Belgium is standing at a difficult crossroads, where political decisions about migration are becoming stricter and more restrictive, while the country at the same time is facing serious labor shortages and a rapidly aging population that will need more workers, not fewer, in the years ahead. Overall, major changes have been announced, such as:
- Reduced asylum approval rates and limited access to reception centers.
- Family reunification now requires immediate proof of higher income.
- Asylum seekers must wait five years before accessing full social assistance.
- Residency rules have become stricter, with tougher integration and language requirements.
- Border controls and deportation measures have been expanded to discourage new arrivals.
A Political Turn Toward “Controlled Migration”
In recent years, Belgium has introduced what officials describe as the strictest asylum and migration policy in its history, presenting these reforms as necessary to restore order, reduce costs, and respond to public concerns about security and reception capacity.
Approval rates for asylum applications have fallen sharply, dropping from 47% in 2024 to 28.4% in 2025, while new measures have limited access to reception centers, tightened family reunification rules, and introduced stricter integration and welfare conditions for newcomers.
Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt has described the approach as one of “controlled migration,” arguing that the reforms will save more than €1.5 billion during the current parliamentary term and reduce pressure on public services.
However, critics — including NGOs, unions, and legal experts — argue that these policies have created new humanitarian and legal problems, including rising homelessness among asylum seekers and repeated court rulings against Belgium for failing to provide adequate accommodation.
Belgium’s policy shift does not exist in isolation, because across Europe, migration debates have become increasingly influenced by security concerns and political pressure rather than by economic planning.
Under the European Union, the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum strengthens border procedures and expands the use of so-called “hotspots” at external borders, where asylum seekers are screened and sometimes detained while their cases are examined.
Belgium has also extended internal border verification operations within the Schengen Agreement area, particularly along transport routes associated with migration from southern Europe, and has participated financially in the EU “solidarity mechanism,” even while refusing to accept relocated asylum seekers.
The message from authorities has become clear and direct: migration must be limited, monitored, and carefully filtered.
A Labor Market Under Pressure
While migration rules are tightening, Belgium’s labor market is sending a very different signal.
This further means, in Flanders alone, authorities list 251 shortage occupations, including nurses, construction workers, technical specialists, and skilled trades, and employers regularly report that they cannot fill open positions even after long recruitment efforts.
The demographic reality is even more concerning because Belgium is approaching a tipping point in the late 2030s when deaths are expected to outnumber births, meaning that without migration, the working-age population will shrink significantly.
According to the National Bank of Belgium, migration contributed approximately 3.5% to GDP growth between 2012 and 2016, showing that newcomers have played a measurable role in economic expansion.
Migration and Economic Contribution
| Factor | Impact on Belgium’s Economy |
| First-generation migrants | Slightly lower average fiscal contribution than native-born workers |
| Second-generation migrants | Higher contribution, due to younger age and stronger employment rates |
| Overall migration impact | Helped boost GDP growth and labor supply |
| Future outlook | Essential to sustain the working-age population after the 2030s |
Reception Policy
Belgium’s reception system has changed deeply since the crisis that began in 2021, and critics argue that the approach has become primarily deterrent rather than protective.
Reception will now be limited to basic support — a bed, food, hygiene, and minimal guidance — while access to social assistance has been delayed for most newcomers, who must wait five years instead of three months and complete a more demanding integration program before becoming eligible.
Family reunification has also become more difficult, as refugees must immediately prove a net income of at least €2,131, plus an additional 10% per family member, before applying to bring relatives to Belgium.
At the same time, naturalization fees have increased dramatically, rising from €150 to €1,000, which critics argue risks turning citizenship into a privilege rather than a realistic path to integration.
A Strategy of Deterrence
The government’s broader program, sometimes associated with the so-called “Arizona” agreement, focuses strongly on discouraging both arrival and long-term settlement.
Key elements include:
- Expanding the list of “safe countries.”
- Doubling the capacity of closed detention centers.
- Ending certain local reception initiatives.
- Restricting return procedures and strengthening deportation enforcement
- Considering tighter rules for emergency medical assistance.
Furthermore, the supporters argue that these measures restore credibility and control, while opponents warn that reducing safe and legal pathways may increase irregular migration risks and humanitarian costs.