BELGIUM – New salary threshold for ex officio family reunification visas.

May 15, 2025


By: Nathalie Janssen, Immigration Service Delivery Manager, Belgium

In a move that will primarily affect labor migrants with single permits, Belgium’s Immigration Office (DVZ) has significantly restricted ex officio family reunification visas. Previously, embassies could issue ex officio family reunification visas to family members of most economic migrants. New strict income requirements now apply to applicants.

The new eligibility requirements for ex officio family reunification visas are as follows:

  • The labor migrant must earn a gross monthly salary of at least €5,000, OR
  • The worker must belong to specific categories that are exempt of an income threshold. These include:
    • EU Blue Card holders
    • Researchers with hosting agreements
    • Intra-corporate transferees
  • Self-employed individuals with professional cards

Single permit holders earning a gross income of less than €5,000 per month must now wait up to nine months for family members to join them in Belgium via a Visa D.

Background to the policy change.

Previously, embassies often issued ex officio visas even when salaries fell below family reunification reference amounts. DVZ implemented this change due to increasing numbers of middle and low-skilled labor migrants in Belgium. For non-exempt categories, DVZ has full discretion as there is no legal obligation for simultaneous processing.

Context on the income threshold.

The new income threshold significantly exceeds established standards:

  • The standard family reunification reference amount is €2,131.28 net monthly (equal to 120 percent of the living wage with family burden)
  • The 2025 minimum salary for highly skilled workers is €3,513.79 gross monthly (Flemish Region) and €3,703.44 (Brussels Capital Region)

Critical impact:

While seemingly targeting “bottleneck occupation” and “other” category workers, this policy change also affects many highly skilled workers who fall below the €5,000 threshold. Family members of non-qualifying workers now face standard processing times of up to nine months. This creates substantial challenges for professionals relocating to Belgium with families, as even those with competitive salaries may not qualify for expedited family reunification.

Newland Chase immigration experts can help

  • Assess specific situations and eligibility under the new rules
  • Identify alternative pathways for expedited family reunification
  • Develop optimized application strategies to minimize separation time

Contact our immigration specialists today for a personalized consultation and comprehensive relocation support.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.