Belgium’s Council of Ministers on Monday, 15 June 2026, approved a draft bill from Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (N-VA) that will require EU citizens who move to Belgium to look for work to prove genuine job-search efforts both when they apply for a residence card and again six months later. Under current rules, a single piece of evidence—such as registration with an employment office—is sufficient at the application stage, and follow-up checks are rare. The proposed legislation raises the bar: applicants must now show multiple proofs (e.g., job applications plus registration) up front, then demonstrate a “realistic chance” of employment within six months or risk losing their right to reside. The measure also blocks access to Belgian social assistance for EU jobseekers until they have obtained permanent residence, a move the government says will curb so-called “benefits tourism.” Family-reunification requests linked to EU citizens will face stricter completeness checks, with incomplete files declared inadmissible.
![Belgian Draft Law Tightens Residence Rights for EU Jobseekers]()
In this evolving compliance environment, VisaHQ’s Belgium specialists can guide both individuals and HR teams through the new evidentiary requirements, pre-screening paperwork and booking appointments to keep relocations on track; more information is available at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
According to Immigration Office figures, Belgium issued 1,266 residence cards to EU jobseekers last year but refused or terminated more than 900 others—statistics the minister used to argue for tougher screening. For employers that recruit talent from neighbouring EU states, the draft law could extend onboarding timelines and increase the administrative burden on HR teams that support intra-EU moves. Mobility managers should prepare to supply documentary evidence—training certificates, job offers, interview invitations—when helping assignees apply for initial registration and for the six-month review. The proposal aligns Belgium with a broader EU push to ensure that free movement is linked to genuine economic activity, but critics warn it may deter much-needed labour in sectors already facing shortages. The bill now heads to Parliament and is expected to pass before the summer recess, with an implementation target of 1 October 2026. Companies should monitor the legislative calendar and update relocation checklists accordingly. In the meantime, EU nationals already in Belgium should begin compiling proof of active job search to avoid surprises during post-implementation audits.
In this evolving compliance environment, VisaHQ’s Belgium specialists can guide both individuals and HR teams through the new evidentiary requirements, pre-screening paperwork and booking appointments to keep relocations on track; more information is available at https://www.visahq.com/belgium/
According to Immigration Office figures, Belgium issued 1,266 residence cards to EU jobseekers last year but refused or terminated more than 900 others—statistics the minister used to argue for tougher screening. For employers that recruit talent from neighbouring EU states, the draft law could extend onboarding timelines and increase the administrative burden on HR teams that support intra-EU moves. Mobility managers should prepare to supply documentary evidence—training certificates, job offers, interview invitations—when helping assignees apply for initial registration and for the six-month review. The proposal aligns Belgium with a broader EU push to ensure that free movement is linked to genuine economic activity, but critics warn it may deter much-needed labour in sectors already facing shortages. The bill now heads to Parliament and is expected to pass before the summer recess, with an implementation target of 1 October 2026. Companies should monitor the legislative calendar and update relocation checklists accordingly. In the meantime, EU nationals already in Belgium should begin compiling proof of active job search to avoid surprises during post-implementation audits.
