Belgium tightens family reunification rules
New rules on family reunification take effect in Belgium on Monday, introducing stricter conditions for those who want to bring relatives into the country. The measures were agreed as part of the federal government’s Easter Agreement earlier this year.
Family reunification remains Belgium’s largest legal migration route, with almost 60,000 residence permits granted on this basis in 2024. Migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt of N-VA said the changes were necessary to reduce pressure on social services.
“Our rules were far too lax, making Belgium a magnet for migrants and asylum seekers,” she said. “With these measures we are breaking that pull.”
The reform raises the minimum income required to sponsor family members. Applicants must now prove earnings of at least 110 per cent of the guaranteed minimum wage - around 2,300 euros a month - plus 10 per cent for each additional dependent.
The minimum age to apply for reunification with a partner rises from 18 to 21, aimed at preventing forced and child marriages. “A marriage must never be a tool to obtain residence rights,” Van Bossuyt said.
For people with temporary protection status, the rules become much tougher. Family formation is no longer allowed. Reunification will only be possible after a two-year wait and on condition of adequate income, housing and health insurance.
“Research shows reunification leads to higher wages, more Dutch language learning and greater participation”
Not all experts are convinced the measures will have the desired effect. On Radio 1, Pascal Debruyne, a migration researcher at Odisee University of Applied Sciences, said requiring higher earnings is not straightforward.
According to Debruyne, family reunification itself often drives integration and social mobility. “Once the family is here, people can plan ahead. Research shows reunification leads to higher wages, more Dutch language learning and greater participation,” he said.
Policy shift
Debruyne also questioned whether stricter rules would reduce migration. He noted that people primarily move for family, community and job opportunities: “If families cannot come legally, they will find other ways. Tougher rules do not necessarily mean less family reunification in practice.”
The new reunification measures form part of a broader migration policy shift under prime minister Bart De Wever, who has promised the strictest asylum and migration regime in Belgium’s history.
Migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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