Belgian-Moroccan news site BelgiqueMag reports that the Interior Committee of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives approved a draft law on 23 October that would impose a 90-day statutory deadline on the Immigration Office for EU Blue Card applications. The proposal, inspired by complaints from employers and foreign professionals about processing times exceeding six months, specifically highlights opportunities for Moroccan STEM graduates but would apply to all third-country nationals. Under the bill, applications not decided within three months would be automatically deemed approved unless the authorities invoke a fraud exception. The text also streamlines document requirements by allowing digital diplomas and remote employment contracts—a boon for tech firms hiring from abroad. The reform dovetails with Flanders’ separate push to attract “knowledge migration” while keeping tight restrictions on low-skilled labour. By coupling faster decisions with stricter anti-abuse clauses (companies created solely to sponsor visas could be black-listed), the government hopes to balance competitiveness with public concerns over irregular migration. If the bill clears the plenary vote expected in November, HR teams should revise onboarding timelines: new hires could, in theory, land in Belgium within four months of offer acceptance, aligning Brussels with fast-track jurisdictions such as Germany’s new Skilled Immigration Act pathway.
Source: BelgiqueMag
