Integration programme

The Flemish government wants to promote a Flanders where all people can ‘live together in diversity’, irrespective of their origins. It wants to achieve this on the basis of equality and active, shared citizenship. The idea is to allow every Fleming to participate actively in society. Inburgering (integration) is an ideal way of giving “new Flemings” this opportunity. This website provides you with information about the target groups of Inburgering and the content of the integration programme

The target group of integration policy: people integrating and foreign-speaking minor newcomers

People integrating

Integration policy is intended for foreigners aged 18 and more who come to Flanders or Brussels to reside there for a long period. The target group of the integration policy also includes Belgians who were not born in Belgium and at least one of whose parents was not born in Belgium.

There are different groups of people integrating:

• Newcomers: Newcomers are people who have recently taken up residence in Belgium. It is important for them to become quickly acquainted with their new homeland and to learn Dutch.
  
• Established Immigrants: Established Immigrants are immigrants who have been living in Belgium for more than a year. Some of them are still insufficiently acquainted with what goes on in our society and have an insufficient knowledge of Dutch. They are still given an opportunity to enrol in an integration programme.
  
• Ministers of recognised religions in local church and religious communities, recognised by the Flemish Community: Ministers of religions play an exemplary role within their religious communities. They often act as contact persons whom believers can turn to for advice. Their position within the religious community requires knowledge of and an insight into society.

People integrating have a right to an integration programme. The following people integrating also have an integration obligation:

• Newcomers. These include:
• Foreigners whom have been granted a residence permit of more than three months for the first time.
• People who have acquired the Belgian nationality abroad and come to reside in our country.
• Asylum seekers who have submitted their asylum application over four months ago. They only have an obligation to attend a social orientation course.
• Ministers of religions

People who have an obligation to integrate can be exempted from their obligation to integrate on the basis of:

• European regulations,
• a serious illness or disability,
• a certificate or diploma which they obtained in Belgian or Dutch education,
• proof that they have attended welcome classes during an entire school year,
• the fact that they have obtained a certificate of integration,
• their age, when the people integrating are aged 65 or more.

The obligation to integrate does not apply for people integrating who reside in the Brussels Capital Region either.

Foreign-speaking minor newcomers

Next to adults, foreign-speaking minor newcomers also belong to the target group of integration policy. It concerns the same target group of children and youngsters who are eligible for welcome classes.

Sanctions

Any person who has an obligation to integrate must meet the following two conditions:

• to present himself or herself on time at the welcome office
• to regularly attend the lessons within the primary integration programme . “Regular attendance” means that he or she must attend at least 80% of each of the courses included in his or her integration contract.

Whenever individuals that have an obligation to integrate do not comply with their duty to do so, they may be fined. They are also liable to incur such a fine when neglecting to cooperate in setting up the integration programme or refusing to sign the integration contract.

The integration decree provides for the possibility of exemption from the obligation to integrate in the case of individuals integrating that are ‘gainfully employed’. Such an exemption is granted by the welcome office (link naar pagina onthaalbureaus) and is entered as a clause into the integration contract. This exemption is not granted to ministers of recognized religions (link naar people integrating).

Likewise, individuals with a right to integrate need to remain in compliance with their integration contract. When they prematurely and unlawfully terminate their integration programme, in other words, when they fail to achieve a class attendance of minimum 50% in at least one segment of their instructional course, they may incur a sanction in the form of an administrative fine.

The integration programme

The integration programme consists of a primary and a secondary part. The primary integration programme is coordinated by the Inburgering welcome office and is composed of a training programme supported by the individual coach of the person integrating. The training programme consists of lessons Dutch, social orientation and career orientation.

The Dutch as second language (NT2) lessons are given by adult basic education centres, centres for adult education and university language centres. The referral to the most appropriate learning package is done by the Huis van het Nederlands (Dutch Language House).

During the social orientation course the people integrating get to know Flemish society. These lessons pertain to issues such as the Belgian state structure, education, mobility, health, etc. In addition, ample attention is devoted to norms and values. Social orientation is given by the Inburgering welcome office

Career orientation encompasses guidance to further studies, participation in the socio-cultural provision, volunteer work and other leisure activities. This is based on the experience and qualifications (such as diplomas) which the person integrating obtained in his or her homeland. The VDAB (Flemish Employment and Vocational Training Agency) provides assistance in looking for a job. The other support is provided by the Inburgering welcome office.

The Inburgering welcome office also offers individual guidance to the person integrating. This is referred to as route counselling. The route counsellor coaches the person integrating from the moment he or she has presented him or herself at the Inburgering welcome office until he or she obtains the integration certificate. This means that the route counsellor provides an adapted training programme, that he or she monitors the attendance of the course participant and refers the person integrating to the Huis van het Nederlands (Dutch Language House) and if necessary, to the VDAB. If the person integrating has any specific questions or requires special guidance, the route counsellor will bring him or her into contact with the proper facilities or organisations. This customised assistance also encompasses the support to obtain equivalence of diplomas.

People integrating who have regularly attended the training programme receive a certificate of integration. This will allow them to enrol for the secondary integration programme, which is provided by the ordinary facilities. The person integrating can, for instance, follow vocational training or entrepreneurship training. He or she can also decide to continue studying Dutch, to enrol in higher education or to do volunteer work.

Integration of minors

An assistance programme is available for foreign-speaking minor newcomers. This means that the Inburgering welcome office assists them in enrolling in a school or in welcome classes. Here they are given the opportunity to follow a crash course in Dutch and to catch up. If necessary, they will also be referred to welfare facilities.

Informing and referring people integrating

Several bodies play a role in informing people integrating about their integration right and obligation. They also refer the person integrating to the nearest Inburgering welcome office. For newcomers this is done by the local councils. The ministers of religions on the other hand are informed by the Flemish government.