Belgium’s Minister for Asylum and Migration, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, says her tougher migration policy is bearing fruit after the Immigration Office registered just 2,071 asylum claims in September 2026—down 44 % versus September 2024 and 29 % year-on-year. More than 70 % of decisions issued last month were negative, meaning applicants must leave the country unless they appeal successfully. Government measures include faster Dublin transfers, stricter age testing for unaccompanied minors and expanded return-assistance staffing. Van Bossuyt also pushed at EU level for the pact’s new border procedures that entered into force in June. The minister credits “consistent signals” and quicker processing for deterring unfounded claims. The sharp fall eases chronic pressure on Fedasil reception centres, which hit saturation in 2024-25. Fewer new arrivals allow the agency to close costly emergency hotels and redeploy staff to backlog reduction. Corporate mobility teams benefit indirectly: residence-permit appointments are freed up, helping legitimate work-permit holders collect their cards more quickly. Critics, including NGOs and the opposition, argue the figures reflect procedural hurdles rather than genuine deterrence and warn of worsening living conditions for those still in the system. They demand more investment in integration and legal migration channels for skills in shortage occupations. For employers, the takeaway is that Belgium remains committed to channelling migration through the single-permit route while constraining humanitarian inflows. HR departments should expect closer scrutiny of status changes and should advise transferees to keep documentation up to date, especially when switching employers within Belgium.
Source: N-VA News (English edition)
