Stricter rules for refugees remaining in Belgium and for family reunification

The federal government has reached an agreement in principle on the tightening of residency and family reunification rules applicable to persons with official refugee status. For example, refugees would no longer be granted a permanent residence permit. “Once the conflict in their country of origin has been resolved they can, in principle, return,” says Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Theo Francken. In addition, both the conditions and procedure for family reunification would become a great deal stricter.

A person with refugee status currently has one year to request family reunification under the more lenient conditions. “The family member requesting reunification does not have to, for example, prove that he or she has adequate and sufficiently stable income, proper housing and health insurance,” clarifies Francken. “However, he or she must demonstrate that the family members being relocated do not pose a danger to public order, safety or health. Moreover, all of these family members must actually live together here in Belgium.” The government now wishes to shorten this period of time with the more lenient rules.

Preventing misuse of the system
The government also wishes to extend the period for processing a family reunification case. Currently, such a request must be processed within six months, and if it is not the request is automatically approved. Francken believes that “given the large number of refugees and the delicate nature of such cases, our administrations must have more of a margin to make a well-founded decision. This is the only way we can prevent misuse of the system.”