Belgium’s Council of Ministers has approved—at second reading—a draft law empowering police, with a judge’s warrant, to enter private residences to detain foreign nationals who ignore enforceable removal orders. The proposal, green-lit on 3 April and published on 7 April, amends the landmark 1980 Immigration Act by inserting Articles 74/7 and 74/7/1. Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt argues the measure will close an “enforcement gap” that lets absconding deportees shelter behind the constitutional inviolability of the home. Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden says entry will be exceptional, limited to cases posing a public-order or security threat and always subject to a judge’s prior written authorisation. Civil-liberty groups, including Amnesty International’s Belgian section, call the bill disproportionate and potentially incompatible with Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Council of State will deliver a fresh opinion within 30 days, after which Parliament must still vote—meaning the earliest in-force date is late summer 2026.
![Bill Allowing Police Home Entry for Irregular-Migrant Arrests Moves Forward]()
For companies and individuals needing clarity on Belgium’s fast-evolving immigration framework, VisaHQ can streamline the process of securing the correct visas, residence permits, and renewals. Our online platform and local experts monitor legislative changes—such as the pending Articles 74/7 and 74/7/1—and guide users through compliant documentation, appointment scheduling, and deadline tracking. Explore tailored support at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
From a corporate-mobility perspective, the signal is clear: overstaying or non-compliance with residence-card renewal could soon trigger more forceful enforcement. Employers should audit record-keeping for posted-worker notifications and single-permit holders nearing contract end dates, ensuring departure or status-switch arrangements are documented. If enacted, Belgium would join the Netherlands and Sweden in giving police conditional access to homes for migration enforcement—evidence of a continental shift toward tougher return policies ahead of the EU Migration Pact’s operational phase in June 2026.
For companies and individuals needing clarity on Belgium’s fast-evolving immigration framework, VisaHQ can streamline the process of securing the correct visas, residence permits, and renewals. Our online platform and local experts monitor legislative changes—such as the pending Articles 74/7 and 74/7/1—and guide users through compliant documentation, appointment scheduling, and deadline tracking. Explore tailored support at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
From a corporate-mobility perspective, the signal is clear: overstaying or non-compliance with residence-card renewal could soon trigger more forceful enforcement. Employers should audit record-keeping for posted-worker notifications and single-permit holders nearing contract end dates, ensuring departure or status-switch arrangements are documented. If enacted, Belgium would join the Netherlands and Sweden in giving police conditional access to homes for migration enforcement—evidence of a continental shift toward tougher return policies ahead of the EU Migration Pact’s operational phase in June 2026.
