Belgium’s Immigration Office (Dienst Vreemdelingenzaken/Office des Étrangers) has confirmed that its headquarters and regional registration centres will be closed from 25 December 2025 through 1 January 2026 inclusive. Front-office counters for residence cards, work permits and asylum registration will reopen on Thursday 2 January.
The authority advises employers and relocation providers to submit urgent applications no later than 23 December to avoid processing gaps. Files lodged electronically via the Single Permit portal will continue to be time-stamped during the closure but will not move forward until staff return. Biometric enrolment appointments scheduled for the affected days have been automatically rescheduled; applicants should check their EU-Login accounts for new slots.
![Belgian Immigration Office announces Christmas–New Year closure of front-office services]()
Border control at airports and seaports remains fully operational; the shutdown affects only administrative offices. Carriers transporting passengers who may require on-arrival visas are urged to verify that travellers possess valid entry documentation, as emergency authorisations will be difficult to obtain during the period.
For global mobility teams the practical takeaway is to freeze start dates that rely on in-country formalities until at least the second week of January. Assignees arriving over the holidays can enter on D-visas but must wait until offices reopen to complete municipal registration and collect residence cards – a factor that may delay payroll activation or social-security enrolment.
The Immigration Office closure mirrors similar year-end pauses in neighbouring EU states and is part of a broader push to introduce “bridge days” to reduce overtime costs. Stakeholders expect a surge of filings in early January; companies should prepare for longer queues and consider premium-processing options where available.
The authority advises employers and relocation providers to submit urgent applications no later than 23 December to avoid processing gaps. Files lodged electronically via the Single Permit portal will continue to be time-stamped during the closure but will not move forward until staff return. Biometric enrolment appointments scheduled for the affected days have been automatically rescheduled; applicants should check their EU-Login accounts for new slots.
Border control at airports and seaports remains fully operational; the shutdown affects only administrative offices. Carriers transporting passengers who may require on-arrival visas are urged to verify that travellers possess valid entry documentation, as emergency authorisations will be difficult to obtain during the period.
For global mobility teams the practical takeaway is to freeze start dates that rely on in-country formalities until at least the second week of January. Assignees arriving over the holidays can enter on D-visas but must wait until offices reopen to complete municipal registration and collect residence cards – a factor that may delay payroll activation or social-security enrolment.
The Immigration Office closure mirrors similar year-end pauses in neighbouring EU states and is part of a broader push to introduce “bridge days” to reduce overtime costs. Stakeholders expect a surge of filings in early January; companies should prepare for longer queues and consider premium-processing options where available.
Source: Immigration Office (IBZ)
