At its electronic meeting of 3 July 2026, the federal Council of Ministers adopted—at second reading—a royal-decree proposal that will overhaul how the Immigration Office trains personnel who escort foreign nationals on forced-return flights. The measure, championed by Interior Minister Bernard Quintin and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt, specifies curriculum content, medical-fitness standards and annual re-certification for some 220 ‘DVZ escorts’. Under the new rules, trainees will receive 160 hours of instruction covering de-escalation techniques, human-rights compliance, in-flight restraint procedures and post-mission reporting. A psychological-aptitude test and scenario-based simulations in cooperation with Brussels Airline’s safety academy are now compulsory. The decree answers repeated criticisms from the Belgian ombudsman and the Council of Europe, which flagged inconsistent use of force and poor documentation in past removals. For global-mobility stakeholders, the decision is a reminder that Belgium is tightening enforcement even as it courts skilled migrants.
![Belgian cabinet approves mandatory training regime for deportation escorts]()
For organisations and individuals navigating Belgium’s stricter immigration environment, VisaHQ provides practical assistance with visa applications, residence-permit renewals and document procurement. Its dedicated Belgium portal lets HR teams calculate processing times, gather the right paperwork and file online, helping them avoid lapses that could ultimately lead to forced-return proceedings.
Companies should review risk briefings for foreign employees whose residence status may lapse (e.g., seconded staff whose A-cards expire) and ensure timely renewals to avoid administrative removals. Airlines operating ad-hoc charter returns will have to allocate cabin seats for escorts in specific ratios (one escort per removable passenger, two for ‘non-cooperative’ profiles) and facilitate body-camera data off-loading on arrival. The decree enters into force 1 September 2026, giving carriers and service providers eight weeks to adapt SOPs. The Migration Ministry argues that professionalising escort training will both safeguard returnees’ dignity and reduce liability claims. Opposition parties have welcomed clearer standards but call for independent monitoring by civil-society observers.
For organisations and individuals navigating Belgium’s stricter immigration environment, VisaHQ provides practical assistance with visa applications, residence-permit renewals and document procurement. Its dedicated Belgium portal lets HR teams calculate processing times, gather the right paperwork and file online, helping them avoid lapses that could ultimately lead to forced-return proceedings.
Companies should review risk briefings for foreign employees whose residence status may lapse (e.g., seconded staff whose A-cards expire) and ensure timely renewals to avoid administrative removals. Airlines operating ad-hoc charter returns will have to allocate cabin seats for escorts in specific ratios (one escort per removable passenger, two for ‘non-cooperative’ profiles) and facilitate body-camera data off-loading on arrival. The decree enters into force 1 September 2026, giving carriers and service providers eight weeks to adapt SOPs. The Migration Ministry argues that professionalising escort training will both safeguard returnees’ dignity and reduce liability claims. Opposition parties have welcomed clearer standards but call for independent monitoring by civil-society observers.
