Professional card for self-employed work in Belgium from Cameroon

Belgium · About 29 weeks with us, as an indication: it depends on your file and on the authorities.

Book an appointment for this visa

The professional card allows a non-EU national to work self-employed in Belgium: trader, manager or active partner of a company, liberal profession.

From Cameroon, you file the application at the Belgian embassy, which forwards it to the competent Region. If the card is granted, you are invited to apply for a D visa. In Belgium, you then collect the card from a business one-stop shop (guichet d'entreprises).

We help you structure your project, prepare the business plan and documents, then follow the file.

Who is it for?

  • Entrepreneur who wants to start or take over a business in Belgium.
  • Manager or active partner of a Belgian company.
  • Self-employed professional in an occupation regulated in Belgium, who must prove access to the profession.

The main conditions

  • Be allowed to stay in Belgium, or become so through the D visa that follows approval.
  • Meet the rules on access to the profession and your tax and social obligations, checked by a business one-stop shop.
  • A project useful to the Region: jobs created, unmet need, export potential, cultural or social interest.
  • A viable project that can provide you with a decent income.
  • A business plan, a CV and proof of experience.
  • The fees set by the authorities (see the official page).

How long does it take?

In Wallonia, processing takes about three months on average, not counting the D visa; each Region has its own rules: check its official website.

The steps

  1. Consultation and business plan

    Documents to prepare

    • Valid passport
    • Business plan
    • Detailed CV
    • Proof of experience

  2. Registering as a trader

    Documents to prepare

    • Proof of business address

  3. Business bank account

    Documents to prepare

    • Bank agreement

  4. Paying in the capital (SRL, SA)

    Documents to prepare

    • Proof of capital deposit
    • Articles of association

  5. Professional card file

    Documents to prepare

    • Application form
    • Crossroads Bank for Enterprises registration
    • Proof of financial means

  6. Filing at the business desk

    Documents to prepare

    • Proof of filing

  7. Review of the file

    Documents to prepare

    • Police certificate

  8. Decision

    Documents to prepare

    • Official notification

  9. Tax registration

    Documents to prepare

    • VAT number

  10. Self-employed residence permit

    Documents to prepare

    • Professional card
    • Health insurance certificate

Fees are discussed at the appointment, depending on your situation.

What we check with you

  • We check that your business plan clearly shows the activity's economic interest for the Region: it is a review criterion.
  • A complete file speeds things up; a missing document leads to requests for more.
  • If your occupation is regulated, a business one-stop shop must complete and sign an annex.
  • The card is granted for a limited period: renewal can be requested up to three months before it expires.

Book an appointment for this visa All visas for Belgium

Frequently asked questions

Who needs a professional card?

Any non-EU national who wants to work self-employed in Belgium, with some exceptions. Nationals of the European Economic Area and Switzerland are exempt, as are some of their family members.

Where do I apply from Cameroon?

At the Belgian embassy, which forwards the file to the competent Region's administration. If you already live in Belgium, you apply through a business one-stop shop.

Who decides?

The Region where you will work: Wallonia, Brussels-Capital, Flanders or the German-speaking Community. Each has its own criteria.

How long does it take?

In Wallonia, about three months on average for a complete file. Add the time for the D visa, which you apply for once the card is granted.

Do I need to set up the company before applying?

Not always. Depending on your status and the Region, some steps (registration, bank account, capital) come before or after approval. We work out the order with you.

How long is the card valid?

For a limited, renewable period. Renewal is requested up to three months before expiry, through your business one-stop shop.