Visa Requirements for Belgian Citizens

Visa requirements for Belgian citizens are the current rules and conditions applicable to Belgian travelers who wish to visit another foreign country. These pre-established requirements make it clear which documents are necessary to have upon arrival.

Some countries allow Belgian citizens to cross the border with only a valid passport on hand, while other require a valid visa. Luckily, nowadays, visas are not limited to the traditional, paper ones. There is also an increasingly used electronic visa system and VoAs (Visas on Arrival).

Moreover, Belgian citizens have major travel liberty, with about 150 different destinations that allow Belgians to enter visa-free and dozens of other countries that include them in their eVisa or VoA system.

Since the Belgian passport is that powerful, citizens of this country are allowed a quite extensive stay abroad. The length of the permitted stay varies and depends on the selected destination. However, the most commonly seen option is either 30, 60, 90, or 180 days.

No matter what visa type should you use, you'll most likely be allowed to engage in numerous different activities. From all leisure/recreational-related activities, such as going on vacation, relaxing, exploring the ancient sites, trying all the available tourist attractions.

Through any professional/work-related activities, including looking for new work opportunities, closing deals, attending business meetings, conferences, seminars, taking a business trip, to simply transiting through any country while reaching another final destination.

Read on for further details on all visa types and entry requirements for Belgian citizens!

Electronic visa

Starting off with the easiest visa type to obtain, eVisas have been introduced to facilitate the visa handling processes. With the digitalization happening in all areas of our lives, visas have also shifted towards electronic systems.

An eVisa is an electronic alternative to a regular visa; the only difference between the two is the level of difficulty in obtaining the required document. Electronic visas are easily obtainable online, and once approved, arrive directly at the applicant's email address in the form of a PDF file.

List of countries that offer eVisas for Belgian citizens

44 countries made applying for a visa for Belgian citizens easier implementing an eVisa system, including Belgium as one of the eligible countries. You can visit any of the above-listed destinations with an electronic travel permit obtained online. All you have to do is complete 3 simple steps and wait for the approved document to be delivered to your email inbox.

Approved electronic visas allow Belgian passport holders to stay abroad even for a few months at a time. However, the exact length of the permitted stay depends on the selected destination and is established by the government of the country you plan to visit.

You may now be wondering if an eVisa has any limitations since it comes in an electronic form. But since it works just like the regular visa, consequently, it allows its holders to engage in all leisure, business, or transit-related activities. The only difference between an eVisa and a traditional visa is in the way of obtaining it.

All Belgian citizens traveling with eVisas can go on vacation, visit their friends and family living abroad, go on business trips, use the available tourist attractions, explore other countries and learn more about their history and culture, or simply transit via foreign territories.

Visa on Arrival

Visa on Arrival, just as its name suggests, is a visa obtainable upon arrival in any selected foreign country. Not every destination proposes such a solution, and unfortunately, it does come with a few setbacks.

Obtaining the required visa at the very last minute may be stressful and uncertain. Moreover, travelers usually need to wait in long VoA lines. Nevertheless, it is still a better option than handling an Embassy visa, which may take weeks to get done.

List of countries that offer Visas on Arrival for Belgian citizens

  • Angola
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Cambodia
  • Comoros
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Iran
  • Jordan
  • Kuwait
  • Laos
  • Lebanon
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • The Maldives
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Nepal
  • Niue
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

35 countries offer a Visa on Arrival option for Belgian citizens visiting their territories. Moreover, many of these also have an online visa option available. Before going, check if the destination you've selected offers an electronic visa for citizens of Belgium to ease your traveling experience as much as possible.

However, if it's impossible to apply for an eVisa before the planned trip, you still need a visa to enter. To get your travel permit issued upon arrival, you have to visit any border control checkpoint available. Once it's your turn, ask for a VoA application form and carefully fill it out.

In some cases, additional supporting documents may be required; thus, you need to make sure that you're appropriately prepared before the planned departure date. Check the Visa on Arrival requirements ahead of time and gather the required paperwork (if any). The last step is usually fee payment or simply waiting for approval.

Since these countries require you to have a visa and you need to apply for one, it's best to use the electronic system whenever possible. This eliminates the long waiting lines and stress connected with uncertainty. Travel prepared with an eVisa issued before leaving!

Embassy visa

The third visa type available for all Belgian citizens is the regular Embassy visa obtained upon visiting an official institution and going through the regular visa application process. This type of visa is issued not only for short-term visits abroad but also for long-term stays.

What does that exactly mean? Long-term means visiting for a more extended period of time; usually, the purpose of visit is also more serious than when using eVisas or VoAs. Embassy visas often allow its holders to work, live, or join a significant other abroad for a longer time. However, this depends on the selected visa type.

List of countries that require Belgians to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival

  • Abkhazia
  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Artsakh
  • Bhutan
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • The Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • Chile
  • China
  • The Republic of the Congo
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Cuba
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ghana
  • Iraq
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Mongolia
  • Nauru
  • Niger
  • North Korea
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Turkmenistan
  • Yemen

Luckily for Belgian citizens, not many countries require a valid Embassy visa from them upon arrival. As few as 30 destinations still need Belgians to have a traditional visa obtained prior to the planned trip. Upon visiting any of the above countries, you must apply for a regular visa at an Embassy at least a few weeks before the scheduled trip.

The first step that needs to be completed to get a regular travel permit is checking the current visa requirements in place. Once you've selected the preferred visa type, check which documents you will need to prepare to submit a complete application.

Please note! Some documents have to be officially issued. Thus, the best time to apply is at least a few weeks before the planned trip.

Next, once you've gathered every necessary document, download an Embassy visa application form and fill it out. Thoroughly check for any mistakes or missing information and submit the form along with the required supporting documents at an Embassy. If needed, cover visa-issuing fees and wait up to a few weeks for approval.

The required documents, processing times, and any specific guidelines concerning the application process may differ between the various countries and Embassy visa types.

Visa-free countries

Lastly, let's go through the most pleasant part of traveling and visa requirements for citizens of Belgium, and that is to travel visa-free. Dozens of countries allow Belgians to visit with only a valid passport or even a valid ID on hand.

Check the list of visa-free countries for Belgian citizens

Approximately 150 countries and territories make it possible for Belgians to visit without obtaining any type of travel permit. This means that when visiting any of the above-listed destinations, you won't have to apply for a visa, not before the planned trip nor upon arrival.

To enter a selected country visa-free, first, check if you need a valid passport or a valid ID card. Some destinations may also require providing a few supporting documents, such as a return ticket or proof of having sufficient funds for the trip or the booked hotel reservations. However, most of the time, only one document (either a passport or an ID card) needs to be presented upon arrival.

Traveling under visa exemption is not only easy but also full of opportunities. All Belgian citizens can travel for tourism, business, or transit-related reasons to any of the visa-free countries. Go on a relaxing getaway, meet up with your friends and relatives, attend a business meeting, conference, or simply make a stop-over while reaching another country!

Bogdan T
2022-09-28

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