The governments of Belgium and Algeria have signed a new agreement aimed at speeding up the return of Algerian nationals without legal residence in Belgium. The deal was signed by Maxime Prévot, Anneleen Van Bossuyt, and Ahmed Attaf.
The agreement is expected to make the deportation process faster and more efficient. Officials say the time needed to confirm a migrant’s identity will drop from several months to about 15 days. In addition, the validity of temporary travel documents, known as “laisser-passer,” will be extended from one day to 30 days, giving authorities more time to complete returns.
Under the new arrangement, Belgium will also be able to return several migrants on a single flight. Algerian escorts may be involved in cases of forced deportation, especially when individuals resist removal.
Data from 2025 shows that 2,251 people claiming Algerian nationality were ordered to leave Belgium, but only 85 were actually returned, either voluntarily or by force. Authorities also report that around 780 Algerians are currently in Belgian prisons, with about 700 lacking legal residence.
Belgian officials say the agreement will help reduce pressure on prisons and strengthen migration control. According to Minister Van Bossuyt, effective returns are key to maintaining a credible migration policy.
As part of the deal, both countries also agreed to introduce a visa waiver for Algerian holders of diplomatic and service passports. However, officials noted that both agreements are linked, meaning failure to meet obligations on either side could affect the entire arrangement.
The agreements still require approval from parliament before they can take full effect.