European diplomas (Directive 2005/36/EC) - establishment

  • European practitioners who wish to establish themselves permanently in Belgium and practice their healthcare profession must first apply for recognition of their qualification from one of the Communities.
 
  • After recognition by the Communities, a visa application is automatically initiated at the FPS Public Health. You will be contacted to provide the following documents:
  1. Certificate of good conduct and morals
  2. Certificate of good professional conduct
  3. Proof of sufficient knowledge of one of the 3 national languages of Belgium, on the basis of 1 of the following documents:
    • a diploma of secondary education from a Dutch-, French- or German-speaking educational institution
    • a diploma of higher or university education from a Dutch-, French- or German-speaking educational institution
    • a language certificate (no older than 4 years) that explicitly states 1 of the 4 levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages listed below:
      • C1, except for the skill “writing,” for health care professionals whose basic diploma is of master's level. For the skill “writing,” the aforementioned health care professionals shall have a certificate of the level B2;
      • B2 for healthcare professionals whose basic diploma is of bachelor level;
      • B1 for healthcare professionals whose basic diploma is of a level lower than bachelor level, other than those referred to below;
      • A2 for nurse assistants ("aide-soignant") and ambulance operators for non-urgent patient transport.
  • The visa can only be delivered upon receipt of these 3 documents and will be sent to you by mail.

European diplomas (Directive 2005/36/EC) - temporary and occasional provision of services

  • European practitioners established in another European member state who wish to practice their profession in Belgium on a temporary or occasional basis must request authorization from the FPS Public Health.
  • The application is made using this form and should be sent to visa@health.fgov.be.
  • Proof of sufficient language knowledge is also necessary for these applications

Non-European diplomas - establishment (Article 145)

  • You do not have the nationality of one of the countries of the EEA or Switzerland
  • You first apply for an equivalence of your foreign diploma with one of the Communities
  • As a physical therapist, nurse assistants (aide-soignants) or practitioner of a paramedical profession, you must also be able to submit an recognition. You can apply for recognition at one of the Communities, at the following services:
  • Then apply for your visa using this form

Limited clinical training in Belgium for physicians (Article 146)

  • You are a foreign physician with a non-European diploma
  • You are not normally authorized to practice in Belgium
  • You may, under certain conditions, be authorized to practice certain activities as part of specialized training for up to 2 years
  • You follow this procedure