Belgium to Increase Long-Stay (D) Visa Fee to €250 From 1 July 2026
Belgium Issues One-Day Visas to Taliban Delegation for EU Talks on Afghan Returns
Brussels Airport Expects Record Summer: 5.2 Million Travellers and New Border-Control Measures
Latest News
ACI Europe Warns Schengen Entry/Exit System Could Disrupt Summer Travel, Urges Regulatory Flexibility
Airport association ACI Europe says the new Schengen Entry/Exit System is causing long queues and wants border authorities to be allowed to switch it off during peak periods. The group’s warning is highly relevant for Brussels Airport and other Belgian gateways bracing for record summer traffic.
ASL Airlines Belgium Launches Liege–Karaganda Freighter Service, Strengthening Eurasian Trade Corridor
ASL Airlines Belgium has started a five-times-weekly 747-400F service between Liege and Karaganda, improving transit times between Europe and Central Asia and bolstering Liege Airport’s cargo hub ambitions. The route offers Belgian shippers a Russian-airspace-free alternative and streamlines customs processing.
Belgium issues one-day visas for Taliban delegation to attend EU return talks in Brussels
Belgium granted five tightly-circumscribed, 24-hour visas to a Taliban delegation so it could attend EU talks on deporting Afghan nationals. The move, carried out on 23 June 2026 under Belgium’s obligation to host EU meetings, has sparked sharp criticism from NGOs and MEPs but highlights how the country can limit Schengen‐area movement with territorial visas. The episode signals that further EU-Taliban engagement on returns is likely and that companies in Brussels should prepare for protest-related disruptions and visa-compliance checks.
Brussels Airport braces for record 5.2 million summer travellers and beefs up border-control staffing
On 23 June 2026 Brussels Airport predicted a record 5.2 million passengers for the July–August holidays and unveiled a package of measures – extra staff, temporary facilities and biometric kiosks – to prevent EES-related bottlenecks at border control. Corporate travel planners should build in additional buffer time for departures and arrivals, while the trials of automated e-gates for non-EU nationals may foreshadow a future fast-track for frequent business travellers.
Belgium raises long-stay (Visa D) application fee to €250 from 1 July 2026
Belgium has officially raised the government fee for all long-stay Visa D applications to €250, effective 1 July 2026. The €70 increase covers work, study and family categories and is intended to fund biometric and digital-processing upgrades. Employers and universities should revise budget forecasts and, where feasible, file applications before the end-June deadline to avoid higher costs.
Belgian Embassy in Rome updates visa guidance and makes online ‘My Address in Belgium’ arrival form mandatory
Belgium’s embassy in Rome on 23 June 2026 raised the published Visa D fee to €250 and confirmed that all short-stay visitors must now use the digital “My Address in Belgium” platform to declare their presence within three days of arrival. The guidance also warns that Italian or Maltese residence permits under renewal do not authorise travel to Belgium. HR and mobility teams should update checklists accordingly and remind travellers that failure to complete the online declaration may attract fines.