Belgium Visa 2026: How to Apply and What to See

Best Places to Visit in Europe-Travel Guides-Visa & Immigration

June 13, 2025

Updated on 17 October 2026

Belgium has a lot to offer a first-time visitor: Gothic town squares, world-class museums, canal towns and the Ardennes forest. Citizens of the UK, the US, Canada and Australia can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180, while citizens of countries such as Nigeria and India need a Schengen short-stay visa first. This guide covers how to apply, what to prepare and what to plan once you have the visa.

Which visa do you need?

Visa	Use	Stay
Schengen short-stay (type C)	Tourism, business visits, visiting family or friends	Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
National long-stay (type D)	Study, work, family reunification	Over 90 days, then a residence card in Belgium

The Schengen fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to under 12. A decision usually comes within 15 calendar days. You must have medical insurance of at least €30,000.

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How to apply

Choose the destination. Apply to Belgium if you spend the most days there, or enter there first when the stays are equal.
Check the Belgian rules. Belgium takes applications in Nigeria through its embassy and an authorised application centre. Confirm the current route, booking page and fees on the Belgian foreign affairs website before you book.
Prepare your documents.
Attend your appointment for biometrics and pay the fee.
Collect your passport and check the visa dates.

Documents

Passport valid at least 3 months after you leave, with two blank pages.
Signed application form and recent photos.
Travel medical insurance of at least €30,000.
Flight reservation, accommodation and a day-by-day itinerary.
Bank statements, proof of income, and proof that you will return: job, business, family or property.
A cover letter that explains the purpose of the trip.

Read our guide on why Schengen visas are refused and the application checklist. If you also plan to visit the Netherlands, see the Netherlands visa guide, and for the basics, the Schengen visa guide.

Belgium’s refusal rate and how to plan for it

Belgium refused about 24.6% of the roughly 255,600 Schengen short-stay applications it received in 2024, against 14.8% across the Schengen area. That is a country-wide rate for all nationalities. It means a Belgian application needs a complete, consistent file, especially on purpose of travel, funds and ties to home.

Worked example (hypothetical)

This is an illustration, not a real case. A visa-needing traveller plans 3 days in Brussels, 2 in Bruges and 2 in Ghent. Belgium is the only destination, so it is the application country. The Schengen fee is €90, and the file should include a seven-day itinerary with refundable hotel bookings, insurance covering all seven days, recent bank statements and an employer letter confirming approved leave. She books flights only after approval.

Traveller	Visa needed for under 90 days?	Main step
UK, US, Canadian or Australian citizen	No	Check passport validity and the 90/180 count
Nigerian, Indian or other visa-needing citizen	Yes, Schengen visa	Apply to Belgium through the route on its foreign affairs site for your country

What to see in Belgium

City or area	Highlights
Brussels	The Grand Place and the Magritte Museum
Bruges	Medieval centre and canal boat tours
Antwerp	The Cathedral of Our Lady and the Rubenshuis
Ghent	Historic centre and a lively cultural scene
The Ardennes	Forest walks and countryside

Your itinerary in the application should match what you plan to do. Name the cities you will visit and book refundable accommodation until the visa is issued.