The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published its annual schedule of consular visa-handling fees, confirming new amounts that take effect globally from 1 February 2026. The revised table, released on the ministry’s network of embassy microsites, sets the standard short-stay (C-visa) tariff at €90 for adults and children over 12, while applicants covered by a Visa Facilitation Agreement—such as nationals of Serbia or Georgia—pay €45. Children aged six to 12 also pay €45; those under six remain exempt.
For long-stay (D-visa) categories that matter most to corporate mobility teams, the basic handling fee rises to €180. This rate applies to single-permit holders, professional-card applicants, family-reunification cases and return visas. Students benefiting from Belgian government scholarships retain a full exemption. Separate regional administrative levies—currently €377 for highly-skilled workers—continue to apply on top of the consular fee and are adjusted each January.
The ministry reminds applicants that many Belgian posts, including its embassy in Tokyo where the schedule was first published, no longer accept cash payments. All missions will transition to electronic payment only by March 2026, meaning employers must be ready to provide corporate credit cards or arrange pre-paid bank transfers when filing bundles of applications.
![Belgian Foreign Affairs updates worldwide visa handling fees as of 1 February 2026]()
Employers and individual travelers who prefer an end-to-end solution can offload these logistical details to VisaHQ, whose Belgium desk (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) keeps live track of the latest consular tariffs, contribution fees and electronic-payment requirements. The platform can pre-check documents, arrange card payments and submit applications on the company’s behalf, helping mobility teams stay compliant despite the rolling changes.
While the increases are modest—€5 on most C-visas and €10 on D-visas—they arrive just weeks after Belgium indexed the separate ‘contribution fee’ charged by the Immigration Office in Brussels. Global mobility managers should therefore update cost estimates, particularly for family moves where multiple passports are involved. Advisers also note that the published consular euro amounts are converted locally and can fluctuate; in Japan, for instance, the current rate is ¥16,650 for a C-visa.
Companies planning spring and summer assignments are advised to submit dossiers early, as embassies traditionally experience a surge in student and seasonal-worker traffic after Easter. The Foreign Affairs website’s visa fee page will be the single point of truth until a promised central portal goes live later this year.
For long-stay (D-visa) categories that matter most to corporate mobility teams, the basic handling fee rises to €180. This rate applies to single-permit holders, professional-card applicants, family-reunification cases and return visas. Students benefiting from Belgian government scholarships retain a full exemption. Separate regional administrative levies—currently €377 for highly-skilled workers—continue to apply on top of the consular fee and are adjusted each January.
The ministry reminds applicants that many Belgian posts, including its embassy in Tokyo where the schedule was first published, no longer accept cash payments. All missions will transition to electronic payment only by March 2026, meaning employers must be ready to provide corporate credit cards or arrange pre-paid bank transfers when filing bundles of applications.
Employers and individual travelers who prefer an end-to-end solution can offload these logistical details to VisaHQ, whose Belgium desk (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/) keeps live track of the latest consular tariffs, contribution fees and electronic-payment requirements. The platform can pre-check documents, arrange card payments and submit applications on the company’s behalf, helping mobility teams stay compliant despite the rolling changes.
While the increases are modest—€5 on most C-visas and €10 on D-visas—they arrive just weeks after Belgium indexed the separate ‘contribution fee’ charged by the Immigration Office in Brussels. Global mobility managers should therefore update cost estimates, particularly for family moves where multiple passports are involved. Advisers also note that the published consular euro amounts are converted locally and can fluctuate; in Japan, for instance, the current rate is ¥16,650 for a C-visa.
Companies planning spring and summer assignments are advised to submit dossiers early, as embassies traditionally experience a surge in student and seasonal-worker traffic after Easter. The Foreign Affairs website’s visa fee page will be the single point of truth until a promised central portal goes live later this year.
