After several months of negotiations, the partners reached a federal coalition agreement on 31 January 2025. The approximately 200-page document covers all federal matters, including a chapter on asylum and migration.

In general, the new government wants to reduce the number of asylum applications in Belgium, fight against illegal migration and attract those who economically and socially contribute to the society. At the institutional level, the agreement provides for the grouping together of the Immigration Office, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, Fedasil, and the Council for Aliens Law Litigation under an umbrella, namely the Federal Public Service Migration.

Here are some of the more specific objectives mentioned in the area for the period 2025-2029:

• Actions will be implemented to significantly and structurally reduce the number of arrivals of asylum seekers and, once these measures have produced their effects, gradually and significantly restrict the number of reception places.
   
• New modern information campaigns will be launched to correctly inform particular target groups, inter alia applicants originating from “safe countries” and countries whose nationals are unlikely to be granted international protection.
   
• The duty of cooperation of the applicant for international protection will be reinforced. The search of mobile phones, tablets or other devices will be directly and automatically an integral part of the examination of asylum applications.
   
• Persons who do not comply with the provisions of the newcomer’s declaration and who do not integrate sufficiently into the society, will be refused entry or, where applicable, lose their right of residence in Belgium.
   
• Requirements for family reunification will be strengthened. Family reunification will be linked to binding (pre)integration conditions, both for the sponsor and the applicant.
   
• Measures will be adopted to better integrate foreign nationals into the labour market. In this regard, the single permit procedure will be simplified, and more controls will be implemented to combat the exploitation of migrant workers.
   
• As part of the fight against trafficking and exploitation of human beings, social inspection services, the police and the justice system will be strengthened.
   
• Foreigners who have committed crimes or represent a danger to public order or national security will lose their right of residence and be subject to forced return.
   
• An “effective, firm but humane return policy” will be a priority for the new government. In this context, the reception capacity of closed centres will be at least doubled. The Immigration Office will have the possibility, in collaboration with the police and with the authorisation of an investigating judge, to access the residence of people who have exhausted all avenues of appeal and refuse any access, with the aim of carrying out a removal measure.
   
• Newcomers will have to wait 5 years before being entitled to social assistance except for people who, for medical reasons, are absolutely unable to work.
   
• The declaration of nationality will become significantly more expensive. The application fee will be increased to 1.000 euros, with indexation.

The above-mentioned agreement has sparked numerous reactions, particularly from civil society organisations. The Human Rights League expressed concerns, in particular, about the new government's intention to reduce the reception capacity. It also expressed concern about the "significant restrictions" planned in terms of access to and effectiveness of appeal procedures, access to social security and family reunification. Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen also writes that it is "very concerned about the Arizona government's migration plans". According to the organisation, "these plans do not solve the real problems of our society – such as healthcare, housing and growing income inequality(...). This policy shifts the focus and increases the pressure on vulnerable groups in our society".

For further details, please read the federal coalition agreement (in French or in Dutch) attached below.