The healthcare system in Belgium is funded mainly through compulsory health insurance, which covers almost the entire population and a wide range of services. The Belgian healthcare system is based on principles such as direct access to care and freedom of choice of physician and healthcare facility. The federal authorities, the regions, the communities, provinces, and municipalities all share responsibilities for the organization and delivery of healthcare services.
Belgium has several nursing associations and professional organizations that represent nurses in different linguistic and professional communities. However, nursing practice is regulated through Belgian public authorities rather than by a single national nursing council.
Over the past years, Belgium has continued to rely heavily on nurses and nursing assistants across hospitals, residential care, home care, and other healthcare settings. To learn more about how to become a nurse in Belgium, check the steps below.
How to Become a Nurse in Belgium
Step 1. Obtain a Nursing Degree or Certification
Students can enter nursing in Belgium through different education routes, depending on the Belgian Community and the institution. In Flanders, the professional bachelor’s degree in nursing is a four-year program worth 240 ECTS credits and includes at least 2,300 hours of clinical education or internship. There is also an HBO5 Nursing route in the Flemish Community, which is a three-year nursing program taught in schools for secondary education.
Students who complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing may continue with further study, specialization, or postgraduate training where available. After taking a bachelor’s degree or another recognized nursing qualification, students should check the requirements of the relevant Belgian Community and the institution where they plan to study or seek recognition.
Step 2. Meet the Admission Requirements and Attend a Bridging Program
Students who already hold a nursing qualification may be able to enter a bridging program or shortened educational pathway, depending on their prior qualification, the institution, and the rules of the relevant Belgian Community. This is especially important for students who want to obtain a Belgian professional bachelor’s degree in nursing or fill gaps identified during diploma recognition.
Belgium has three language Communities: the Flemish, French-speaking, and German-speaking Communities. International students and foreign-trained nurses must be able to communicate in Dutch, French, or German, depending on where they study or work. Foreign-trained healthcare professionals must also demonstrate sufficient language knowledge when applying for the professional visa that allows them to practice.
Admission requirements vary by institution, program, nationality, and previous education. Applicants are usually asked to submit copies of diplomas, transcripts, and other educational documents for assessment.
Step 3. Apply for Recognition as a Nurse in the Country
Nursing is a regulated healthcare profession in Belgium. After completing the required education, nurses must have the appropriate recognition and professional visa before practicing. Foreign-trained nurses must first apply for recognition or equivalence of their diploma through the appropriate Belgian Community. A recognition or equivalence issued by one Community applies throughout Belgium.
After recognition of the basic degree, the professional visa is issued by the Federal Public Service Health. This professional visa is the authorization to practice the healthcare profession in Belgium; it is not the same as an immigration work visa or residence permit.
Step 4. For Foreign Nurses, Apply with the Ministry of Public Health
Foreign-trained nurses who want to practice in Belgium need a professional visa from the Federal Public Service Health. The procedure depends on whether the diploma was issued inside or outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
If you have an EEA or Swiss diploma and want to practice permanently in Belgium, you must request recognition from the relevant Community: the Flemish Community for Dutch-language applications, the French Community for French-language applications, or the German-speaking Community for German-language applications. After recognition, the visa application is processed by the Federal Public Service Health.
If you have a diploma issued outside the EEA or Switzerland, you must first request equivalence of your diploma from the appropriate body, such as NARIC-Vlaanderen, the French-speaking Community’s equivalence service, or the German-speaking Community. After that, you may need to submit a visa application to the Federal Public Service Health, depending on your situation.
Step 5. Prepare All Requirements for the Application of Registration
For the professional visa and recognition process, foreign-trained nurses should prepare the documents requested by the relevant authority. These may include:
- A nursing diploma and, where required, proof of diploma equivalence or professional recognition
- Proof of sufficient language proficiency in Dutch, French, or German. For a nurse responsible for general care at bachelor’s level, the Federal Public Service Health lists B2 as the required CEFR level; for licensed nurses below bachelor’s level, it lists B1
- A certificate of good conduct from countries where the applicant has stayed, when requested
- A certificate of good professional conduct, also known as a certificate of current professional status, letter of good standing, or certificate of professional competence, from the competent authority in each country where the applicant has practiced
- Any application forms and supporting documents requested by the Federal Public Service Health or the relevant Belgian Community
To learn more about diploma recognition for foreign qualifications, visit the Flanders information page on practicing a healthcare profession with a foreign diploma or use the official NARIC-Vlaanderen application wizard.
Step 6. Apply for a Work Visa
Applicants should distinguish between the professional visa needed to practice nursing and the immigration authorization needed to live and work in Belgium. The professional visa from the Federal Public Service Health allows a recognized healthcare professional to practice. Non-EEA nationals who will stay and work in Belgium for more than 90 days usually also need a single permit, which combines work and residence authorization.
For most non-European employees working in Belgium for more than 90 days, the Belgian employer or its Belgian representative must apply for the single permit through the competent region. Once approved, the worker may receive authorization to stay and work in Belgium. For more information, see the work visa guide and the official Working in Belgium single permit guidance.
Step 7. Submit the Application to the Federal Public Service Health
After completing the required recognition or equivalence steps, applicants who need a professional visa should submit the visa application and supporting documents to the Federal Public Service Health according to the instructions for their situation. For temporary practice in Belgium, applicants submit the application form and attachments directly to the Federal Public Service Health. For permanent practice with an EEA or Swiss diploma, the visa application is processed after recognition by the relevant Community.
The Federal Public Service Health may request proof of language proficiency, certificates of good conduct, certificates of good professional conduct, and other supporting documents before issuing the professional visa.
Step 8. Await the Decision of Your Registration as a Nurse
This is the final step to becoming authorized to practice as a nurse in Belgium. Once the relevant Belgian authority has recognized the diploma and the Federal Public Service Health has issued the professional visa, the applicant may practice nursing in Belgium, provided they also meet any immigration, residence, and employment requirements that apply to their nationality and situation.
Foreign-trained applicants should check the current instructions from the relevant Belgian Community, the Federal Public Service Health, and, if needed, the regional authority responsible for work authorization before making plans to work in Belgium.
Nurses and nursing assistants remain among the largest groups of healthcare professionals in Belgium. According to the most recent public data available from Healthy Belgium, 228,251 professionals were entitled to work as nurses in Belgium in 2022, and 134,496 of them were active in healthcare. In the same year, 132,600 nursing assistants were authorized to practice, and 75,208 were active in healthcare.
We hope you found this article on the steps to becoming a nurse in Belgium informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out the Study in Belgium and Available Programs in Europe for International Students pages for more insightful articles on studying in Europe.
