Brussels and Bruges are often part of a Benelux or Paris–Amsterdam trip from the UAE, and Belgium is a solid choice when it really is your main stop. In 2025 the Belgian Embassy in Abu Dhabi received 7,460 UAE applications, refused 20% — below the UAE average of 23.9% — and gave 60% of approved applicants a multiple-entry visa. Belgium uses its own online form, Visa on Web, and it wants original, stamped bank statements.
Checked on 20 October 2026 against the Belgian Foreign Affairs ministry, VFS Global Belgium UAE and the European Commission’s 2025 visa statistics. Sources at the end.
On this page
- Belgium at a glance
- Step by step, including Visa on Web
- Documents
- How much money to show
- What the 2025 figures say
- Questions people ask
Belgium at a glance
| Who decides | Embassy of Belgium, Abu Dhabi |
| Application form | Visa on Web online form, printed with its barcode page |
| Where you submit | VFS Global — Wafi Mall, Dubai, or WTC Mall, Abu Dhabi |
| Visa fee | €90 adults, €45 children 6–11, free under 6 — paid in AED |
| VFS service fee | About AED 128 per application |
| Decision time | 15 calendar days; up to 45 if more checks are needed |
| 2025 not-issued rate | 20% (UAE average 23.9%) |
| Multiple-entry share | 60% of issued visas |
Apply to Belgium only if it is your main destination. Three nights in Brussels, two in Bruges and two in Amsterdam is Belgian; three in Amsterdam, two in Brussels and two in Paris is Dutch. See which Schengen country to apply to.
Step by step, including Visa on Web
- Complete the Visa on Web application online. Print the full form including the barcode page, and sign it. A handwritten generic Schengen form is not a substitute.
- Download the VFS Belgium UAE checklist for your purpose.
- Book an appointment at VFS Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Submission hours are 09:00–15:00; passport collection 15:00–17:00.
- Attend in person. Fingerprints given for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months can be reused.
- Pay the visa and VFS fees. Neither is refunded if refused.
- Track the application and collect your passport.
Documents
- Passport issued in the last 10 years, valid 3 months beyond your departure from Schengen, with two blank pages.
- UAE residence visa valid at least 3 months beyond your departure, and Emirates ID copy.
- Signed Visa on Web form with barcode page.
- Two ICAO-standard photos, white background, under 6 months old.
- Return flight reservation and a day-by-day itinerary.
- Hotel reservations for every night, or an official invitation if staying with family or friends.
- Original bank statements for the last 3 months, stamped and signed by the bank.
- Salary certificate or NOC; business owners add trade licence and company documents.
- Travel insurance: €30,000 minimum, including repatriation.
How much money to show
Belgium’s commonly cited reference amounts depend on where you stay:
| Accommodation | Reference per person per day | Example: 6 days |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel | About €95 | About €570 |
| Staying with a private host | About €45 | About €270 |
If your host in Belgium is paying, they can sign a formal guarantee of support (known as “Annex 3bis”) at their local municipality. It is a legal undertaking to cover your costs, and it replaces part of your own proof of funds. See bank balance for a Schengen visa.
What the 2025 figures say
| Embassy of Belgium, Abu Dhabi (2025) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Applications | 7,460 |
| Visas issued | 5,917 |
| Not-issued rate | 20% |
| Multiple-entry share of issued visas | 60% |
Belgium sits below the UAE refusal average and gives most approved applicants a multiple-entry visa. Compare every consulate in our Schengen statistics for the UAE.
If you are refused
The refusal letter states the reasons and how to challenge the decision, with a deadline. Reapplying with a corrected file is often quicker. See our refusal and appeal guide.
Mistakes to avoid
- Printing Visa on Web without the barcode page.
- Submitting an app-downloaded PDF statement instead of an original stamped one.
- A host invitation with no proof of who pays.
- Applying to Belgium for a trip centred on Amsterdam or Paris.
Questions people ask
What is Visa on Web?
Belgium’s official online visa application form. You fill it in online, print it with the barcode page, sign it and bring it to VFS.
Where do I apply for a Belgium visa in Dubai?
At VFS Global in Wafi Mall, Dubai, or VFS in the WTC Mall, Abu Dhabi. The Embassy in Abu Dhabi decides.
How long does a Belgium visa take from the UAE?
15 calendar days as standard, up to 45 if more documents or checks are needed.
Related guides
- Netherlands Schengen visa from the UAE
- France Schengen visa from the UAE
- Germany Schengen visa from the UAE
- Schengen visa from Dubai and the UAE
Sources
- Belgian Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs — Visa on Web and short-stay visas: diplomatie.belgium.be
- VFS Global — Belgium visa application centres, UAE
- European Commission — Visa statistics for consulates, 2025 (published 28 May 2026)
- Wego — Belgium visa from the UAE, 29 May 2026
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 20 October 2026. Rechecked quarterly. Found an error? Email [email protected] — it gets fixed and logged.