Four-hour passport queues persist at Brussels Airport, undermining Belgium’s business travel hub
Drone Sighting Disrupts Brussels Airport Operations for 30 Minutes
Belgium among nine EU states granted leeway to delay full biometric rollout of Entry/Exit System
Latest News
Belgium among nine EU states granted informal reprieve on biometric Entry/Exit System rollout
Kathimerini reports that Belgium and eight other EU members have been allowed to postpone strict biometric EES border checks beyond the 6 September deadline. The grace period averts looming airport chaos but leaves companies navigating inconsistent Schengen procedures while infrastructure and data-protection safeguards are finalised.
Air-traffic-controller strike threat at Charleroi Airport raises fresh disruption fears
Air-traffic controllers at Charleroi have issued a new strike notice, potentially disrupting flights at Belgium’s second-largest airport. Business travellers and mobility managers should prepare contingency plans as dates and minimum-service levels are finalised.
Flemish authorities publish September processing times: single-permit renewals still take up to 13 weeks
September figures from the Flemish economic-migration portal show initial single-permit cases take four weeks regionally and up to 16 weeks federally, while renewals average 12–13 weeks. Employers are advised to file early and allow for total lead times of up to five months for new hires.
EU grants Belgium and eight other states extra time to roll out EES biometric border checks
On 14 September the European Commission agreed to let Belgium and eight other Schengen countries delay mandatory fingerprint and face-scan checks under the EES border system. The decision averts predicted autumn gridlock at Brussels Airport and Eurostar, but companies should still expect uneven procedures until hardware upgrades are finished.
Belgium seeks extra time as nine EU countries delay full roll-out of Entry/Exit System
The EU’s new biometric border system missed its 6 September deadline. Belgium and eight other states requested extensions on 14 September, with scanners still missing at Brussels Airport and other regional crossings. Non-EU business travellers should expect uneven procedures and longer waits.
Belgian Immigration Office launches in-house escort corps for forced returns
Belgium has begun training its own escort officers for forced-return flights, aiming to cut deportation waits from over 30 days to about 10. The initiative should relieve pressure on detention centres and prisons, but also heralds tougher enforcement for employers of undocumented workers.
EES delay gives Belgian corporate travellers breathing space—but uncertainty remains
A specialist business-travel analysis warns Belgian corporates that the EU’s 14 September EES reprieve reduces immediate queues but creates months of inconsistent border procedures. Travel planners should add buffer time, monitor each gateway’s status and review data-protection obligations.
Netherlands extends border checks with Belgium until 30 September; Germany to follow
Schengen notifications released on 14 September show the Netherlands prolonging internal border checks with Belgium to 30 September, while Germany will reintroduce controls from 16 September. The measures mean document checks and delays for Belgian commuters and freight operators.
Belgium sets new record for deportations of criminals without residence permits
Belgium deported 1,239 criminals without valid residence rights in the first eight months of 2026, beating its previous annual record. Stronger justice-migration coordination and new return deals drove the increase, signalling a tougher stance on irregular stay that business travellers should note.
Netherlands extends border checks on Belgian frontier until 30 September
The Netherlands has prolonged border checks on its frontier with Belgium until 30 September 2026, affecting road, rail and coach traffic. Belgian businesses face minor delays and must remind non-EU staff to carry residence documents to avoid on-the-spot fines.
Air-traffic-controller strike threat looms at Brussels South Charleroi Airport
Air-traffic controllers at Skeyes have filed a new strike notice, prompting Brussels South Charleroi Airport to alert passengers and airlines on 14 September. Potential walkouts threaten low-cost flights and regional employment, and could ripple across Belgian and neighbouring airspace.
EU Visa Working Party meets in Brussels to debate Schengen fee hike and waiver benchmarks
EU member states gathered in Brussels on 14 September to examine a proposal to raise the standard Schengen visa fee to €95 and to set performance benchmarks for visa-waiver countries. The decisions, once adopted, will affect cost forecasting and itinerary planning for Belgian-based multinationals.
Air-traffic-controller strike threat looms at Brussels South Charleroi Airport
A strike notice filed by Belgian air-traffic-control staff threatens to disrupt flights at Charleroi Airport, Ryanair’s second-largest continental hub. Companies using CRL should prepare contingency routings and alert travelling employees.
EU Visa Working Party meets in Brussels to weigh hike in Schengen-visa fees
Belgian-hosted EU talks on 14 September considered raising Schengen visa fees to €90 and tightening waiver rules. Any increase would raise compliance costs for Belgian firms that invite non-EU partners for short assignments.
Statbel: Belgians made 5.3 million overnight trips in Q1 2026, led by France
Official statistics published on 14 September show 5.3 million Belgian overnight trips in Q1 2026, a 1 % year-on-year rise. France, the Netherlands and Germany led foreign destinations, while domestic trips captured nearly one-third of the total—evidence of a robust outbound and internal travel market.
Extra visa-processing fee for Belgian long-stay work permit applications confirmed online
Belgium’s consular website update on 14 September clarifies that the €242 federal handling fee for long-stay work visas must be paid before any embassy appointment. Companies should adjust timelines to avoid application refusals and project delays.