🇧🇪 Belgium Visa Guide for Indian Passport Holders

At a glance

Indian passport holders need a Schengen Short-Stay visa (Type C) to visit Belgium for tourism or business — Belgium is part of the Schengen Area, so this same visa also covers travel across other Schengen countries during your trip. There is no visa-free or visa-on-arrival option. Applications are submitted online through VisaOnWeb, the official Belgian government portal, then finalised in person at VFS Global, the official partner of the Belgian Embassy/Consulate in India.

About the Schengen Area (full explanation on our France guide)

Belgium is one of 29 Schengen Area countries, and a Schengen Type C visa allows a stay of up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period, calculated across the whole area. See our France visa guide for the full explanation, the list of member countries, and the EU's official short-stay calculator.

Important: mandatory "My Address in Belgium" (MAB) declaration

Since 10 April 2026, anyone entering Belgium for a short stay (up to 90 days within any 180-day period) must declare their presence within 3 days of arrival, using the online "My Address in Belgium" (MAB) electronic form — this replaces the older requirement to report in person to the municipal administration of your place of stay. This is separate from your visa application and applies regardless of visa category.

Choose your purpose of travel

The Schengen Short-Stay (Type C) visa covers tourism, business visits, and family/friend visits. Long-stay National (D-type) visas — for study, work, or family reunification — are a separate, more document-intensive category with their own fee structure (see below) and are out of scope for this guide.

Visa requirement for an Indian passport holder

A visa is required for every visit to Belgium, regardless of length or purpose, since India has no visa-waiver arrangement with the Schengen Area.

Where and how to apply

• Complete your application entirely online at the official VisaOnWeb portal (visaonweb.diplomatie.be) — the applicant or head of family creates an account, fills out and submits the electronic visa application form, and receives a copy by email.
• Print your completed form and take it, along with your supporting documents and fees, to your chosen VFS Global Visa Application Centre.
• A live photograph is taken at the VAC for all applicants (short-stay and long-stay); fingerprints are additionally taken where required.
• Family members of EU citizens falling under the 2004/38 Directive can instead apply in person at the Belgian Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai directly, after booking an appointment by email with proof of their family relationship attached.

iamravi.com is not affiliated with the Government of Belgium, the Belgian Embassy, or VFS Global. All application, payment, and biometric steps happen through the official VisaOnWeb and VFS Global platforms — never here. Official communication about your visa will only ever come from newdelhi.visa@diplobel.fed.be or mumbai.visa@diplobel.fed.be, and you will never be asked to pay into a private Indian bank account — all payments go through VFS or Belgium's immigration office (DVZ) directly, per the Embassy's own explicit fraud warning.

Eligibility and passport conditions

Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended departure from the Schengen area, issued within the last 10 years, and have at least 2 blank pages — consistent with the standard Schengen requirements described in our France guide.

Application steps

1. Create an account on VisaOnWeb and complete the electronic visa application form.
2. Print the form you receive by email.
3. Gather your supporting documents.
4. Book an appointment at your chosen VFS Global Visa Application Centre.
5. Attend your appointment, submit your documents, have your photo taken (and fingerprints, if required), and pay your fees.
6. Wait for a decision, and track your status if needed.

Forms required

The electronic visa application form, completed on VisaOnWeb and printed for submission, is the core document for both short-stay and long-stay applicants.

Document checklist

Typical requirements consistent with standard Schengen practice: your valid passport plus previous passports showing travel history, recent passport photos, a completed and signed VisaOnWeb application printout, travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 across the Schengen area, proof of accommodation and travel itinerary, and evidence of financial means and ties to India. Confirm the exact current checklist for your specific purpose directly with VFS Global before your appointment.

Photo and biometric requirements

A live photograph is taken at your VFS Global appointment for all applicants. Fingerprints are additionally captured where required, and are valid for reuse within 5 years before new biometrics are needed for a repeat application.

Fees

The Schengen short-stay (C-type) visa fee is set at EU level, the same framework as our other Schengen-country guides in this archive. We were not able to independently confirm the exact current short-stay fee from a primary source during this review. However, we can confirm directly and precisely from the Belgian government's own official notice: the long-stay (D-type) visa handling fee increased to €250 as of 1 July 2026 (up from €180) — and this applies even to applicants who already had an appointment booked for after 30 June 2026, who must pay the new €250 rate at submission. Confirm the current short-stay fee directly with VFS Global before applying.

Processing information

Processing times vary by visa category and application volume — check the current estimate with VFS Global or on the VisaOnWeb portal for your specific case, since a single fixed figure was not confirmed from the primary sources reviewed for the short-stay category specifically.

Common mistakes

• Forgetting the mandatory "My Address in Belgium" (MAB) declaration after arrival — this is separate from your visa and required within 3 days of entry.
• Assuming the D-visa fee is still €180 — it rose to €250 from 1 July 2026, and this applies even to previously-booked appointments falling after that date.
• Responding to any communication claiming to be from the Belgian Embassy that doesn't come from the official newdelhi.visa@diplobel.fed.be or mumbai.visa@diplobel.fed.be addresses, or that asks for payment into a private account.
• Assuming EU-citizen family members must go through VFS Global — they can instead apply directly at the Embassy or Consulate.

Official links

• Belgian Embassy, India — Visa for Belgium if you live in India
• Belgian Embassy, India — Visa for Belgium
• VFS Global — Apply for a visa (Belgium)
• VisaOnWeb — official online application portal