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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 4.859 persons obtained Belgian nationality in August 2025. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in August are Morocco, Syria, Romania, Poland and France.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics, Citizenship & Nationality
Keywords: access to nationality, Belgian nationality
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On 17 November 2025, the City of Brussels adopted a motion for a welcoming, responsible and caring city, opposing the draft law allowing judicially authorised home searches for irregularly staying migrants. The motion emphasises that security and human dignity are inextricably linked and states that Brussels must remain a welcoming, responsible and just city, faithful to its constitutional and European obligations.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: irregularly staying third-country national, home search, opposition, privacy
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Belgium has laid the first stone of a new short-stay departure centre in Steenokkerzeel, aimed at housing individuals in irregular stay pending return. The 50-place facility is scheduled to open by the end of 2026. It forms part of a broader plan to expand and improve the country’s closed centres.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: closed centre, construction
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The Belgian Council of Ministers has approved a draft law providing for the possibility of imposing lifetime entry bans on individuals who pose a genuine security threat, based on an assessment by the Coordinating Body for Threat Analysis (OCAM). The measure is intended to implement a commitment set out in the government agreement and envisage amendments to several provisions of the Aliens Act of 15 December 1980. The draft law will now be submitted to the Council of State for its opinion.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: entry ban, security threat, terrorism
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The Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS) is resuming the processing of applications for international protection from Syrian nationals from 1 November 2025. The suspension, in place since 9 December 2024, was implemented to gather sufficient information on the security situation in Syria.
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Main theme: International Protection
Keywords: application for international protection, Syria
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On Monday, Belgium repatriated 75 people from the Gaza Strip. They arrived at Ostend airport in the afternoon. Belgian authorities report that around 850 eligible individuals have already been evacuated from Gaza. About 150 people remain on the list awaiting evacuation.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Keywords: Gaza, evacuation, family member, Belgian, refugee, stateless persons
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Belgium and Morocco have signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation across multiple areas, aiming for concrete and measurable results. The deal covers security, justice, economic development, and migration. Belgium has also committed to supporting Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, a region that has been at the centre of an international dispute for nearly fifty years.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: bilateral cooperation, Belgium, Morocco, irregularly staying third-country national
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On 20 October 2025, around 200 Belgian actors and European partners gathered to mark thirty years of the fight against human trafficking in Belgium, highlighting both the strengths of a multidisciplinary and specialised system based on collaboration and information sharing, and the ongoing challenges, such as limited resources, difficulties in securing compensation for victims, the protection of minors, and adapting to emerging forms of trafficking.
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On 16 October 2025, twenty EU Member States signed a joint letter urging the European Commission to take coordinated steps to enable voluntary and forced return to Afghanistan. The initiative, led by Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt, calls for a coherent European approach to address cases of Afghan nationals residing irregularly in the EU, particularly those posing a threat to public order or national security. The signatories stress that credible migration policies require effective return mechanisms and call for tangible progress by the end of the year.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: Afghanistan, voluntary return, forced return, public order, national security
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On 12 October 2025, Belgium began implementing the European Entry-Exit System (EES) for third-country nationals travelling to Europe for short stays. Brussels Airport and Brussels-Midi station (for Eurostar passengers) have planned the necessary infrastructure and procedures to support border registration. EU and Schengen-area travellers are not affected. Full implementation across Europe is scheduled for 10 April 2026.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa
Keywords: entry exit system, Brussels Airport, border control, non-EU national, Eurostar passenger
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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 6.535 persons obtained Belgian nationality in July 2025. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in July are Morocco, Romania, Syria, Turkey and Afghanistan.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics, Citizenship & Nationality
Keywords: Belgian nationality, access to nationality
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Belgian Ministers of Justice and Asylum and Migration, Annelies Verlinden and Anneleen Van Bossuyt, visited Albania and Kosovo on 6–8 October 2025. Their discussions addressed migration management, prison overcrowding, and bilateral cooperation in justice and security. Meetings involved national authorities and highlighted ongoing collaboration between Belgium and the two countries.
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Main theme: Irregular Migration, Return & Readmission, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: Belgium, Albania, Kosovo, cooperation, identification, forced return, detainee
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The Flemish government has decided that third-country workers – from outside the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland – will follow a mandatory tailored integration trajectory from 2027. The initiative, proposed by Minister Hilde Crevits, will be delivered digitally and can be started in the country of origin or within six months of arrival in Flanders. The programme provides essential information on work, rights and responsibilities, and Flemish norms and values. Certain temporary or seasonal workers, students, and holiday-work participants are excluded.
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Main theme: Integration, Economic migration
Keywords: migrant worker, self-employed, integration programme, digital learning
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The Fedasil Info Point in Brussels has been supporting asylum seekers and other migrants for two years, providing accessible and centralised information in one location. Since reopening on 27 September 2023 at the former Bordet Hospital site, it has welcomed over 22.000 visitors, mostly single men with ongoing asylum procedures. Visitors most frequently ask about accommodation, medical care, legal support, and other practical matters. Partners such as Caritas International and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) assist in providing guidance and support.
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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 5.523 persons obtained Belgian nationality in June 2025. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in June are Morocco, Syria, Romania, Italy and Turkey.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics, Citizenship & Nationality
Keywords: access to nationality, Belgian nationality
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The Belgian Minister for Equal Opportunities, Rob Beenders, has launched a campaign aimed at employers, HR professionals and relevant actors to promote gender equality in the workplace. It particularly highlights the challenges faced by women of foreign origin and draws on a recent report showing that they encounter structural difficulties, such as precarious work and under-employment. A podcast complements the campaign by giving a voice to migrant women and illustrating their resilience in the face of these obstacles.
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Main theme: Vulnerable groups
Keywords: migrant women, labour market, gender equality, inclusion
Minister Van Bossuyt updates Parliament on internal checks against irregular and secondary migration
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Belgium introduced targeted internal checks in July 2025 to address irregular and secondary migration. The measures are applied at airports, international bus and rail stations, and motorway rest areas. Over 11.000 individuals have been checked, with some ordered to leave the territory or placed in closed centres. The government plans to continue the checks and to conduct a six‑month evaluation.
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Main theme: Borders & Visa, Irregular Migration
Keywords: checks, Belgian territory, irregularly staying third-country national, secondary movement
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Eight officers from the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) have started work at Brussels Airport to assist in return operations. They will operate alongside Belgian police to increase the number of returns. Their deployment follows the adoption of national legislation and a Royal Decree defining their powers and operational zones.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: forced return, Frontex, European Border and Coast Guard, Brussels Airport
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From 1 September 2025, the filing fee for appeals before Belgium’s Council for Alien Law Litigation will increase from €186 to €251, marking a rise of approximately 35%. The fee for parties wishing to intervene in ongoing cases will also increase, from €133 to €180. Legal practitioners are advised to inform clients of the new rates. Questions remain over the impact of these increases on access to justice for vulnerable individuals.
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Main theme: Cross-sectional, Asylum, Migration
Keywords: Council for Alien Law Litigation, appeal procedure, fee
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In the first half of 2025, West Flanders saw 72 transit migrants intercepted, a significant decrease compared with previous years. Most were from Ethiopia, while earlier periods involved people from Sudan, Iraq and Vietnam. Authorities cite preventive policing and cross-border controls as key factors.
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Main theme: Irregular Migration, Smuggling & Trafficking
Keywords: transit migrant, transmigrant, interception, border control
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Fedasil is organising an exhibition on voluntary return and reintegration at the Wintercircus. The Ghent-based Magnum photographer Carl De Keyzer portrays the stories of, among others, Rosa from El Salvador and Igis from Albania. This exhibition is organised in collaboration with Caritas International and the International Organization for Migration, with the support of AMIF.
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Main theme: Return & Readmission
Keywords: voluntary return, reintegration, photo, exhibition
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From 18 August 2025, new rules for family reunification enter into force in Belgium. They do not apply to all applicants. Some cases continue under the old rules, others transition to the new rules in 2027, while certain applications are immediately subject to the new framework. This article explains who is affected and how the rules will change.
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Main theme: Family reunification
Keywords: application for family reunification, family tie, income requirement, minimum age, housing
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According to Statbel, the Belgian statistical office, 4.923 persons obtained Belgian nationality in May 2025. The main countries of origin of people who acquired Belgian nationality in May are Morocco, Romania, Syria, Turkey and Italy.
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Main theme: Data & Statistics, Citizenship & Nationality
Keywords: access to nationality, Belgian nationality
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A European pilot project is underway to improve access to sustainable housing for beneficiaries of international protection and beneficiaries of temporary protection. Running from November 2024 to October 2027, PATHS brings together IOM, Orbit and Fedasil in Belgium, with partners in France and Greece. The initiative focuses on preventing homelessness through housing platforms, stronger intermediary organisations and greater engagement with property owners.
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Main theme: Reception
Keywords: housing shortage, suitable housing, beneficiary of international protection, beneficiary of temporary protection
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From 4 August 2025, Belgium implements two changes affecting international protection procedures. The period to justify absence from personal interviews is reduced from 15 to 8 days. In addition, new applications submitted after a decision on a previous request in another EU Member State are now registered as subsequent applications.