Foreign-born population – 2024 | 19.9% of the population | Main countries of birth: |
2.3 million, 51% women | Evolution since 2014: +33% | Morocco (10%), France (8%), the Netherlands (6%) |
International Migration Outlook 2025
In 2024, Belgium received 106 000 new immigrants on a long-term or permanent basis (including changes of status and free mobility), as in 2023. This figure comprises 59% immigrants benefitting from free mobility, 7% labour migrants, 20% family members (including accompanying family) and 15% humanitarian migrants. Around 9 800 permits were issued to tertiary-level international students and 1 100 to temporary and seasonal labour migrants (excluding intra-EU migration). In addition, 231 000 intra-EU postings were recorded in 2023, a 7% increase compared to 2022. These posted workers are generally on short-term contracts.
Romania, Ukraine and France were the top three nationalities of newcomers in 2023. Among the top 15 countries of origin, Syria registered the strongest increase (1 900) and Ukraine the largest decrease (‑37 000) in flows to Belgium compared to the previous year.
In 2024, the number of first asylum applicants increased by 13%, to reach around 33 000. The majority of applicants came from Syria (5 300), the West Bank and Gaza Strip (5 300) and Eritrea (2 300). The largest increase since 2023 concerned nationals of West Bank and Gaza Strip (2 400) and the largest decrease nationals of Afghanistan (‑700). Of the 32 000 decisions taken in 2024, 49% were positive.
Emigration of Belgian citizens to OECD countries increased by 1% in 2023, to 28 000. Approximately 28% of this group migrated to France, 21% to Spain and 12% to the Netherlands.
Under Belgium’s federal system, the regions have competence for a wide range of labour migration and integration roles. In 2024, all regions introduced new bills.
In the Brussels-Capital Region (as of October 2024), the main changes include a new method of calculating minimum wages and a shortage‑list exemption from the labour market test.
In the Walloon Region (as of September 2024), the main changes include new work permit exemptions; changes in salary thresholds and calculations; an increased role for the Public Employment Service (FOREM) in administering the labour market test; easier employer change but additional refusal grounds. The Walloon Government also adopted a thorough revision of its integration strategy.
In the Flemish Region (as of May 2024), the main changes include an extended labour market test. In particular, the Region aims to focus more on attracting talent in sectors facing shortages; in addition, the Region raised the requisites for language learning, civic orientation, and long-term social participation.
Following elections in 2024, the incoming federal coalition partners reached a federal coalition agreement on 31 January 2025 Objectives in the plan regard migration in the 2025‑2029 period. The new government wants to reduce the number of asylum applications in Belgium, fight against illegal migration and attract foreigners who contribute economically and socially. The agreement aims to consolidate the Immigration Office, the Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, Fedasil, and the Council for Aliens Law Litigation under one institution, the “Federal Public Service Migration”.
On 11 April 2025, the Council of Ministers agreed on a package of crisis measures and four draft bills have been submitted to the Council of State for review. These include inter alia: i) Limiting reception (Reception will be restricted (a) if protection was granted in another EU Member State, (b) for minors applying independently after their parents’ application has been denied); ii) Restricting subsequent applications for individuals who have received a decision in another country, limiting review to new elements; iii) Stricter family reunification, though (a) increasing the financial requirement for family reunification to 110% of the guaranteed minimum income, with an additional 10% for each extra person, (b) extending the waiting period for reunification by up to two years, depending on the applicant’s status, and reducing the waiting period for family reunification without conditions for recognised refugees to six months, (c) tightening rules for family reunification for those with subsidiary or temporary protection; iv) Ending integration income for applicants for international protection – applicants will no longer be eligible for social assistance from public welfare centres, and only Fedasil, the Federal Agency for Asylum Seekers, will provide material support. A new law (September 2024) introduces a new administrative procedure to grant residence permits on the grounds of statelessness. Previously, recognised stateless persons could only obtain residence through humanitarian regularisation.
In March 2025, Belgium extended temporary protection status for individuals fleeing the war in Ukraine until 4 March 2026.
For further information: www.dofi.ibz.be | www.myria.be | www.statbel.fgov.be.
