Historic drop in the number of asylum seekers in Belgium: our migration policy is paying off.
For the MR, asylum and immigration policy must guarantee the enforcement and monitoring of the rules in force while drastically combating illegal immigration and punishing all abuses in this area. Belgium is a country of human rights, but its laws must be respected.
Thanks to measures introduced by the federal government, the influx of asylum seekers into Belgium is seeing a historic decline. In September, arrivals fell by 21%, and estimates for October predict a 38% drop. For the first time in several years, Belgium is recording a much sharper decrease than the European average. By comparison, Belgium saw a 12% rise in asylum applications in 2024.
How can this decline be explained?
The first measures include:
The gradual end of housing asylum seekers in hotels
About 380 asylum seekers are currently housed in hotel rooms. The federal government will put an end to this practice, which had been introduced by the previous government.
Housing in hotels was an emergency measure to cope with an overloaded reception network. The aim today is to avoid a pull effect. This type of accommodation also sends the wrong signal to citizens. Belgium must of course provide decent housing for asylum seekers, but it must remain modest.
It is also often said that asylum seekers sleep on the street. Among them, some have received several orders to leave the territory (OQT) but do not comply. People who no longer have a right to reception can voluntarily return to their country of origin or to the European country that registered their first application. In that case, they will be supported on a sustainable and stable path for their future.
Finally, there are currently around 36,000 available places in the network, a figure that has never been this high, so there are enough reception places.
The end of multiple applications
Asylum seekers who have already received protection or a negative decision in another EU country will no longer be entitled to reception in Belgium.
The end of abuse of return premiums
The scheme will be revised to put an end to observed abuses and ensure better use of public funds.
The tightening of access conditions for family reunification
On 17 July 2025, the Chamber adopted a bill tightening the conditions for access to family reunification, in line with the government agreement. The percentage of people migrating to Belgium via family reunification has until now been higher than the European average.
Tightening the conditions for family reunification has been a key MR proposal for many years, aimed at strengthening the rules governing migration. In its 2024 programme (as well as in 2019), the MR already made this a flagship measure.
Here are the key points:
- From now on, the reference amount a person must have will be 110% of the average guaranteed minimum monthly income. This amount will be increased by 10% per family member.
- The condition-free period (of sufficient resources, etc.) will be reduced from 12 to 6 months for family members of a foreigner with refugee status or stateless persons.
- The condition-free period is being abolished for family reunification with beneficiaries of subsidiary protection and temporary protection.
- The minimum age for family reunification with a spouse or registered partner is raised to 21 (with the aim of better integration and preventing forced marriages).
- Finally, the waiting period before qualifying for family reunification is being extended, to allow the sponsor to reach a certain degree of stability and integration before being joined by family members.
Social benefits linked to integration efforts
Belgium is regularly criticised by international bodies (EU, Eurostat, OECD) or Belgian institutions (NBB, King Baudouin Foundation) for its lack of integration policies. The employment rate of third-country nationals is low in our country. For example, in 2021, according to Statbel, only 54% of non-European immigrants had a job.
The situation of Ukrainian refugees in our country is similar. 20% of Ukrainian refugees have found work in Belgium, compared with 80% in the Netherlands. More specifically, 36% of Ukrainian refugees are employed in Flanders compared with 16% in Wallonia. These figures demonstrate the importance of integration through employment in reducing social spending. It is therefore essential to activate them.
The aim of the current federal government is therefore to link the level of the integration income to integration itself. This will need to be implemented in cooperation with the regional governments, which are responsible for integration.
Recognised refugees, who currently receive 100% of the integration income, may see their RIS reduced if they do not integrate sufficiently (for example, if the person does not speak one of the national languages, does not work, etc.). As for people benefiting from temporary protection (such as Ukrainians), they will no longer receive 100% of the RIS in future but may receive integration bonuses.
This reform will therefore need to be discussed with the regional governments, which are responsible for integration, training, evaluation and checks.