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5 years of continuous stay. Plus, with new changes, you cannot apply for PR as an expat. You should have and be paying social security.

Thanks for Reply. Already have Card B. Its like after that if there exist any condition in which Card B gets invalid. Like if person stay out of Country for more that 1 year, this card gets invalid.

Hello, As per new rule, you should be paying social security during applying the visa card B. But does it also mean you must have paid for all continuoud 5 years of stay ? what about mix of expat+ local contract with paying social security ?

Hello, As per new rule, you should be paying social security during applying the visa card B. But does it also mean you must have paid for all continuoud 5 years of stay ? what about mix of expat+ local contract with paying social security ?

The law is a bit complex and there are multiple cases.

* Before leaving Belgium, you must always go the the commune to announce that you're leaving Belgium for a short/long time but you keep your interest in staying in Belgium (and you'll have to proof it: work, family, house, ...).
You should then receive an annexe 18 (this is extremely important)
* Your B card can't be expired when you come back.
* When you come back in Belgium, you must go to the commune to state that you're back within 15 days. Police check will be done to verify where you live (renting/buying an accommodation, ...).

If you do not respect any of these 3 points, your right to return will be canceled ==> visa needed and you might start nearly from 0 depending on your case and reasons.
At some point, the commune will revoke you from the foreigner register, then immigration will start looking at your case. You don't want that to happened...


You must also keep in mind that if you leave Belgium for at least 5 years or Europe for 1 year, you'll automatically lose your right to stay.
At some point, you'll also lose your right to stay in Belgium if you settle elsewhere in EU.


You can read the following official sources:
2003/109/CE from the EU council and the law of the 15th December 1980 in Belgium.

Hello Friends,
                        If I stayed 3 years as an expat ( paying Social security in home/origin country) and 3 years as an local employee in Belgium( paying social security in Belgium) the I am eligible to apply and get PR?? is there any official website link where the new rule can be found?

thanks, Neel

What about the people who are locally employed but the employer files expat status for tax filing. There is social security contribution.