The Belgian Chamber of Representatives has approved a bill to tighten the conditions for family reunification, aiming to reduce the number of foreigners entering Belgium through this channel, especially targeting those with international protection.

The legislation, proposed by Minister of Asylum Anneleen Van Bossuyt, includes stricter income requirements for sponsors, now set at 110% of the average guaranteed minimum monthly income, with an additional 10% for each extra family member, and no cap on this increase.

In addition to stricter income criteria, the bill raises the fees for acquiring Belgian nationality from 150 euros to 1,000 euros, with plans for annual indexing.

The bill extends the waiting period before new arrivals can bring family members and raises the minimum age for family reunification from 18 to 21 years.

For recognized refugees, the period without conditions for family reunification is reduced to six months, but the provision is eliminated for those under subsidiary protection, sparking concerns from the Council of State.

There has been a significant increase in visa applications for family reunification, rising from 9,358 in 2023 to 13,102 in 2024, with more than half of long-term visas issued for this purpose.

The legislation particularly targets individuals benefiting from international protection, reflecting the rising demand for family reunification visas.

The increase in visa applications indicates a rising trend in family reunification requests in Belgium.

Candidates for Belgian nationality will now be required to pass a language test at minimum B1 level and a citizenship test, aligning Belgium with other European countries' regulations.

The new rules increase the income requirement by 10% for each additional family member without a limit, a measure that has faced criticism from the Council of State.

The legislation also introduces a substantial increase in the fee for Belgian nationality, from 150 euros to 1,000 euros, with annual adjustments planned.