Belgium•EuropeUp to 90 days
Free
1 year
Not renewable
Renewal
Not renewable
Family
No dependents
PR Pathway
None
Sponsor
No job offer needed
Work
Remote not required
One-year residence permit for recent graduates to seek employment in Belgium with full work authorization, no employer sponsorship needed.
The Search Year Residence Permit (Zoekjaar) is a post-graduation visa for non-EU nationals with a bachelor, master, or doctoral degree from a Belgian higher education institution or an EU institution where mobility was exercised in Belgium. It provides one year of residence and unlimited work authorization to transition from academic status directly into the professional labor market.
The permit is valid for a fixed 12-month period and cannot be extended. It carries variable administrative fees depending on the municipality. Work is fully authorized without needing employer sponsorship. Spouses may work unrestricted. The visa leads to conversion pathways to the Single Permit or Professional Card. Processing takes up to 90 days.
This visa is ideal for recent graduates and researchers from outside the EU who wish to launch their careers in Belgium, explore job opportunities, and establish a pathway to long-term residence.
| Initial grant | 1 year |
Visas you can typically switch to from this status.
BelgiumBelgiumValid international passport or travel document
Proof of a degree (bachelor, master, or doctorate) obtained at a Belgian higher education institution OR from an EU higher education institution where mobility was exercised (with partial study in Belgium)
Proof of valid health insurance covering risks in Belgium
Proof of adequate means of subsistence for the 12-month period
For EU-institution diplomas: proof of residence in Belgium during the mobility period
Education
bachelor or higher
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