In 2025, the Federal Ombudsman handled 10.461 dossiers, including 6.269 complaints and 4.192 requests for information. According to the report, complaints continued to rise, approaching the peak observed in 2023, while information requests also increased. The Ombudsman underlines that these figures reflect both administrative difficulties and a strong demand from citizens for accessible and reliable information from public services.

Migration once again represented the largest share of admissible complaints, accounting for 44% of the total. These cases mainly concerned procedures handled by the Immigration Office and Belgian diplomatic posts under the FPS Foreign Affairs. The report identifies recurring issues, including long processing times, incomplete communication, insufficiently reasoned decisions, and concerns regarding the consideration of fundamental rights. Visa procedures and family reunification cases were among the most frequently cited areas.

The Ombudsman notes that these complaints reflect structural challenges within migration services, linked to the complexity of the legal framework, high volumes of applications, and administrative workload. In response, it has shifted part of its work towards a more structural analysis of recurring problems, with the aim of identifying underlying causes. A thematic report is expected to follow in 2026. The institution also continues to issue recommendations, including on improving accessibility of visa procedures and allowing remote submission of certain applications.

For further information, please consult the press release of the Belgian Federal Ombudsman in French or in Dutch, which also provides access to the executive summary and the full 2025 report for download.