Hiring Grants and Subsidies in Belgium
Discover federal and regional subsidies for hiring in Belgium. First hire bonus, Activa, SINE, VDAB, Forem, Actiris: reduce your wage costs and grow your team.
Find my hiring grantsFederal hiring reductions and premiums
Social security reductions and premiums available to all Belgian employers, regardless of region.
First hire (Premier engagement)
Social security reduction for employers hiring their 1st through 6th employees. The largest benefit applies to the very first hire.
Activa.Brussels
Activation subsidy for employers hiring long-term unemployed jobseekers registered with Actiris. Paid as a monthly wage premium.
SINE
Social security reduction for non-profit and social economy employers hiring low-skilled or long-term unemployed workers.
Regional programs by region
Each Belgian region offers its own hiring premiums and incentives through its public employment service.
Flanders
VDABVlaamse aanwervingsincentive
Quarterly premium for Flemish employers hiring long-term unemployed jobseekers or target group workers.
Up to €1,250/quarter
KMO-portefeuille training
Training vouchers covering part of training and coaching costs for Flemish SMEs.
Up to €7,500/year
Brussels
ActirisActiva.Brussels premium
Activation premium for Brussels employers recruiting jobseekers registered with Actiris for at least 12 months.
Up to €15,600 over 30 months
Insertion contract
Scheme for hiring young Brussels jobseekers under 30 with enhanced support.
Variable by profile
Wallonia
ForemAPE (Aide à la Promotion de l'Emploi)
Recurring wage subsidy for non-profit and social economy employers in Wallonia.
APE points converted to wage subsidy
PFI (Plan Formation-Insertion)
In-company training program to train a jobseeker before permanent hire, with partial cost coverage.
Training allowance + facilitated hiring
KMO-portefeuille: training subsidy for SMEs
An essential tool to finance training for your new employees.
The KMO-portefeuille allows Flemish SMEs to receive financial support for training, coaching, and consultancy. Small businesses can get up to €7,500 per year, covering 30% of accredited training costs. It is the perfect complement to hiring subsidies to maximise the return on investment of every recruitment.
Frequently asked questions
Which employees qualify for a hiring subsidy?
It depends on the program. First hire applies to any new worker of a new employer. Activa targets long-term unemployed jobseekers. SINE covers low-skilled workers in the social economy. Regional programs each have their own eligibility criteria.
Can I combine a federal and a regional subsidy?
Yes, in most cases. The first hire reduction (federal) can be combined with a regional activation premium like Activa.Brussels. Cumulation rules apply and total aid cannot exceed the actual wage cost.
Do I need to hire before applying for the subsidy?
For first hire, the reduction is applied automatically via ONSS. For regional premiums (Activa, APE), you generally need a certificate from the employment service before or at the time of hiring. PFI is set up before the definitive hire.
How long does approval take for a hiring subsidy?
Federal social security reductions (first hire) are applied automatically from the first quarter. Regional premiums typically take 4 to 8 weeks after submitting the complete file to the relevant employment service.
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