The City of Brussels has warned residents and foreign nationals that most in-person services at the Brucity Administrative Centre and its liaison offices will be heavily disrupted from 24 to 26 November because of the nationwide strike. According to an alert posted on 24 November, only limited staff are available to issue population registry extracts, register addresses, and process visa-linked residence cards (A, B, H and EU cards).
For expatriates and newly arrived assignees this timing could not be worse: 25 November traditionally marks the start of the year-end rush to renew Single Permit cards that expire on 31 December. Applicants who cannot finalise biometrics or collect cards risk falling out of status and may need to request provisional “annex 15” certificates to remain compliant.
![Strike shutters key Brussels municipal counters, hindering visa and residence processing]()
The city encourages applicants to use the MyBXL citizen portal to order documents or book appointments once normal service resumes, but warns that backlogs will persist for several weeks. Companies sponsoring non-EU talent should double-check that employees receive automatic extension letters (annex 46/49) from the Brussels-Capital immigration office if renewals cannot be lodged on time.
Public-transport disruption compounds the problem: the STIB-MIVB network is running a skeletal timetable, making it difficult for applicants to reach alternative town-hall offices in outlying communes. Immigration lawyers advise travellers not to leave Belgium with an expired residence card until replacement documents are issued, as airlines may refuse boarding without physical proof of valid status.
Businesses are urged to brief HR teams on the delays, keep digital copies of employee permits on file, and—where possible—shift assignment start dates or remote-work arrangements until municipal services return to full capacity.
For expatriates and newly arrived assignees this timing could not be worse: 25 November traditionally marks the start of the year-end rush to renew Single Permit cards that expire on 31 December. Applicants who cannot finalise biometrics or collect cards risk falling out of status and may need to request provisional “annex 15” certificates to remain compliant.
The city encourages applicants to use the MyBXL citizen portal to order documents or book appointments once normal service resumes, but warns that backlogs will persist for several weeks. Companies sponsoring non-EU talent should double-check that employees receive automatic extension letters (annex 46/49) from the Brussels-Capital immigration office if renewals cannot be lodged on time.
Public-transport disruption compounds the problem: the STIB-MIVB network is running a skeletal timetable, making it difficult for applicants to reach alternative town-hall offices in outlying communes. Immigration lawyers advise travellers not to leave Belgium with an expired residence card until replacement documents are issued, as airlines may refuse boarding without physical proof of valid status.
Businesses are urged to brief HR teams on the delays, keep digital copies of employee permits on file, and—where possible—shift assignment start dates or remote-work arrangements until municipal services return to full capacity.
