Belgium has officially raised the registration fee for acquiring Belgian nationality from €150 to €1,000 – a near seven-fold jump that immediately makes it one of the most expensive citizenship procedures in the European Union. The measure, published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 19 February and taking effect on 20 February 2026, is part of a wider migration reform package championed by Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt and the governing coalition led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever. Proponents argue that the higher fee will ensure that applicants are serious about integrating and will offset the administrative costs borne by municipalities and the federal Immigration Office.
Alongside the fee increase, Belgium has overhauled its family-reunification regime.
![Belgium multiplies nationality fee to €1,000 and tightens family-reunification rules]()
For those trying to navigate the new fees and stricter documentation requirements, VisaHQ can help simplify the process. The online service provides step-by-step guidance, personalised checklists and real-time updates for Belgian visa and residency applications at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/ reducing the risk of costly errors under the revamped rules.
Sponsors must now prove a net monthly income equal to 110 % of the guaranteed minimum wage, with an extra 10 % for every additional dependent. The minimum age for partners has risen from 18 to 21, while recognised refugees now have only six months (down from one year) to apply for reunification without meeting the income threshold. Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection must wait two full years before they can even file. Officials say the objective is to combat “marriage of convenience” fraud and to “align Belgium with neighbouring countries that already apply stricter standards.” Wallonia has simultaneously relaxed the language-testing requirement in its civic-integration programme, accepting an overall A2 average in French rather than a strict pass in every module. The region’s integration centres receive new subsidies to provide job-coaching and targeted support, while federal authorities have launched the GenderStat.be portal to monitor how integration intersects with gender gaps in employment, income and social security. Business-immigration advisers warn multinationals that the sharply higher nationality fee may discourage long-term assignees from naturalising, potentially complicating intra-EU mobility for key talent. HR managers are therefore reassessing cost projections for permanent transfers, especially for families that now face tougher reunification hurdles and higher proof-of-means thresholds. Companies are also being urged to brief staff on the new timeline: any nationality files lodged from 20 February 2026 onward must include proof of the €1,000 payment. In practical terms, municipalities have reported a short-term rush of last-minute filings before the fee kicked in. Over the medium term, observers expect a dip in applications, particularly among lower-income migrants who may delay or forgo naturalisation. Whether the reform will actually reduce migration flows remains contested, but it undeniably raises the financial bar for full membership in Belgian society – and, by extension, in the wider European Union.
Alongside the fee increase, Belgium has overhauled its family-reunification regime.
For those trying to navigate the new fees and stricter documentation requirements, VisaHQ can help simplify the process. The online service provides step-by-step guidance, personalised checklists and real-time updates for Belgian visa and residency applications at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/ reducing the risk of costly errors under the revamped rules.
Sponsors must now prove a net monthly income equal to 110 % of the guaranteed minimum wage, with an extra 10 % for every additional dependent. The minimum age for partners has risen from 18 to 21, while recognised refugees now have only six months (down from one year) to apply for reunification without meeting the income threshold. Beneficiaries of subsidiary protection must wait two full years before they can even file. Officials say the objective is to combat “marriage of convenience” fraud and to “align Belgium with neighbouring countries that already apply stricter standards.” Wallonia has simultaneously relaxed the language-testing requirement in its civic-integration programme, accepting an overall A2 average in French rather than a strict pass in every module. The region’s integration centres receive new subsidies to provide job-coaching and targeted support, while federal authorities have launched the GenderStat.be portal to monitor how integration intersects with gender gaps in employment, income and social security. Business-immigration advisers warn multinationals that the sharply higher nationality fee may discourage long-term assignees from naturalising, potentially complicating intra-EU mobility for key talent. HR managers are therefore reassessing cost projections for permanent transfers, especially for families that now face tougher reunification hurdles and higher proof-of-means thresholds. Companies are also being urged to brief staff on the new timeline: any nationality files lodged from 20 February 2026 onward must include proof of the €1,000 payment. In practical terms, municipalities have reported a short-term rush of last-minute filings before the fee kicked in. Over the medium term, observers expect a dip in applications, particularly among lower-income migrants who may delay or forgo naturalisation. Whether the reform will actually reduce migration flows remains contested, but it undeniably raises the financial bar for full membership in Belgian society – and, by extension, in the wider European Union.
