The Program Law of 19 December 2014, which was published in the Belgian Official Gazette on 29 December 2014 and the concerned provisions of which entered into force on 8 January 2015, modified the Belgian Immigration Law and inserted new provisions whereby foreigners must pay a fee covering administrative costs to file certain applications to enter or stay on the territory, which otherwise could be inadmissible.

Applications concerned, which are listed in the Program Law, don’t target EU citizens and their family members, applicants for international protection (refugee status and subsidiary protection) and their family members, applicants for a residence permit based on medical grounds, unaccompanied foreign minors and victims of trafficking. The amount of the fees as well as the procedures for collecting fees will be determined by a Royal Decree. Each year, the amount of fees will be adjusted on the basis of the consumer price index.

For further information, please read articles 195 & 196 of the Program Law.

This measure had been announced in the government agreement of October 2014 (p. 156).