United Kingdom
Belgium
Belgium visa for British citizens
Entry requirement
No visa is needed by British citizens for Belgium, for stays of up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at diplomatie.be
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Belgium: visa decisions in the United Kingdom
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 12,027 | 10,288 | 1,739 | 14.4% | 73.4% |
| 2024 | 11,902 | 9,462 | 2,273 | 19.4% | 80.7% |
| 2025 | 12,135 | 10,095 | 1,747 | 14.7% | 87.0% |
In 2025, Belgium’s embassy and consulates in the United Kingdom (London) received 12,135 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 10,095. 14.7% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 19.4%: the rate fell by 4.6 points. The number of applications was almost unchanged (11,902 in 2024).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 10.5% of the applications lodged in the United Kingdom that year, from 1.0% at the consulates of the Netherlands to 32.0% at those of Iceland. Belgium’s consulates worldwide refused 26.1%. Belgium was the 11th most applied-for Schengen state in the United Kingdom.
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 the United Kingdom, 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 the United Kingdom
BelgiumUnited Kingdom Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United Kingdom 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 the United Kingdom 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). Each ministry writes for its own citizens.
Good to know
How long British citizens can stay in Belgium
British citizens may stay in Belgium for up to 90 days. Days in Belgium count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Belgium and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of British citizens in Belgium count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Belgium’s neighbours for British citizens
Germany, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France admit British citizens visa-free.
Belgian citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
Before flying to the United Kingdom, Belgian citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 180 days are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Belgium?
No visa is needed by British citizens for Belgium, for stays of up to 90 days.
How long can British citizens stay in Belgium?
British citizens can stay in Belgium for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Belgian citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?
Before flying to the United Kingdom, Belgian citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 180 days are allowed.
Can British citizens enter Belgium visa-free?
Yes, British citizens can enter Belgium without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.