The draft bill, approved on the proposal of Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt, would amend the law of 15 December 1980 on access to the territory, residence, establishment and removal of foreign nationals. According to the government, the proposal partly transposes Directive (EU) 2021/1883 on the European Blue Card for highly qualified workers. It also includes amendments relating to the single permit framework, as well as a number of technical corrections.

Under the proposed measures, applications could be refused in cases where there are serious doubts regarding the documents or declarations submitted in support of an application, where a company appears to have been created primarily to facilitate access to Belgium, or where the stay in Belgium in reality serves a purpose other than the employment activity for which the application was submitted.

The draft bill further distinguishes between fraudulent practices and situations involving exploited workers. According to the proposal, workers who are victims of serious social law infringements committed by their employer would benefit from enhanced protection. Where an employment contract is terminated and such infringements are established, the period before the withdrawal of residence rights would be extended from 90 to 180 days.

In parallel, the proposal seeks to make the European Blue Card scheme more attractive by reducing processing times for applications to a maximum of 90 days, simplifying certain family reunification rules and facilitating mobility within the European Union for eligible highly qualified workers.

For further details, please read this press release from the Council of Ministers on 13 May 2026 (in French or in Dutch), as well as this press release from Anneleen Van Bossuyt (in Dutch).