South Africa
Belgium
Belgium visa for South African citizens
Entry requirement
South African citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Belgium.
- Where to apply
- 2 missions
- Visa guide
- Belgium visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at southafrica.diplomatie.belgium.be
Which Belgium visa?
Schengen short-stay visa (type C) – tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- The consulate normally decides within 15 calendar days of a complete application; in individual cases this can be extended up to 45 days.
For the tourist visa, Belgium’s official sources give a standard fee of €90, and applications are made on visaonweb.diplomatie.be. Processing time, as Belgium states it: The consulate normally decides within 15 calendar days of a complete application; in individual cases this can be extended up to 45 days. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period across the Schengen area.
Belgian missions in South Africa
- Embassy of Belgium in Pretoria
Leyds Street 625, 0002 Muckleneuk
- Consulate of Belgium in Cape Town
Long Street 1, 8001 Cape Town
All missions of Belgium in South Africa
Belgium has 2 missions in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria. Consulates: Cape Town.
Belgium: visa decisions in South Africa
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5,086 | 4,629 | 457 | 9.0% | 47.8% |
| 2024 | 4,550 | 4,187 | 273 | 6.1% | 76.6% |
| 2025 | 4,782 | 4,372 | 288 | 6.2% | 95.3% |
In 2025, Belgium’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Pretoria and Cape Town) received 4,782 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 4,372. 6.2% of applications were refused. In 2024 the rate was much the same, 6.1%. Applications rose by 5% compared with 2024 (4,550).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year, from 1.8% at the consulates of Greece to 21.9% at those of Croatia. Belgium’s consulates worldwide refused 26.1%. Belgium was the 11th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Belgian citizens travelling to South Africa
BelgiumSouth Africa Visa-free, 90 days South Africa visa for citizens of Belgium
Travel advice for Belgium
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
Before travelling from South Africa to Belgium, it helps to know the official travel advice: the US State Department rates Belgium at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 22 July 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Belgium (updated 17 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Belgium (updated 28 October 2026).
Good to know
How long South African citizens can stay in Belgium
How long South African citizens may stay in Belgium is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How South African citizens apply
In South Africa, applications go to the Belgian embassy in Pretoria and the consulate in Cape Town, or to a visa centre acting for Belgium; fees, documents and processing times are published by Belgium.
Belgium and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Belgium lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Belgium when it is the main destination of the trip.
Belgium’s neighbours for South African citizens
Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Belgian citizens travelling to South Africa
South Africa admits Belgian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Belgium?
South African citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Belgium.
Where is the Belgian embassy in South Africa?
The Belgian embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria; there is also a consulate in Cape Town.
How much does the Belgium tourist visa cost?
Belgium’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: The consulate normally decides within 15 calendar days of a complete application; in individual cases this can be extended up to 45 days.
Do Belgian citizens need a visa for South Africa?
South Africa admits Belgian citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Can South African citizens enter Belgium visa-free?
No; South African citizens need a visa for Belgium obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.