People who do not yet hold a residence permit in Belgium but have applied for residence or international protection with the Immigration Office will now be identified and monitored far more reliably across the country.

The federal government is creating a legal framework allowing, subject to prior authorisation from an investigating judge, a home visit to be carried out with a view to enforcing a return decision. This measure may only be considered where the following cumulative conditions are met: 1° there are reasonable grounds to consider that the foreign national represents a danger to public order or national security; 2° the foreign national is staying illegally and is subject to a return decision; 3° the foreign national is not cooperating with the enforcement of that decision; 4° there are reasonable grounds to believe that they are at their place of residence; 5° it must be a measure of last resort, i.e. no other, less intrusive measure can be applied effectively; 6° the authorisation is proportionate.

The federal government is expanding the list of offences that can lead to deprivation of nationality, including organised crime in a leadership role, homicide and sexual offences. The limitation period for bringing deprivation proceedings is extended from 10 to 15 years. In the event of a conviction for terrorist offences, the judge will be required to rule on the question of deprivation. If the judge decides not to impose deprivation of nationality, they will have to give specific reasons why the consequences of the measure would be manifestly unreasonable and disproportionate.

Asylum seekers who already enjoy protection in another Member State will no longer be entitled to reception in Belgium. Where their application has already been rejected in another Member State, it will be processed more quickly and, where appropriate, declared inadmissible by the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons. In line with the coalition agreement, the conditions for family reunification are also tightened. Key measures include: reducing or abolishing the grace period, extending the waiting period before reunification, raising the minimum age for spouses to 21, and raising the income requirement to 110% of the minimum income, plus 10% per family member.

Newcomers will now have to wait five years before they can receive social assistance. The amount of that assistance will also be adjusted according to the integration efforts made. This measure sets a clearer framework: access to solidarity goes hand in hand with a genuine integration pathway, with rights but also responsibilities.

The Aliens Act is being amended to introduce into Belgian law a lifetime entry ban applicable to entities validated in the joint database “Terrorism, extremism, radicalisation process”.

The fee for applying for Belgian nationality rises from 150 euros to 1,000 euros. This change better reflects the importance of the step and the administrative cost it entails.