Integration through acquisition of citizenship has become an important topic in many EU Member States in recent years, as the number of new migrants arriving in the EU has increased in recent years. The EMN study found that citizenship is seen by Member States as either the culmination of the integration process or as facilitating the integration process. However, in most Member States, third-country nationals are not actively encouraged to apply for citizenship. 

This EMN study aims to identify challenges, best practices and positive experiences in different Member States and Norway on the impact of visa liberalisation. The study covers Western Balkan and Eastern Partnership countries which have successfully concluded visa liberalisation dialogues according to the relevant action plans and roadmaps.

The Belgian Contact Point of the European Migration Network has published a report on challenges and practices for establishing identity in the migration process. The report served as the Belgian contribution to an EU Synthesis report on the topic, which compares national policies, legislation and practices on the subject in 25 EU Member States and Norway. 

This Synthesis Report summarises the main findings of the National Reports for the EMN Study on Visa Policy as Migration Channel undertaken by EMN National Contact Points from 21 Member States.

This study examines the impact of the visa policy on legal and illegal migration in Belgium. It is limited to nationals from third countries, with exception of family members of EU nationals or Belgians. Short-stay visas of max. 3 months and D visas for stays of more than 3 months are discussed