Belgium to Require Digital Mandates for Short‑Term Work Permit Filings in 2026

Key Point

• Belgium will introduce new digital filing requirements in 2026, requiring short‑term work permit applications of up to 90 days to be submitted through the federal Working in Belgium portal, with a supporting Mahis digital mandate. 

Short‑Term Work Permit Digital Filing Requirements 

Belgium will expand the use of its Mahis digital mandate platform to include short‑term work permits (Type B) beginning in 2026. Once implemented, employers must grant a Mahis mandate before a service provider can submit applications through the Working in Belgium portal. 

Previously, short-term work permit applications (up to 90 days) were submitted via email. This method will continue to remain available in some regions as the new system phases in.  

Mahis is operated by the Belgian National Social Security Office and is already required for single permit applications. Extending this requirement to short‑term permits is part of Belgium’s transition to fully digital work authorization processing. 

Key Changes 

• Short‑term work permits (up to 90 days) will move to the Working in Belgium portal in 2026.
• Employers must grant a Mahis mandate before a service provider can submit an application. 
• Foreign employers must be registered with Belgium’s Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (CBE) to issue a mandate. 
• Existing Mahis mandates used for single permits can also be used for short‑term filings. 

Regional Implementation Timelines 

Implementation will occur at the regional level and timelines will differ: 

Flanders 

Flanders has confirmed that digital filing will become mandatory on May 1, 2026. The region has not published an official statement confirming a transition period. 

Brussels‑Capital Region 

Brussels‑Capital Region will require digital filing beginning May 4, 2026, with no transition period; email submissions will no longer be accepted as of that date.  

Wallonia 

Wallonia has not yet published an official implementation date. Additional guidance will be issued once available. 

Overview of Mahis 

Mahis is Belgium’s secure federal platform that allows employers to authorize a payroll provider or other service provider to manage personnel-related filings, including work authorization submissions.  

Employers can use Mahis to create, view or terminate mandates and assign access roles within their organization. 

Accessing Mahis 

To access Mahis, an employer representative must authenticate using: 

• a Belgian electronic identity card (eID), or 
• the itsme® app 

Organizations without access to Belgium’s secure online services must register via the federal access portal before issuing a mandate. 

Authorizing a Service Provider 

Employers may authorize one or more service providers for specific application groups, depending on operational needs. 

Registering a Mandate 

Employer already registered in Belgium 

• The employer and legal representative are registered in the Belgian Crossroads Bank for Enterprises. 
• The mandate can usually be approved almost immediately. 
• The mandate may be: 
• Signed electronically if the legal representative holds a Belgian eID, or 
• Signed manually in all other cases. 

Employer not yet registered in Belgium 

• The foreign employer must register with the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (for digital filing purposes only).
• The legal representative must also register.
• After both registrations are complete, the Belgian authorities can approve the mandate.
• Total processing time is approximately five to eight business days.

Required Documents

Unregistered foreign employers must provide the following documents:

• Signed mandate form (“Procuration”, template can be provided on request), with handwritten signature 
• Statement for registration in the Crossroads Bank for Enterprises (template can be provided on request) 
• Copy of ID (e.g., passport bio page) of the legal representative 
• Official document confirming the legal representative’s appointment (e.g., articles of association, appointment decision or company register extract) 

Note: Templates for the Procuration and Cross Bank registration statement are available upon request. Existing Envoy Global clients may contact their primary point of contact to obtain the required documents. 

Envoy Global Insight  

Cailín McCaffrey, Immigration Consultant, EMEA, notes that employers should begin preparing now, particularly those relying on short‑term assignments. She highlights that existing Mahis mandates already used for single permits will also support short‑term filings once the transition occurs, meaning no duplicate setup is required. 

Magdelena also emphasizes that foreign employers not yet registered in Belgium should plan ahead, as company and representative registration must be completed before a mandate can be issued. This step may add processing time. 

She advises employers to review upcoming assignments and ensure the appropriate legal representative is available to authenticate through Mahis. 

“Early preparation will help employers avoid delays once regions begin phasing out email submissions,” she notes. 

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