Sign up as a jobseeker with Belgium’s public employment service

Which service you use depends on where you live

VDAB covers Flanders, Actiris Brussels, Forem Wallonia and the Arbeitsamt the German-speaking Community. Registering gives you personal job search help, training and language courses, and it is the first step if you later want unemployment benefit. Many people register online, but you can also go to an office with your identity or residence documents.

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How it works

Register as a jobseeker

Register with the public employment service to get help finding work.

Registering with the public employment service gives you access to job offers, advice and training, and is often required before you can claim unemployment benefit. You usually register online or at the office for your home address, then have an interview with an adviser. Bring your ID, proof of address and details of your work history and qualifications. Registering as a jobseeker and applying for benefit are often separate steps, so check whether you need to do both.

Also searched as

jobseeker registrationregister as unemployedemployment officejob centrepublic employment servicehelp finding a job

At a glance

Offices
30 offices in 29 cities
Book online
At 1 of 30 offices
Apply online
At 28 of 30 offices

Branch rules differ, even within the same service

Employment offices where you can register

Some branches let you register on a computer with staff on hand, others ask you to apply online or book a slot first, and newcomers from abroad may have to register in person. Open a branch to see what applies.

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Guides

Guides that help with this

Belgium

Work

Finding a Job in Belgium

Employment guide

Explore practical steps for finding a job, registering with employment services, and applying for work across Belgium.

EmploymentJob SearchBelgium
16 min readRead guide

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Other countries

The same task in other countries

Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.

Where to next

Jobseeker registration offices

Employment service branches in Belgian cities, with how each one registers jobseekers, when you can walk in and when you should book or go online.

Jobseeker offices in Belgium

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