Category Archives: immigration

Flatsharing with a Refugee

our first encounter was awkward

26th October 2018

As professionals in the global mobility sector, we know all about managing culture shock, helping our assignees adapt to new environments, and spend a lot of time considering matters such as cost of living allowances and hardship locations. But what about those who move halfway across the globe with no help whatsoever? The people who leave their homes behind for entirely different reasons than a (temporary) foreign assignment? ReLocate spoke with freelance journalist and millennial Deborah Seymus, whose monthly column on living with a young refugee is published by Knack online and republished here with their permission. We look forward to bringing you her column over the coming issues as we explore a brand new view on life in Belgium.

Single Permit Update

Flanders introduces new policies on employment of foreign nationals

by:

26th October 2018

As a result of the 6th state reform in 2014, the legislative competence as regards the employment of foreigners has been transferred to the regional level. The regions have been empowered to develop their own policies on the employment of foreign workers in function of the specific needs of their labour market. Flanders is first amongst the three regions to introduce new policies in this area. Brussels might follow the example in the next legislature while the Walloon region seems not to prioritize this policy area. Fragomen met with the cabinet of Philippe Muyters, Flemish Minister of Work, Economy, Innovation and Sports, this October and reports back on this topic.

Belgium through Expat Eyes

Expat Insider Survey 2017 - InterNations

by: Fiona Klomp

26th October 2018

How do expats experience life outside of the office in their adopted home countries? Expat network InterNations surveyed their membership on 43 individual factors that influence an expat’s experience. The survey delves into issues ranging from reasons for moving abroad to how easy it is to make friends in your adoptive country. Ranked in 65 expatriate destinations around the world, respondents were also asked to rate factors on a scale of one to seven. With over 12,500 respondents representing 166 nationalities and living in 188 countries or territories, the Expat Insider survey provides a unique insight into what life is like abroad. We wanted to know how Belgium fares on a global scale.

Home: physical place or mental state?

What makes a residence a home?

by: Fiona Klomp

19th April 2018

Home is where the heart is, the cliché tells us. But what is it that makes a residence a home? Each move presents us with the same challenge: turning this new place into a home. A place that is truly yours, somewhere you can really be yourself. We recognize our home immediately, but find it hard to express in words.

Article by Leen Creve (first published in ReLocate Winter 2014)

how to feel at home in belgium

The Basic Principles of Exchanging your Driving License

the basic principles of European and non-European driving licenses explained

by: Fiona Klomp

14th December 2017

As a resident of Belgium you are legally required to exchange your national driving license for a Belgian one. The exchange process can however be more complex than we would like it to be. Much depends on the license you hold and which country you obtained it from. We bring you a practical overview of what’s what, and what you can do to help speed up your exchange process.

hints & tips driving license exchange

Driving License Exchange

relocation committee update

by: Fiona Klomp

14th December 2017

Much to the frustration of expats and relocation agents alike, there is a lot of discussion around the process of exchanging a foreign driving license for a Belgian one. How long should it take? What are the legal requirements? And what can the expat do whilst awaiting their new license? With conflicting reports and advice coming from the various municipalities or communes, our board has been actively trying to seek some clarity on what should be a straight-forward process. We looked at the different types of licenses and spoke with Eric Klitsch of Brussels Relocation and Koen Reekmans of Altair Global for an update on their efforts to ease the process.

driving license exchange process

Living and Working in Belgium

your visa, immigration and Schengen visa questions answered

by: Fiona Klomp

14th December 2017

Contemplating a move to Belgium is quite a task in itself, however once you have made the decision to relocate, there is then the rather complex exercise of figuring out immigration regulations, spousal rights and customary red tape. Who better to enlighten us on the ins and outs of the Belgian immigration system than the experts themselves, Fragomen. We’ve asked them the burning questions you want to know the answer to – whatever stage of the immigration process you are approaching, they’ve got it covered.

advice on visas and immigration to Belgium

Leuven MindGate

laying the foundations for Belgium’s first International House

by: Fiona Klomp

24th January 2017

Mohamed Ridouani, alderman for SP.A in Leuven

Let’s make an equation containing three elements: city + international companies + (international) talent. The desired outcome: an attractive environment, wealth, social cohesion. Or, in other words, an attractive brand. You, dear reader, will surely be aware that a happy worker is a happy company is a happy city is a happy resident is a happy worker…. ReLocate has recently focused on a number of things that can contribute to a companies’ wellbeing – and their employees – today we’d like to focus on what cities can do. A survey among 1.264 international workers tells us: a lot.

Mobility after Brexit

the business and individual perspectives

by: Fiona Klomp

10th November 2016

brexit and immigration to belgium

The general take on Brexit is that there is much uncertainty surrounding the outcome of any negotiations. Let’s remember that change is good, and along with uncertainty there is always possibility. In the modus operandi of the British populace: “Keep Calm and Carry On”, how can businesses calmly tackle this uncertainty, not only for their own operational purposes but also to ensure that their employees, both present and future, are reassured of their legal standing? How can individuals carry on and protect their rights to work, study or just reside in their adopted EU member state?

The Future of Talent Mobility

Trends and Best Practices Based on Cross-Industry Survey Research

by: Fiona Klomp

10th August 2016

In winter 2015 the Canadian Employee Relocation Council (CERC) began a research project to explore the wide spectrum of survey research conducted on global employee mobility. They conducted content analysis on 57 reports published between 2011 and 2016 by a diverse group of publishers. Stephen Cryne, President and CEO of CERC presented the results at the EuRA conference earlier this year, as with so many voices – surveys, analysts, predictions – in the industry, CERC wondered is there any consensus in the literature? Extracts republished with permission of EuRA.