In a late-night deal struck in Brussels on 18 December 2025, EU negotiators approved a regulation that will treat Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia as “safe countries of origin”. Under the new rules, asylum applications from nationals of these states will move to an accelerated procedure lasting a maximum of 12 weeks, with the burden of proof reversed – applicants must now demonstrate why they personally face persecution despite their country’s ‘safe’ designation.
The change is part of the long-awaited Pact on Migration and Asylum that is due to take effect in June 2026. Belgian officials, who chaired several of the working-group meetings, argue the measure will reduce the administrative backlog that clogs reception centres in Belgium and elsewhere. The Belgian Immigration Office reported 4,300 pending cases from the seven newly listed countries in November alone; those files will now shift to the fast lane once the regulation is formally adopted.
![EU Fast-Tracks Asylum Claims from Seven ‘Safe’ Countries, Brussels Confirms]()
VisaHQ, an online visa and immigration support platform, can guide both employers and travellers through these shifting Belgian requirements. Its Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) consolidates real-time updates on visa categories, document checklists and processing forecasts, and its specialists can liaise with Belgian consulates to reduce delays while authorities reallocate resources under the new “safe country” framework.
For employers, the biggest impact is likely to be indirect: shorter asylum processes free up clerical capacity in overstretched immigration departments, speeding up work-permit renewals and EU Blue-Card processing times in Belgium. Human-rights groups, however, warn that accelerated rejections could increase the number of irregular stayers, complicating workplace compliance checks for multinationals. Companies sending assignees to Belgium are advised to review internal mobility policies that reference dependants’ right to stay, as spouses from the seven ‘safe’ countries could face heightened scrutiny.
Practically, business travellers from the listed states should anticipate more robust border questioning until the new rules bed in. Belgian carriers have already received guidance to brief crews on the documentation required for passengers who may wish to claim asylum on arrival. Employers should keep watch for additional implementing decrees from the Belgian Interior Ministry in early 2026, which will spell out appeal deadlines and legal aid provisions.
The change is part of the long-awaited Pact on Migration and Asylum that is due to take effect in June 2026. Belgian officials, who chaired several of the working-group meetings, argue the measure will reduce the administrative backlog that clogs reception centres in Belgium and elsewhere. The Belgian Immigration Office reported 4,300 pending cases from the seven newly listed countries in November alone; those files will now shift to the fast lane once the regulation is formally adopted.
VisaHQ, an online visa and immigration support platform, can guide both employers and travellers through these shifting Belgian requirements. Its Belgium portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) consolidates real-time updates on visa categories, document checklists and processing forecasts, and its specialists can liaise with Belgian consulates to reduce delays while authorities reallocate resources under the new “safe country” framework.
For employers, the biggest impact is likely to be indirect: shorter asylum processes free up clerical capacity in overstretched immigration departments, speeding up work-permit renewals and EU Blue-Card processing times in Belgium. Human-rights groups, however, warn that accelerated rejections could increase the number of irregular stayers, complicating workplace compliance checks for multinationals. Companies sending assignees to Belgium are advised to review internal mobility policies that reference dependants’ right to stay, as spouses from the seven ‘safe’ countries could face heightened scrutiny.
Practically, business travellers from the listed states should anticipate more robust border questioning until the new rules bed in. Belgian carriers have already received guidance to brief crews on the documentation required for passengers who may wish to claim asylum on arrival. Employers should keep watch for additional implementing decrees from the Belgian Interior Ministry in early 2026, which will spell out appeal deadlines and legal aid provisions.
