In Brussels on 24 February 2026, the European Commission formally presented its long-awaited EU Visa Policy Strategy to MEPs in the Civil Liberties (LIBE) Committee. The strategy – the first of its kind – lays out a political roadmap for how the Union will manage short-stay visas over the next decade. At its core is the complete digitalisation of the Schengen visa process. Paper application forms and visa stickers will be phased out in favour of a single EU-wide online portal and a cryptographically-signed 2D barcode. According to Home-Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner, this will cut average processing times by 30 % and save consulates an estimated €200 million a year in handling costs. Belgian businesses that frequently sponsor clients or trainees for Schengen visas can therefore expect a much faster turnaround once the portal goes live in 2028.
![European Parliament unveils first-ever EU Visa Policy Strategy in Brussels]()
In this context, Belgian travellers and companies can already streamline their paperwork through VisaHQ’s Brussels portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/), which offers online form completion, appointment scheduling and real-time status updates—services that will mesh seamlessly with the EU’s forthcoming digital visa platform and help applicants stay compliant during the transition.
Security remains a parallel priority. The strategy links visa issuance to real-time screening against the Entry/Exit System (EES), the Visa Information System (VIS) and Europol intelligence feeds. Officials argue that this “first line of defence” will help Belgian border police spot forged travel histories and identity fraud without adding friction for bona-fide travellers. The document also positions visa policy as an instrument of external relations. Countries that cooperate on readmission and migration management could see shorter visa-processing times and longer multiple-entry visas, while non-cooperative partners risk suspension of visa-free travel. Belgian exporters welcomed the clarity this provides when negotiating service contracts that rely on visiting technicians. Brussels-based business-travel managers should start reviewing internal checklists now. Although no immediate legislative change takes effect, the Commission confirmed it will table three draft regulations before the summer: one to establish the digital visa platform, another to amend the Schengen Borders Code, and a third to revise the EU Visa Code. Given Belgium’s role as a host to many EU institutions, local stakeholders will have a front-row seat – and a direct lobbying channel – as the texts move through Parliament and Council later this year.
In this context, Belgian travellers and companies can already streamline their paperwork through VisaHQ’s Brussels portal (https://www.visahq.com/belgium/), which offers online form completion, appointment scheduling and real-time status updates—services that will mesh seamlessly with the EU’s forthcoming digital visa platform and help applicants stay compliant during the transition.
Security remains a parallel priority. The strategy links visa issuance to real-time screening against the Entry/Exit System (EES), the Visa Information System (VIS) and Europol intelligence feeds. Officials argue that this “first line of defence” will help Belgian border police spot forged travel histories and identity fraud without adding friction for bona-fide travellers. The document also positions visa policy as an instrument of external relations. Countries that cooperate on readmission and migration management could see shorter visa-processing times and longer multiple-entry visas, while non-cooperative partners risk suspension of visa-free travel. Belgian exporters welcomed the clarity this provides when negotiating service contracts that rely on visiting technicians. Brussels-based business-travel managers should start reviewing internal checklists now. Although no immediate legislative change takes effect, the Commission confirmed it will table three draft regulations before the summer: one to establish the digital visa platform, another to amend the Schengen Borders Code, and a third to revise the EU Visa Code. Given Belgium’s role as a host to many EU institutions, local stakeholders will have a front-row seat – and a direct lobbying channel – as the texts move through Parliament and Council later this year.
