The Belgian Immigration Office has quietly instructed consular posts worldwide to verify—before issuing any D-visa—that the sponsor in Belgium meets the stringent “sufficient resources” test for family reunification. Although the obligation has existed in law since 2011, it was often checked only after the family member arrived. As of 17 December 2025, officers must see proof that the resident’s net monthly income reaches at least €2,323.08 for the spouse or first dependent, plus 10 % for every additional dependent.
In practice, this means a family of four now needs a sponsor earning roughly €5,100 net per month—a level many blue-collar and even mid-level employees do not reach. Applications that fall short will be refused at source, saving administration costs but potentially splitting families for months while sponsors seek better-paid employment or file appeals.
VisaHQ’s Belgium specialists can streamline the family-reunification visa process by pre-screening salary evidence against the latest indexed thresholds and liaising with consulates on document completeness. Sponsors, HR managers and relocating employees can begin a tailored case review at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/ to avoid rejected applications and costly delays.
![Belgium Starts Enforcing Higher Income Thresholds for Family-Reunification Visas]()
HR teams should warn foreign assignees who intend to bring spouses or children that Belgian payroll data—not projected future earnings—will be determinative. Employers may need to adjust compensation packages or provide official salary attestations early in the process. Failure to plan could delay school enrolment, housing contracts and project start-dates.
Law firms expect a spike in appeals, because the income figures are indexed twice per year and can change in the middle of an application. The Immigration Office has not offered any transitional leniency; files pending on 17 December will be re-examined under the stricter guidance.
Belgium already has some of the EU’s longest family-reunification processing times. This tighter practice could push families to consider alternative EU entry routes (for example, settling first in the Netherlands or France) before re-joining the main assignee in Belgium—adding complexity for corporate mobility programmes.
In practice, this means a family of four now needs a sponsor earning roughly €5,100 net per month—a level many blue-collar and even mid-level employees do not reach. Applications that fall short will be refused at source, saving administration costs but potentially splitting families for months while sponsors seek better-paid employment or file appeals.
VisaHQ’s Belgium specialists can streamline the family-reunification visa process by pre-screening salary evidence against the latest indexed thresholds and liaising with consulates on document completeness. Sponsors, HR managers and relocating employees can begin a tailored case review at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/ to avoid rejected applications and costly delays.
HR teams should warn foreign assignees who intend to bring spouses or children that Belgian payroll data—not projected future earnings—will be determinative. Employers may need to adjust compensation packages or provide official salary attestations early in the process. Failure to plan could delay school enrolment, housing contracts and project start-dates.
Law firms expect a spike in appeals, because the income figures are indexed twice per year and can change in the middle of an application. The Immigration Office has not offered any transitional leniency; files pending on 17 December will be re-examined under the stricter guidance.
Belgium already has some of the EU’s longest family-reunification processing times. This tighter practice could push families to consider alternative EU entry routes (for example, settling first in the Netherlands or France) before re-joining the main assignee in Belgium—adding complexity for corporate mobility programmes.
