I want to freelance or start a business in Belgium — what do I need?

If you want to work for yourself rather than be hired by an employer — as a freelancer, company director or entrepreneur — the employee work permits don't apply. You need a professional card. Like work authorisation generally in Belgium, it's regionalised: you apply to Flanders, Wallonia or Brussels-Capital depending on where your activity will be based, and each region assesses your business plan and its usefulness to the local economy. For stays over 90 days you'll typically combine the professional card with a type-D long-stay visa, and you'll need a medical certificate and a recent criminal-record extract. Validity, exact conditions and fees are set regionally, so check the rules for your region.