Workers – Physiotherapists – Belgium

Updated : 12/2012

Recognition of professional qualifications

Only if you want to work abroad, not for study purposes.

If you have obtained your professional qualification out of the EU, you should check with relevant authority whether you must apply for the recognition of your professional qualifications.

Permanent stay
Temporary stay

Documents you must provide [permanent stay]

If you want to work as a physiotherapist in Belgium on a permanent basis, you must submit the following documents:

letter explaining your motivation – in Dutch, French, German or English
certified copy of your original qualification(s), certificate(s) or other documents proving your vocational training
You must ask any official authority in your home country to certify the copies
document proving your nationality (e.g. certified copy of your identity card or passport)
certificate of good conduct / result of criminal record check or extract from "judicial record" from your country of origin or the country where you were last living.
You must submit the original certificate, which must be less than 3 months old. If it is not issued in Dutch; French, German or English, submit a certified translation. The translation can be done by any official certified translator in your home country
certificate, issued by the relevant authority in the country where you obtained your qualifications, confirming that they comply with article 11 of Directive EC/2005/36 (for qualifications obtained in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)
CV showing your relevant work experience and the countries where this took place
certificate of good conduct (original, not copy) issued by the relevant professional body (where one exists in your country), less than 3 months old
detailed transcript of the study programme from the educational institution stating number of hours for theoretical and practical training – for each study year
title and short summary of any thesis / dissertation written to obtain your degree.

All documents must be in Dutch, French, German or English. You can submit documents in other languages, but each must be accompanied by a certified translation, provided by an officially recognised translator in Belgium or in any other EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

You may be able to find an officially recognised translator by contacting- the relevant national translation body.

If the documents you submit are copies, they must be certified. You can ask any official authority in your home country to certify the copies.

Responsible authority [permanent stay]

Federale Overheidsdienst Volksgezonheid, Veiligheid van de Voedselketen en Leefmilieu
Service Public Fédéral Santé Publique, Sécurité de la Chaîne alimentaire et Environnement
Federal Public Service - Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment

Place Victor Horta plein 40, bus/boíte 10
1060 Brussel / Bruxelles
Tel.: +32 (0)2 524 97 66
Belgian Federal Public Health Service

When can you expect an answer [permanent stay]

Once you have sent your documents, the authorities have:

1 month – from the time they receive your application – to acknowledge receipt and ask you for any other documents they require
4 months to take a decision – after receiving all the necessary documents.

Cost [permanent stay]

Free of charge.

Documents you must provide [temporary stay]

If you want to work as a physiotherapist in Belgium on a temporary basis, you must submit the following documents:

document proving your nationality (e.g. certified copy of your identity card or passport)
certified copy of your original qualification(s), certificate(s) or other documents proving your vocational training
You must ask any official authority in your home country to certify the copies
certificate of good conduct (original, not copy) issued by the relevant professional body (where one exists in your country), less than 3 months old
the duration of your stay.

You may be able to find an officially recognised translator by contacting- the relevant national translation body.

If the documents you submit are copies, they must be certified. You can ask any official authority in your home country to certify the copies.

Responsible authority [temporary stay]

Eurostation, Bloc 2
Place Victor Horta plein 40, bus/boíte 10
Bureau 00D007
1060 Brussel / Bruxelles
Tel.: +32 (0)2 524 97 97
E-mail: internationalmobility[at]health.fgov.be
Belgian Federal Public Health Service

When can you expect an answer [temporary stay]

Once you have sent your documents, the authorities have:

1 month – from the time they receive your application – to acknowledge receipt and ask you for any other documents they require
4 months to take a decision – after receiving all the necessary documents.

Cost [temporary stay]

Free of charge.

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