Belgium has pushed through the most far-reaching overhaul of its naturalisation and family-reunification framework in more than a decade. A programme law adopted last summer quietly authorised the government to raise the cost of applying for Belgian nationality from €150 to €1,000, with the amount now indexed annually. The increase – which took effect on 20 February – makes Belgium one of the most expensive EU countries in which to apply for citizenship and comes at a moment when roughly one-third of the population of Brussels is foreign-born. Municipal counters in the capital reported a surge in last-minute filings in the days before the higher fee kicked in.
At the same time the government has introduced stricter income and age thresholds for family reunification. Sponsors must now prove a net monthly income of at least 110 % of the guaranteed minimum wage, plus 10 % for every additional dependent. Recognised refugees only have six months (down from a year) to apply without meeting the income test, while beneficiaries of subsidiary protection must wait two years. The minimum age for a partner joining a resident in Belgium rises from 18 to 21.
Wallonia has aligned its compulsory integration pathway with the federal changes. Newcomers now have three years instead of 18 months to complete language, civic-training and employment-orientation modules. Exemptions have been widened – an A2 average in French is enough to skip further language classes – but anyone below that level must still follow citizenship training in a language they understand. Regional integration centres receive new subsidies and a clearer legal mandate to coach migrants into the labour market.
![Belgium multiplies citizenship fee and tightens family-reunification rules]()
Amid these shifts, many applicants and employers are turning to external specialists for guidance. VisaHQ, through its dedicated Belgium page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/), offers up-to-date intelligence on visa and residency requirements, personalised document checklists, and end-to-end application support, helping individuals and HR teams stay compliant and avoid costly missteps under the new fee and income rules.
The government argues that higher fees and tougher reunification conditions will deter abusive applications and strengthen the link between integration efforts and the acquisition of secure status. Migrant-rights groups counter that the €1,000 fee risks excluding low-income households and will ultimately slow down, rather than speed up, integration. Corporate mobility managers should expect transferees on the path to citizenship to budget extra time and money and to gather more comprehensive financial documentation.
Practically, HR teams will need to factor the €850 price jump into relocation packages and update policy handbooks. Employers sponsoring dependants will also have to review salary benchmarks to ensure the new 110 % income threshold is met, while refugees and protection beneficiaries face shorter or longer grace periods depending on status. Companies may wish to schedule information sessions so that foreign staff understand the new timelines and costs before starting an application.
At the same time the government has introduced stricter income and age thresholds for family reunification. Sponsors must now prove a net monthly income of at least 110 % of the guaranteed minimum wage, plus 10 % for every additional dependent. Recognised refugees only have six months (down from a year) to apply without meeting the income test, while beneficiaries of subsidiary protection must wait two years. The minimum age for a partner joining a resident in Belgium rises from 18 to 21.
Wallonia has aligned its compulsory integration pathway with the federal changes. Newcomers now have three years instead of 18 months to complete language, civic-training and employment-orientation modules. Exemptions have been widened – an A2 average in French is enough to skip further language classes – but anyone below that level must still follow citizenship training in a language they understand. Regional integration centres receive new subsidies and a clearer legal mandate to coach migrants into the labour market.
Amid these shifts, many applicants and employers are turning to external specialists for guidance. VisaHQ, through its dedicated Belgium page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/), offers up-to-date intelligence on visa and residency requirements, personalised document checklists, and end-to-end application support, helping individuals and HR teams stay compliant and avoid costly missteps under the new fee and income rules.
The government argues that higher fees and tougher reunification conditions will deter abusive applications and strengthen the link between integration efforts and the acquisition of secure status. Migrant-rights groups counter that the €1,000 fee risks excluding low-income households and will ultimately slow down, rather than speed up, integration. Corporate mobility managers should expect transferees on the path to citizenship to budget extra time and money and to gather more comprehensive financial documentation.
Practically, HR teams will need to factor the €850 price jump into relocation packages and update policy handbooks. Employers sponsoring dependants will also have to review salary benchmarks to ensure the new 110 % income threshold is met, while refugees and protection beneficiaries face shorter or longer grace periods depending on status. Companies may wish to schedule information sessions so that foreign staff understand the new timelines and costs before starting an application.
