A wild-cat strike at Belgium’s postal operator Bpost has blocked all three distribution centres in Brussels for nearly two weeks, paralysing mail deliveries of biometric residence cards, work-permit approval letters and bank PIN codes. Belga News Agency reports that talks with unions collapsed late on 24 April, dashing hopes of an immediate return to work.
Under Belgium’s decentralised residence-card system, local municipalities print cards but dispatch them exclusively by registered post. The stoppage therefore traps thousands of newcomers in administrative limbo: without the card they cannot complete town-hall registration, travel outside the Schengen Area or open Belgian bank accounts.
![Bpost Strike Leaves Brussels Without Residence Cards, Delays Immigration Paperwork]()
During disruptions like these, VisaHQ can assist by coordinating alternative document procurement or advising on emergency travel documentation requirements. Its Brussels-focused page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) outlines services that range from visa facilitation to guidance on residence permits, helping employers and assignees navigate sudden administrative hurdles.
Companies waiting for single-permit approval letters likewise face onboarding delays. While the majority of Bpost staff have returned to work, a small group continues to blockade the Brussels hubs. In Wallonia several centres are partially disrupted; Flanders remains largely unaffected. Public Enterprises Minister Vanessa Matz told RTBF she is examining contingency options, including outsourcing critical government mailings to private couriers—an unprecedented move that would require emergency legislation. Global mobility teams are scrambling for work-arounds. Some clients have arranged in-person pick-up of cards at municipal counters, but emergency slots are reportedly booked until mid-May. Others are issuing letters of explanation to airline check-in staff to mitigate re-entry risks for employees who must travel. With no agreement in sight, employers are being urged to factor postal delays into project timelines and to brief affected assignees on travel restrictions.
Under Belgium’s decentralised residence-card system, local municipalities print cards but dispatch them exclusively by registered post. The stoppage therefore traps thousands of newcomers in administrative limbo: without the card they cannot complete town-hall registration, travel outside the Schengen Area or open Belgian bank accounts.
During disruptions like these, VisaHQ can assist by coordinating alternative document procurement or advising on emergency travel documentation requirements. Its Brussels-focused page (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) outlines services that range from visa facilitation to guidance on residence permits, helping employers and assignees navigate sudden administrative hurdles.
Companies waiting for single-permit approval letters likewise face onboarding delays. While the majority of Bpost staff have returned to work, a small group continues to blockade the Brussels hubs. In Wallonia several centres are partially disrupted; Flanders remains largely unaffected. Public Enterprises Minister Vanessa Matz told RTBF she is examining contingency options, including outsourcing critical government mailings to private couriers—an unprecedented move that would require emergency legislation. Global mobility teams are scrambling for work-arounds. Some clients have arranged in-person pick-up of cards at municipal counters, but emergency slots are reportedly booked until mid-May. Others are issuing letters of explanation to airline check-in staff to mitigate re-entry risks for employees who must travel. With no agreement in sight, employers are being urged to factor postal delays into project timelines and to brief affected assignees on travel restrictions.
