Belgium’s Immigration Office (Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken) quietly updated its guidance on 1 March 2026 to reflect a new, higher income threshold that sponsors must meet when applying to bring family members to Belgium. The benchmark—tied to the guaranteed average minimum monthly income—has been indexed from €2,131.28 to €2,173.88 net per month.
The change stems from the Federal Government’s 2025 Easter Agreement, which tightened family-reunification rules in a bid to curb what officials called “pull factors”. In addition to the annual indexation, the 2025 law introduced a baseline of 110 percent of the GAMMI, with a 10 percent surcharge for every additional dependent. For example, a worker wishing to bring a spouse and two children must now show net resources of at least €2,787.69 per month.
Corporate immigration advisers warn that the higher bar could complicate talent-mobility planning—particularly for multinational companies relocating lower-paid staff or trainees. Employers should review salary packages early in the assignment-planning cycle to ensure compliance and avoid costly rejections that can jeopardise project timelines.
![Belgium raises minimum income requirement for family-reunification visas]()
For organisations or private sponsors seeking hands-on assistance with Belgian residence and visa applications, VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides a user-friendly portal that breaks down requirements, reviews supporting documents, and tracks filings end-to-end. Using the service can help applicants confirm they satisfy the latest income thresholds and avoid the delays that come with incomplete submissions.
Practically, sponsors must document income via recent payslips, Belgian tax assessments (fiche 281.10) or firm employment contracts. The Immigration Office emphasises that only “stable, regular and adequate” means count; bonuses and overtime are scrutinised for consistency.
While critics argue the measure risks separating families and disproportionately affecting migrants in vital sectors such as care and hospitality, the government maintains that stricter economic criteria are necessary to preserve social-welfare sustainability. The Constitutional Court is still reviewing broader challenges to the 2025 migration package, but the indexation is in force immediately.
The change stems from the Federal Government’s 2025 Easter Agreement, which tightened family-reunification rules in a bid to curb what officials called “pull factors”. In addition to the annual indexation, the 2025 law introduced a baseline of 110 percent of the GAMMI, with a 10 percent surcharge for every additional dependent. For example, a worker wishing to bring a spouse and two children must now show net resources of at least €2,787.69 per month.
Corporate immigration advisers warn that the higher bar could complicate talent-mobility planning—particularly for multinational companies relocating lower-paid staff or trainees. Employers should review salary packages early in the assignment-planning cycle to ensure compliance and avoid costly rejections that can jeopardise project timelines.
For organisations or private sponsors seeking hands-on assistance with Belgian residence and visa applications, VisaHQ (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) provides a user-friendly portal that breaks down requirements, reviews supporting documents, and tracks filings end-to-end. Using the service can help applicants confirm they satisfy the latest income thresholds and avoid the delays that come with incomplete submissions.
Practically, sponsors must document income via recent payslips, Belgian tax assessments (fiche 281.10) or firm employment contracts. The Immigration Office emphasises that only “stable, regular and adequate” means count; bonuses and overtime are scrutinised for consistency.
While critics argue the measure risks separating families and disproportionately affecting migrants in vital sectors such as care and hospitality, the government maintains that stricter economic criteria are necessary to preserve social-welfare sustainability. The Constitutional Court is still reviewing broader challenges to the 2025 migration package, but the indexation is in force immediately.
