A total of 2,132 foreign residents of Brussels and Wallonia completed a mandatory integration programme last year, according to official data from the two regions.
Except for persons granted exemptions, the programme is compulsory for foreign nationals aged 18 to 65 who have legally resided in the country for less than three years, and hold a residence permit for longer than three months.
Failure to complete the programme, which is also available on a voluntary basis, may result in an administrative fine.
In Wallonia, 1,132 people completed the mandatory integration programme in 2024. In Brussels, where the programme has been mandatory since 2022, some 1,000 newcomers concluded their courses.
According to public service data from Wallonia, 3,498 completion certificates were issued in 2024, up from 3,133 in 2023. Of those who completed the integration course, 1,132 were required to do so, while 2,366 participated voluntarily.
In Brussels Region, 1,077 people were mandated to complete their integration in 2024, up from only 142 in 2023, based on data from Vivalis, the Brussels agency responsible for integrating newcomers. This increase is likely due to the programme’s introduction in June 2022.
Newcomers are allowed 18 months to complete the programme and six months to enrol, so most of the first participants finished in 2024.
Additionally, 2,538 individuals completed the programme voluntarily in Brussels. However, Vivalis’s data is solely from the Bapas, authorised centres funded by the Common Community Commission (Cocom) that offer courses in French and Dutch.
Brussels residents may also use the BON Civic Integration Office, which operates under Flemish jurisdiction.
