Belgian Parliament passes tighter migration rules

Belgian Parliament passes tighter migration rules
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The Belgian Parliament on Friday passed a bill tightening migration regulations, with a particular emphasis on family reunification, Anadolu Agency reported. The bill, proposed by Belgian Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt, increases the income requirements for individuals applying for family reunification.

The legislation seeks to curb the number of migrants entering Belgium through family reunification, which is one of the country’s primary migration routes. In 2024, there were 13,102 visa applications based on family reunification, compared to 9,358 the previous year.

Under the new law, applicants must earn at least 110% of the guaranteed minimum income (€2,323 or $2,704), plus an extra 10% for each additional family member. The bill also reduces or removes condition-free periods for family members of refugees and extends the waiting period before newcomers can bring relatives to Belgium. Additionally, the minimum age for family reunification has been raised to 21.

In a separate unanimous vote, Parliament adopted a resolution urging the European Union to classify Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. The resolution also calls for stricter economic sanctions on Tehran and the inclusion of Iranian judges, prison officials, and others involved in executions and trials on the EU sanctions list.