Belgium fast-tracks family reunification visa process to 15days

The Belgian Immigration Office has set a fast-track family reunification visa which allows dependents of skilled foreign workers reunite with their families in just 15 calendar days, compared to the standard nine-month processing time for regular applications.

This is dependent on meeting the new salary threshold to a minimum of €5,000 for these sponsored work permit holders with dependents.

Those exempt from the new rule are EU Blue cardholders, intra-corporate transferees, researchers with a valid hosting agreement, and self-employed individuals with a valid professional card.

These professionals can still utilise the fast-track visa route without having to meet the new income threshold, as long as they satisfy other eligibility criteria.

This policy change affects foreign nationals applying for fast-track family reunification visas and could influence international hiring decisions.

About the fast-track family reunification visa

The move could significantly impact Belgium’s ability to attract highly skilled professionals from abroad, as many foreign workers consider the possibility of relocating with their families when evaluating job offers in other countries.

However, according to Fragomen, “Although the scope of exceptions is considerable, this policy change will nonetheless make it harder for many foreign nationals to quickly sponsor family members. In turn, employers may find it harder to attract foreign talent with families”.

Nonetheless, Belgium continues to depend on foreign labour to plug shortages in critical sectors such as healthcare, IT, construction, and engineering.

Notably, the EU Blue Card remains an attractive alternative for skilled workers seeking swift family reunification, as it bypasses income restrictions. As a result, more migrants may opt to apply under the Blue Card scheme, provided they meet the eligibility criteria.

Ngozi Ekugo

Ngozi Ekugo is a Senior Correspondent at BusinessDay. She holds a Masters in management from the University of Lagos, an undergraduate from University of Lagos, and is in an alumni of Queen's College. Shes currently an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM). She has a brief experience at Goldman sachs, London in its Human Capital Management division. She is interested in human capital development and is leveraging her varied experience across sectors to report labour and global mobility trends for stakeholders to make informed decisions.