A foreigner who wishes to seek asylum in Belgium has to file an asylum application with the Immigration Department. This can be done either on arrival at the border or within eight working days after arriving in Belgium, at the OE’s office, in a closed centre or in prison.
Asylum procedure
- Submission of an application for international protection. This application usually takes place at the arrival centre in Brussels (the “Petit-Château”).
- Review and decision. The application itself is reviewed by the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons (CGRS).
- Appeal.
- After the procedure.
In Belgium, therefore, UNHCR does not register refugees, does not examine applications for asylum (international protection) and does not issue refugee documents. You can only apply for international protection in Belgium if you are present on the Belgian territory. You cannot apply for asylum (international protection) in Belgium from abroad.
What are my rights as a foreigner arriving in Belgium?
All foreigners arriving in Belgium are entitled to apply for international protection and ask for the protection of the Belgian authorities. Applicants for international protection are not entitled to financial assistance but to reception during the entire period that their application is being examined.
What do the numbers on the asylum application form mean?
The top line represents the total number of asylum applications (first applications + reviews). Below there are the number of recognized refugees (green) and the rejected applications (red).
How does the CGRS decide on an asylum application?
The CGRS, which is the competent determining authority, is exclusively specialised in asylum decision-making. In a single procedure, the CGRS first examines whether the applicant fulfils the eligibility criteria for refugee status.
How long does it take to get asylum in Belgium?
Border procedure: Where the applicant is detained in a closed centre located at the border, the CGRS has four weeks to decide on the asylum application. The applicant is admitted to the territory if no decision has been taken within that time limit.
How much do asylum seekers get in Belgium?
Asylum seekers receive some pocket money (for an adult: 7.90 euros per week). In individual housing, asylum seekers receive the same services as in the collective centres. However, they are generally responsible for their own cooking. They then receive an allowance of approximately 60 euros per week and per adult.
What are valid reasons for seeking asylum?
Every year people come to the United States seeking protection because they have suffered persecution or fear that they will suffer persecution due to:
Is Belgium Good for refugees?
Moreover, Belgium offers resettlement opportunities every year to a number of vulnerable refugees in need of international protection under the European programme in which it has participated since 2013: in 2019, for example, the programme enabled 239 refugees to come to Belgium, thanks also to the support of the IOM.
Can asylum seekers work in Belgium?
Asylum seekers can work in Belgium 4 months after they have submitted their application. Recognised refugees are allowed to work, just like Belgians.
Can you go back to your home country after asylum?
Asylees can travel outside the United States with refugee travel documents. It is essential that the asylee not return to her home country until she has become a U.S. citizen and can travel with a U.S. passport.
Is asylum Open in Belgium?
The reception centres are ‘open’, meaning the residents are free to come and go.
Can asylum seekers get married in Belgium?
A beneficiary of international protection can get married in Belgium if, when getting married, one of the spouses holds Belgian nationality or has legal residence in Belgium. Same-sex marriage is possible as long as one of the partners is Belgian or has been habitually resident in Belgium for more than three months.
Why is asylum rejected?
There are limited protected grounds for asylum, such as political opinion, race, religion, nationality, etc. It is easy to confuse one protected ground from another. For this reason, having an experienced immigration attorney by your side will help you ensure that your asylum case is successful.
Why would asylum be denied?
If you do not provide very detailed information in a well-organized manner, your claim for asylum will likely be denied, even if you have a genuine fear of persecution in your country. Moreover, time is of the essence in asylum applications.
What are the five grounds for asylum?
An asylum claimant must demonstrate persecution based on one of the five protected grounds (race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion).
Can an international student seek asylum?
Applicants with any lawful form of immigration status, such as a tourist visa, student visa, or work visa, typically receive the asylum decision by mail a few weeks after the asylum interview. If the officer does not grant asylum, you will receive a Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) explaining why.
How many refugees are in Belgium?
Belgium refugee statistics for 2021 was 74,063.00, a 13.99% increase from 2020. Belgium refugee statistics for 2020 was 64,973.00, a 5.37% increase from 2019. Belgium refugee statistics for 2019 was 61,662.00, a 46.26% increase from 2018.
Are there refugee camps in Belgium?
There are now 200-300 refugees living in Brussels, and we distribute essential items roughly every fortnight in the city.
What are my rights as a foreigner arriving in Belgium?
All foreigners arriving in Belgium are entitled to apply for international protection and ask for the protection of the Belgian authorities. Applicants for international protection are not entitled to financial assistance but to reception during the entire period that their application is being examined.