Corporate relocations are not just about the assignee. Many include the family of the expat who join them for the duration of the placement. This makes moving all members of the family a crucial part of any relocation process.
Historically, in Belgium, this has been made much easier by a relaxing of the rules around category D visas for the families of expats entering the region. Whilst not a formal stance, this has long been the norm for Belgium. These discretionary family reunification visas have been used to enable the family of the assignee to move to Belgium with them without the delays which would usually apply.
But, as of earlier this year, 2025, that’s all changed.
'Whilst migration must be controlled and rules enforced; in this instance we can’t help but see this as counterproductive. '
Tightening the rules
From early 2025 it was clear that the Belgian immigration office, the Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken (DVZ), had changed stance on family reunification visas.
The process has been that these category D visas could be applied for via local embassies who were able to expedite the application, ignoring the usual processing time. However, since the start of the year, this has no longer been the case. The DVZ has made it necessary for all family reunification visas to follow the same process and timelines.
This has been confirmed by the DVZ themselves.
So, what’s the problem?
The standard category D visa takes upwards of nine months to process and receive and can, at busy times, take even longer. This delay can have a profound impact on the ability of some assignees to take roles, with few jobs having a lead time in excess of nine months.
This may lead to some talent being unable to take jobs which they are needed in, as they are unable to move their family with them.
Other solutions
Whilst it remains possible for an embassy to issue a reunification visa ex officio, that is without an application, the rules around this set a prohibitively high bar.
Specifically, the assignee must earn a gross salary of 5,000 euros or more per month. This figure vastly outstrips any other earning requirements in the region. For example, the reference amount for a standard family reunification visa sits at around 2150 euros net per month. Whilst a minimum of just over 3500 euros gross per month is in place for a highly skilled worker taking a combined permit in the Brussels region.
This has the overall result that many highly skill migrant workers will no longer be able to use the ex officio route and so become subject to the long, and uncertain wait that the standard application process prescribes.
Not the time for enforcement
There are, globally, shortages in many highly skilled areas. This makes competition for top talent very high across the world. Many regions offer favourable terms in the form of tax and visas to draw the right people into their businesses and so economy.
By placing barriers to entry for the families of migrant workers, the DVZ has made Belgium substantially less attractive. This makes it less likely that the best workers will choose to enter the region, continuing the labour shortage in key sectors, lowering business performance and so cutting tax revenue.
Additionally, in not actively communicating this change publicly, the DVZ didn’t allow the industry to prepare to the tightening of these rules. Whilst we don’t dispute their right to do so, communication and dialogue ahead of their enforcement would have led to a better outcome for all involved.
Whilst migration must be controlled and rules enforced; in this instance we can’t help but see this as counterproductive.
Belgium is looking to reinforce and expand its position as a global player, attracting business from around the world. With the continued shortage of workers in key, central roles throughout the region, it’s never been more important to make the process of coming to the area easier.
By making it harder for expats to move with their family to Belgium, the DVZ has made things worse. In this instance, the choice to remove a way to attract the best talent to the region and not make them choose between their career and their family, is as poorly timed as it is conceived.
We hope that this stance is reconsidered before the damage to the reputation of the region as expat-friendly is changed in a lasting way.
Got questions or need immigration support – either as an expat or an employer of international talent? Reach out to our legal and immigration specialists for personalised advice.
You also might like to visit our past events page, where you can find the snapshot presentations by Xpatriate and NewlandChase on the Belgian and Flemish updates respectively.
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