A new Global Passport Index published on 4 December by consultancy Global Citizens Solutions ranks Belgium’s passport 21st overall and 11th worldwide for travel mobility. Belgian citizens enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 128 countries and benefit from EU free movement, making the document one of the most powerful for business travellers and expatriates.
The index weights three pillars—mobility (50 %), quality of life (25 %) and investment attractiveness (25 %). Belgium scores strongest on mobility thanks to Schengen membership, strong bilateral visa-waiver deals and rapid issuance of emergency passports through local communes. Quality-of-life metrics such as healthcare, education and happiness keep Belgium in the global top-25 despite a relatively high tax burden that drags down the investment score.
![Belgian passport hailed for ‘very high mobility’ in 2025 Global Passport Index]()
For Belgian corporates the ranking is more than vanity: passport strength translates into cheaper compliance when assigning staff abroad. Fewer consular visas reduce lead-times for project deployment, while dual-career spouses face fewer bureaucratic hurdles. Mobility teams can point to the index when negotiating global policies or sourcing third-country talent who see Belgium as a gateway to Europe.
The report also notes that Europe dominates the top ten, with Sweden, Switzerland and Finland taking the podium. That regional clustering suggests the EU’s collective visa diplomacy continues to pay dividends for member states like Belgium.
The index weights three pillars—mobility (50 %), quality of life (25 %) and investment attractiveness (25 %). Belgium scores strongest on mobility thanks to Schengen membership, strong bilateral visa-waiver deals and rapid issuance of emergency passports through local communes. Quality-of-life metrics such as healthcare, education and happiness keep Belgium in the global top-25 despite a relatively high tax burden that drags down the investment score.
For Belgian corporates the ranking is more than vanity: passport strength translates into cheaper compliance when assigning staff abroad. Fewer consular visas reduce lead-times for project deployment, while dual-career spouses face fewer bureaucratic hurdles. Mobility teams can point to the index when negotiating global policies or sourcing third-country talent who see Belgium as a gateway to Europe.
The report also notes that Europe dominates the top ten, with Sweden, Switzerland and Finland taking the podium. That regional clustering suggests the EU’s collective visa diplomacy continues to pay dividends for member states like Belgium.
