What are the criteria to qualify as self-employed?
- Be aged 18 or over
- Enjoy your civil rights
- Be legally capable
- Be Belgian or a citizen of a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA)
The European Economic Area is made up of all the Member States of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
If you are a citizen of a country that doesn’t belong to the EEA, you will need to contact our Formalis one-stop shop to obtain a ‘professional card’.
The European Economic Area is made up of all the Member States of the European Union plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Depending on the region where the business is based (i.e. has its registered office), you may need to prove your suitability to practise certain professions in the form of management and/or professional knowledge.
Basic management knowledge (for commercial businesses)
This knowledge may be demonstrated by a qualification or equivalent experience.
In the Flemish Region, the management knowledge requirement was abolished on 1 September 2018.
Walloon Region
Preparatory syllabus covering basic management knowledge with a view to participating in the ‘central jury’ examination
Brussels-Capital Region
Flemish Region
Professional knowledge
For certain jobs, you will also need to supply proof of your professional knowledge. It all depends on the region where you are based.
You can find further details at the following links:
- Abolition of regulated professions in Flanders as from 01 january 2018
- Flanders Innovation & Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) website
Please contact your Formalis case manager if you would like any more information.
Like management knowledge, professional knowledge may be demonstrated by a qualification or equivalent experience.
Professional skills in the Walloon Region and the Brussels-Capital Region:
You can find further details at the following links:
- Professionnal skills: Construction activities
- Professionnal skills: activities relating to bicycles and motor vehicles
- Professionnal skills: Activities relating to body care
- Professionnal skills: other sectors
Professional skills in the Flemish Region
With effect from 1 January 2019, the professional skills requirement was abolished in Flanders.
You can find further details on the VLAIO website
Specific rules
Specific rules apply to the liberal and intellectual professions and to service providers. In these cases you must be recognised by an order, institute or chamber, for example, and so there is no need to prove management knowledge for such businesses.
See also: Guidance | SPF Economie (fgov.be)
- Do you need to obtain other permits, licences and so on before starting business (Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC), itinerant trade, fairground activities, etc.)?
This depends on the type of activity you would like to pursue. The regulations vary between regions:
In the Walloon Region :
In the Brussels-Capital Region :
In the Flemish Region :
Here again, your Formalis manager can help you.
