Hi, I’m Shincy George, from NursingManthra.
If you’re an internationally educated nurse from India with a Nursing diploma or degree and you want to work in Belgium, this blog is written so you can move step-by-step without confusion.
Belgium is a great option because hospitals truly need nurses—but Belgium is also strict about two things:
- Language (you must prove it)
- Recognition + “visa/visum” to practise (this is NOT a travel visa—this is your legal permission to work as a nurse)
Belgium has 3 language regions (choose your target first)
Your language choice decides where you apply and where you’ll work.
- Flanders → Dutch is essential
- Wallonia → French is essential
- Brussels → bilingual (French + Dutch), but many clinical workplaces expect strong French and/or Dutch
Important: Belgium’s diploma equivalence is handled by communities, and a decision from one community is not automatically valid in another.
Know the Belgian nursing titles (this avoids wrong applications)
Belgium mainly recognises these regulated nursing routes:
1) “Bachelor nurse” (your BSc Nursing aims here)
The regulated title is “Verpleegkundige verantwoordelijk voor algemene zorg” (VVAZ)—often translated as “nurse responsible for general care.”
2) “Certificate / Diploma nurse” route (often lower level equivalence)
Belgium also has “basisverpleegkundige” (base nurse).
Why this matters: Some internationally educated nurses receive equivalence at a lower level depending on curriculum comparison. So we plan for both outcomes (best-case and backup) during your process.
The real roadmap for Indian nurses (simple and correct order)
Step 1: Decide your region + language
- Flanders → Dutch track
- Wallonia/Brussels → French track
Step 2: Start language preparation immediately
Because Belgium requires official proof, not “I can speak”.
Belgium’s federal health authority states required language levels for visa/visum (based on the profession level):
- Bachelor level health professions (including VVAZ nurse) → B2
- Below bachelor (including basisverpleegkundige) → B1
Also note:
- Language certificate should cover reading, listening, writing, speaking
- Participation certificates don’t count
- Online self-tests are not accepted for proof
✅ Target (for BSc nurses): B2 in Dutch or French
Step 3: Apply for diploma/degree equivalence through NARIV VLAANEREN
If you are outside EEA/Switzerland, Flanders route typically requires you to submit an equivalence application via NARIC-Vlaanderen (they compare curriculum and level).
If you want the French-speaking community, you apply through **Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles via the Service des Équivalences portal.
NARIC – VLAANDEREN WEBSITE: https://www.naricvlaanderen.be/
Application cost : 180 Euro for Specific recognition.
Step 4: Apply for the professional visa/visum to practise
Belgium uses “visa/visum” as permission to practise a regulated healthcare profession. The federal authority explains that recognition happens via communities, and the visum is issued by the federal public service.
For foreign practitioners, the visa portal guidance indicates you typically need an individual application process.
Step 5: Immigration/work authorisation (Single Permit)
As a non-EU national, you generally need a Single Permit (work + residence for >90 days). Belgium’s Immigration Office explains:
- The employer applies via the one-stop counter
- It’s a combined work+residence procedure
- If approved and you are abroad, you apply for a long-stay (D) visa at the Belgian consulate
Documents required:
Below is a practical checklist based on what Belgian authorities commonly request for visa/visum + equivalence + immigration. Keep everything clean, consistent, and ready.
A) Core identity & civil documents
- Passport copy (valid)
- Birth certificate (if requested)
- Marriage certificate (if spouse will join)
B) Nursing qualification documents
- BSc Nursing degree certificate
- Consolidated marksheets / transcript
- Internship completion certificate + clinical hours proof
- Detailed syllabus / curriculum outline (very important for equivalence decisions)
C) Professional registration & good standing
Belgium’s visa/visum process asks for:
- Police clearance / certificate of good conduct (from countries you lived in)
- Certificate of good professional conduct / good standing (from countries you practised in)
Belgium clarifies that “good professional conduct” is often known as CCPS / letter of good standing, and it typically must be recent (not older than 3 months at visa request time).
So for India, you should plan for:
- State Nursing Council registration certificate
- Good Standing Certificate (GSC) from Nursing Council / authority (fresh)
D) Work experience (if applicable)
- Experience letters (designation + department + dates)
- Salary slips (optional but helpful)
- Employer verification contact details
E) Language proof (mandatory)
- Dutch/French/German language proof per required level (B2 for bachelor-level nurse)
F) Translations (very important)
Most documents must be in Dutch or French depending on your region.
For NARIC-Vlaanderen, their guideline states you may need a sworn translation and specifies language/format expectations.
My practical advice:
Do translations only after you confirm which community you are applying to (Dutch vs French). This saves money and avoids doing everything twice.
Language strategy (what to study, where, and what level you need)
Choose one strong local language (minimum)
Belgium’s federal requirement table makes it clear: for a bachelor-level nurse, target B2.
What “accepted proof” usually looks like
Belgium notes there is no single official list of language tests, but certificates should be:
- Not older than 4 years
- Based on a real exam assessing 4 skills
- Not a simple course attendance proof
Nursing reality:
Even if you “pass” language, you must be able to:
- Take history
- Explain procedures
- Write nursing notes
- Communicate safely in emergencies
So don’t treat language as a formality—treat it as patient safety.
Diploma equivalence: what to expect (and how to avoid delays)
If you choose the Flemish route
Your academic recognition is usually through NARIC-Vlaanderen, and they clearly outline an online process (guidance tool → submit file → decision).
Also, for healthcare professions, you’ll see specialised guidance pages for foreign nursing diplomas.
If you choose the French route
Use the Wallonia-Brussels equivalence portal (they handle equivalence requests in French-speaking Belgium).
Fees may apply depending on your case; the portal lists administrative fees for certain equivalence applications.
Common reasons nurses get a lower equivalence outcome
- Clinical hours are not clearly documented
- Internship is not detailed
- Syllabus/curriculum is missing or too generic
- Specialty postings are unclear (ICU/OT etc.)
Pro tip: Prepare a clean “Curriculum Evidence Pack”:
- Subject list by year/semester
- Hours (theory + clinical)
- Internship breakdown (wards + duration)
This alone can change the speed and quality of your assessment.
The “visa/visum” to practise: don’t confuse this with travel visa
Belgium’s health authority explains:
- Equivalence/recognition happens via communities
- Visum is federal and gives permission to practise
They also specify the supporting documents they request (police clearance, good professional conduct, language proof).
Immigration & work permit: Single Permit (what actually happens)
From the official Single Permit guidance:
- For non-EU workers staying more than 90 days, the employer applies
- It combines work and residence
- After approval, you apply for a long stay visa (D) at the Belgian consulate if you are abroad
So your job offer matters.
A hospital/employer is usually the engine that moves your immigration file forward.
Where to find nursing jobs (official portals + hospital systems)
Best job sites (Belgium official/public)
- VDAB (Flanders – Dutch)
- Le Forem (Wallonia – French)
- Actiris (Brussels support + guidance)
- upload your resume in linked in , Indeed, Step stone, Brusselsjobs …
Belgian public employment services also describe nursing as a shortage occupation in many areas, which supports strong job prospects if your language + recognition are ready.
The exact links you provided (kept here for easy access)
VDAB (Flanders nurse jobs):
https://www.vdab.be/vindeenjob/vacatures?trefwoord=Verpleegkundige&sort=standaard
Le Forem (Wallonia nurse jobs):
https://www.leforem.be/recherche-offres/resultat-recherche-offre
(try keyword: infirmière)
Kerala government -ODEPC-site -doing free recruitment for nurses from Kerala and provides language training also. Register in ODEPC site and check all job opportunities.-https://odepc.kerala.gov.in/
Special focus: Aalst hospitals + nurse school (good opportunity area)
If you’re targeting Dutch-speaking Flanders, Aalst is a practical city to watch.
- AZORG is a large hospital group with multiple campuses and recruitment pages.
- The historic names you mentioned—Onze-Lieve-Vrouw Ziekenhuis Aalst-Asse-Ninove and Algemeen Stedelijk Ziekenhuis Aalst—are connected in that region’s hospital landscape, and the AZORG structure reflects this evolution.
- The on-campus school Sint-Augustinusinstituut is a known institute in the area.
Helpful emails you provided (keep it professional and concise when emailing):
Hospital recruitment (Aalst region): [email protected]
Nursing institute (Aalst): [email protected]
Dutch & French nursing keywords (so you search correctly)
Dutch (Flanders)
- Nurse: verpleegkundige
- Base nurse: basisverpleegkundige
- Nursing assistant: zorgkundige
- Vacancy: vacature
- Apply: solliciteren
French (Wallonia/Brussels)
- Nurse: infirmier / infirmière
- Vacancy: offre d’emploi
- Apply: postuler
Use these exact keywords in the portals to avoid missing listings.
Timeline: how long does the full process take?
This depends mainly on:
- How fast you reach B2 language
- How clean your equivalence file is
- Employer processing speed for Single Permit
A realistic planning range for many non-EU nurses is several months to 1–2 years, especially if starting language from zero (many nurses spend significant time on language + equivalence before they work).
My best advice: run language + document preparation in parallel so you don’t lose months.
Common mistakes that cause rejection or long delays
- Applying to the wrong community (Dutch vs French) and then needing a second equivalence later
- Submitting without clinical hours proof (Belgium wants curriculum clarity)
- Good Standing / Professional Conduct letter is outdated (Belgium expects it to be recent)
- Weak language planning (aiming for “basic conversation” instead of B2 clinical communication)
- Confusing professional “visum” with immigration visa (both are needed, but they are different)
Official reference links (so you can verify everything yourself)
Belgium health professions – visum for foreign diploma (language levels + documents):
https://www.health.belgium.be/nl/professionals/gezondheidsprofessionals/menselijke-gezondheid/gezondheidszorgberoepen/toegang-tot-gezondheidszorgberoepen/visum-buitenlands-diploma
Belgium healthcare visum portal explanation:
https://www.health.belgium.be/nl/tools/visumportaal-gezondheidszorg
Single Permit (work + residence) – Belgian Immigration Office:
https://dofi.ibz.be/en/themas/onderdanen-van-derde-landen/werk/single-permit
Equivalence across Belgium’s 3 communities (important rule):
https://www.vlaanderen.be/en/working-enterprise-and-investment/working/equivalence-of-foreign-diplomas-in-the-three-communities-of-belgium
Final words (from NursingManthra)
Belgium is not difficult if you do it in the correct order:
✅ Choose region → ✅ Reach B2 language → ✅ Diploma equivalence → ✅ Professional visum → ✅ Job offer → ✅ Single Permit → ✅ Move & start work
If you want, tell me which area you are targeting (Flanders / Wallonia / Brussels) and your current language level (zero / A2 / B1)
All the very best by Nursingmanthra Team
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