Navigating through Reception Network and Asylum Procedures: Internal Migration of Recognised Refugees in Belgium
(2026) Espace populations sociétés — Vol. 2025/3-2026/1, p. 239-273 (2026)
Files
eps-17972.pdf
Open Access - Adobe PDF
- 683.98 KB
Details
- Authors
- Abstract
- (en) Administrative procedures, reception policies, and residence permits shape the integration processes of immigrants in destination countries, particularly among asylum-seeking migrants. Existing research on the connection between geographical mobility and administrative pathways mostly focuses on the transnational mobility of asylum migrants, whereas internal moves are less studied. This work explores the impact of administrative outcomes (type of protection obtained, duration of the asylum procedure) and the reception system (type and location of reception facilities) on internal migrations and settlement in Belgium among recognised refugees. To do so, we rely on Belgian National Register data and monitor a cohort of asylum migrants who arrived between 2012 and 2016 and were granted international protection. Using Cox models, we demonstrate that asylum migrants hosted in collective centres are much more likely to change municipality of residence after obtaining a protection than those not hosted in those centres. We also show that long asylum procedures decrease the likelihood of internal migration after receiving protection. In contrast, the consequences of the 2015 reception crisis increased the internal mobility among recognised refugees. Finally, we find significant differences between Belgian regions as subsequent moves are mostly directed to Flanders, Brussels, and urban areas.
- Affiliations
Citations
Zimmer, N. (2026). Navigating through Reception Network and Asylum Procedures: Internal Migration of Recognised Refugees in Belgium. Espace populations sociétés, 2025/3-2026/1, 239-273. https://doi.org/10.4000/16pdq (Original work published 2026)