• Valid ID or passport 

• European driving license (if you have it) 

• Bedding and bedsheets l 

• EUR bank account number 

• Money for your first week 
   

When you apply for a resident card: 

• Legalized birth certificate (translated into English)  

• 4 passport photos 

Your next steps depend on your travel arrangements. You’ll either go to an Absolute Jobs office or be welcomed at your accommodation by a housing coordinator. Sometimes, the coordinator may pick you up from a nearby station. During this first contact, you'll receive all necessary info about your contract, administration, accommodation, and transportation if arranged. 

If you bring your own car to Belgium, you must make sure: 

• Your insurance is valid in Belgium 

• You have a valid technical inspection (if required) in your home country 

• If you stay longer than 6 months, or if you register as a resident in Belgium, you may be required to register your car in Belgium. 

Yes. If you perform well, after around 135 days (approx. 6 months), your employer may offer you a fixed-term or permanent contract. 

 
Important: If you are staying in accommodation provided by Absolute Jobs, you will need to find your own housing before you sign a fixed contract. Don’t worry – we also guide and support you in this search. 

Your schedule and hourly rate are defined in your contract.  
In Belgium, there are different wage systems depending on the type of job and sector. These are called "paritair comité" (sector agreements). Your hourly wage is usually based on the rules of your sector, your job, your experience, and your education. 

Some companies also have their own rules for things like overtime, shift work, or night bonuses. So, your pay can be different from someone else’s, even if you live together or do similar work. 

If you have questions about your wage, always feel free to ask us. We are here to help. 

Wages are paid weekly. You receive your payslip by email on Wednesday evening, and the money is transferred to your account by Thursday or Friday, depending on your bank.

Your payslip shows the hours you worked, your gross salary, the deductions (like social security and tax), and your net salary (what you receive on your account). It also shows any compensation for travel to work and extra benefits, such as meal vouchers. 

Contact the Absolute Jobs office where you signed your contract. If needed, your contact person can also help you in your own language. 

Don’t worry – we will do our best to solve the issue, but please allow a few days. It’s important to know that we first need confirmation from the company where you work before we can make any corrections. 

Wages are processed once a week, so if there was an underpayment, the difference will be added to your next salary. 

First, ask your work supervisor for approval. Once your holidays are approved, inform your Absolute Jobs office as well.  

If you are using our housing or car, you also need to inform the coordination team in time and make the necessary agreements about your stay or vehicle during your absence. 

Planning well in advance helps us support you better. 

Yes. If you worked with a temporary contract (interim), you will receive a holiday bonus from RJV (Rijksdienst voor Jaarlijkse Vakantie) around May or June. 

This bonus is 15.38% of your gross salary earned in the previous calendar year. 

You do not receive paid vacation days directly from your employer – it’s paid out by RJV. 

To apply for child benefits, you will need to provide some documents, such as: 

• A copy of your child’s birth certificate 

• Proof of residence (whether your child lives in Belgium or abroad) 

• School certificate (if your child is of school age) 

• For children living abroad, specific EU forms may be required (like E401 and E405) 
   

If you're not sure which documents to collect or where to submit them, contact your AJ office — we will guide you through the whole process. 

Yes, all employees in Belgium must have health insurance. 

We can help you register with a mutualiteit (health insurance fund) that works with us, or you can choose your own provider. The basic cost for health insurance is about €10 per month, which you pay directly to the mutualiteit. The other part of the cost is already included in your RZS (social security) deduction on your payslip. 

If you are over 25 and living in Flanders, you also have to pay a yearly contribution of €64 (in 2025) to the Vlaamse Sociale Bescherming. This is a regional solidarity system that helps cover the cost of long-term care and support for people with serious health needs. 

If you are sick, inform your work supervisor and your Absolute Jobs office immediately. 

If you are entitled to sick pay (this depends on how long you've already worked at the company), you must send a doctor’s note within 2 working days to your Absolute Jobs office.  

Doctor visits in Belgium are usually paid directly by you, but if you're registered with a mutualiteit (health insurance fund), you can get part of the cost reimbursed. 

A typical visit to a general doctor (huisarts) costs around €25, and you can usually get about €21 back. 

To find a doctor near you, search online for "huisarts" + the name of your city or town. 

Your schedule and hourly rate are defined in your contract.  
In Belgium, there are different wage systems depending on the type of job and sector. These are called "paritair comité" (sector agreements). Your hourly wage is usually based on the rules of your sector, your job, your experience, and your education. 

Some companies also have their own rules for things like overtime, shift work, or night bonuses. So, your pay can be different from someone else’s, even if you live together or do similar work. 

If you have questions about your wage, always feel free to ask us. We are here to help. 

For some jobs, a medical exam is required by law to make sure you are fit to work safely. If needed, Absolute Jobs will schedule the exam for you, and you will receive the invitation by email. 

The exam is free of charge, but if you do not go and you didn’t inform us in advance, you will need to pay a fee

VCA is a basic safety training and certificate that proves you know how to work safely on high-risk job sites, like construction or industrial workplaces. If needed, Absolute Jobs will arrange the training for you. 

The training and exam are free, but if you don’t attend and you didn’t cancel on time, you will have to pay the cost of the training yourself. 

Yes, depending on availability. You can use your own vehicle if preferred.

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For some jobs, a medical exam is required by law to make sure you are fit to work safely. If needed, Absolute Jobs will schedule the exam for you, and you will receive the invitation by email. 

The exam is free of charge, but if you do not go and you didn’t inform us in advance, you will need to pay a fee

Your Absolute Jobs contact helps with getting a national number, opening a bank account, registering your address, and arranging health insurance. 

Yes, all income earned in Belgium must be declared. We help you understand and prepare your tax declaration.

If you earn 75% or more of your income in Belgium, you may be eligible for family tax allowances. Contact us for support. 

Normally 38h/week. Some companies work more or less. Overtime or shift work often has bonuses. Check your contract or ask us. 

Always inform your supervisor and Absolute Jobs office immediately. Not showing up without contact can end your contract. 

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