JAKARTA - Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region in Belgium, saw a surge in non-EU work permit applications and approvals in 2025, driven by labor shortages in key sectors, according to Belga News Agency, Belgium's only national news agency, quoting Flemish Economic Migration Service’s report. 

The region processed 27,561 applications and granted 23,989 approvals, up 18.1% and 19.7% from 2024's 23,347 applications and 20,048 approvals, with about 9,998 renewals contributing to roughly 28,000 active permits.

Highly skilled workers dominated at 58% of permits, led by Indians in IT and consultancy, followed by Chinese, Turks, Japanese, and Iranian. Medium-skilled roles (20%) featured Turks as the top nationality, then Filipinos, mainly in transport like lorry drivers, care, and mechanics.​

Seasonal workers, capped at 90 days, increasingly came from Ukraine, especially women (82%) in Limburg's agriculture and fruit growing. Provinces like Limburg, Flemish Brabant, Antwerp, East, and West Flanders hosted most, with Ukrainians, Turks, Indians, Moroccans, and Filipinos prominent.​

Migrants in Flanders originate from a diverse range of countries, with the largest groups primarily coming from neighboring European nations and, to a significant extent, from Turkey and Morocco. 

From January 2026, rules have been tightened under the “concentric circles” principle to prioritise Flemish then EU workers. 

This included slashing accelerated low-skilled occupations from 29 to 21 (dropping truck/bus drivers, butchers) and excluding low-skilled roles from "other" categories, while simplifying seasonal access.