Belgian residence permit applications plummet due to administrative fee

Since the introduction of a one-off administrative fee of €215 for certain individuals who apply for regularisation in Belgium, the number of requests has decreased significantly. The number of foreigners trying to obtain a residence permit in Belgium has halved since the fee went into effect in March, writes De Morgen.

Most foreigners are required to pay €215 to apply for regularisation, with the exception of refugees, minors and those applying for medical reasons; their application is free of charge.

The new fee has had an immediate effect on the number of applications: 515 in March, compared to 241 in August. Individuals have a right to apply for a residence permit via regularisation when they are undergoing an unreasonably long asylum procedure, are the parent of a Belgian child, or are fully integrated and have strong ties with Belgium.

Belgium has also tightened its regularisation regulations when it comes to applicants requesting residence based on humanitarian or medical grounds. As a result, there were 9,867 total requests for regularisation in 2014, compared to 3,800 requests this year.