit your commune directly and speak with them there till they give you a way forward.. You should not just simply wait after the expiry of your card.

I don't know if it is a good idea but also contact [link under review] they might be able to help you in this matter as well if the commune or ibz doesn't respond properly.. They have a legal team that might guide you but I am not sure..

@TJ_Bel

Thanks. I can鈥檛 access the link you posted with the information source it says [link under review]. Can you please tell me how to look it up

@Eline Paul

Hello Eline,

Don't panic, your situation is not normal (as per common sense), but it is common!

The important thing is that your stay in Belgium is legal while you are waiting for the results of your single permit application, and this waiting period will not create a gap in your residence (Source: phone conversation with IBZ and municipality employee).

I had the same question regarding my own situation. The information I鈥檝e gathered so far is as follows:

(Source: Phone conversation with IBZ) Whether or not you are entitled to receive an annex should be indicated in your work authorization letter (If you don't have a copy of your work authorization letter, you can find it at ). From what I鈥檝e gathered, for people residing in Belgium, you will only receive an annex if you are renewing your single permit. Nothing can be issued for first-time applicants residing in Belgium! Borrowing the words of the IBZ helpdesk employee, in this case, you enter a "gray zone"! You are legal, but do not receive any annex in lieu of your residence permit card!

However, the worst-case scenario, though the chances of it happening are slim, is receiving a negative decision, which would result in you having to leave the country. If you have any backup visa options (e.g., a student visa), it's best to have them prepared. Since you are in your search year, I believe the 15-day rule before the expiration date for renewal request submission should not apply to you.

@vt_bh

Thank you very much for your reply.

What I don鈥檛 understand is, if I don鈥檛 receive any annex or document during the waiting period between my current card鈥檚 expiration and the issuance of Annex 46, what should I do with my expiring card?

Should I return it to the commune before or during the day it expires, or should I simply wait until I receive Annex 46 and then go to the commune with my expired orientation year card to request Annex 49 and apply for the single permit ID?

It just feels strange to be left without any valid document proving my legal residency during that 鈥済ray zone.鈥�

@Eline Paul

you can search for " federal ombudsman "