Obtain a Professional Card to Do Business
The essential key for non-EU entrepreneurs
Obtain a Professional Card to Do Business
We are J. Jordens, and the professional card comes up in almost every conversation we have with non-European entrepreneurs. Rather than covering it only within each nationality-specific page, we wanted to dedicate a complete explanation to it, given how recurring the questions about it are.
What exactly is the professional card
The professional card is an administrative authorization that allows a national from outside the European Union or European Economic Area to carry out self-employed activity in Belgium, whether as an individual or through a company they manage. Without this card, self-employed activity carried out by a non-European person is in principle unlawful, regardless of how solid their economic project otherwise is.
Who needs to obtain a professional card
- Any individual from outside the EU/EEA wishing to carry out self-employed activity in Belgium.
- The non-EU director of a Belgian company who exercises an effective management mandate.
- Certain exceptions exist under specific bilateral agreements concluded between Belgium and certain countries.
The eligibility criteria
The administration primarily assesses the economic viability of the project presented, through a file detailing your activity, your professional experience, and often a financial plan similar to the one required for setting up an SRL/BV. Your criminal record and your residence situation in Belgium, where applicable, are also taken into account when reviewing the file.
The file to prepare
A professional card application file generally includes a detailed presentation of your project, your relevant qualifications or experience, a financial forecast, as well as your identity documents and, where applicable, residence documents. The quality of drafting and the overall consistency of the file directly influence the processing time and the success rate of the application.
Duration of validity and renewal
The professional card is issued for a limited period, generally one to five years depending on your situation, and must be renewed before it expires for you to continue legally carrying out your activity. A late or overlooked renewal can interrupt your right to operate, which has direct consequences on the continuity of your company.
What to do in case of refusal
A professional card refusal is not necessarily final: depending on the grounds cited, an appeal can be filed, or a new, stronger file can be submitted after correcting the points that led to the negative decision. We recommend precisely analyzing the grounds for refusal before considering the course of action best suited to your situation.
Our support for this strategic file
Since 1948, our firm has supported entrepreneurs of many nationalities with their professional card applications, alongside the formation of their company. We help you structure a solid, consistent and complete file from the first submission, to maximize your chances of obtaining it as quickly as possible.
The importance of coordinating this process with company formation
The professional card application benefits from being coordinated in time with the formation of your company, so the two files complement each other rather than contradicting each other on the elements presented (activity, financial forecast, legal structure chosen).
An inconsistency between your company file and your professional card file can slow down the review of either one; we ensure the overall consistency of your project as presented to the various authorities concerned.
Do you need to obtain or renew a professional card to do business in Brussels? Contact us for complete support with your file. Feel free to contact us from the earliest stages of your thinking, even before finalizing your project, to best anticipate the timelines of this often decisive process.