All Belgian embassies and consulates have updated their fee schedules to reflect a sharp rise in the handling charge for national long-stay visas (Visa D). Notices published between 1 and 3 July confirm that, effective 1 July 2026, applicants must now pay €250—up from €180—to lodge a residence-based visa request. The Embassy in the United Kingdom was among the first to post the change, warning that applicants with appointments after 30 June must bring the higher amount. The increase applies to work permits, family reunification, intra-company transfers and student visas, and is payable in local currency equivalents. The Interior Ministry (Immigration Office) says the new fee better reflects processing costs and the expanded use of biometric capture introduced this year. A separate administrative contribution—ranging from €65 to €376 depending on category—remains unchanged.
![Belgium raises long-stay (Visa D) handling fee to €250 worldwide]()
For applicants and HR managers looking for hands-on assistance with the updated Belgian Visa D process, VisaHQ offers real-time fee calculators, document checklists and appointment scheduling support, helping to avoid costly under-payments and delays. Full details are available at
Global mobility teams should update budgeting models immediately. For a family of four relocating to Belgium on permits valid longer than 90 days, direct visa fees alone now start at €1,000, excluding service-provider charges. Employers using third-party pay-rolling or posted-worker regimes must decide whether to absorb or pass on the extra cost. Legal advisors note that the hike could be challenged if processing times do not improve; current median issuance is 9.8 weeks, compared with the statutory 90-day deadline. Meanwhile, consulates have begun rejecting under-paid bank transfers and asking applicants to top up the difference, creating appointment back-logs in high-volume missions such as New Delhi and Istanbul. Practical tips: 1) ensure that invitation letters reflect the new fee when employees seek reimbursement; 2) double-check that payment proof shows the correct amount in euros, not local currency; and 3) alert relocating staff that fee increases also affect accompanying dependants over six years old.
For applicants and HR managers looking for hands-on assistance with the updated Belgian Visa D process, VisaHQ offers real-time fee calculators, document checklists and appointment scheduling support, helping to avoid costly under-payments and delays. Full details are available at
Global mobility teams should update budgeting models immediately. For a family of four relocating to Belgium on permits valid longer than 90 days, direct visa fees alone now start at €1,000, excluding service-provider charges. Employers using third-party pay-rolling or posted-worker regimes must decide whether to absorb or pass on the extra cost. Legal advisors note that the hike could be challenged if processing times do not improve; current median issuance is 9.8 weeks, compared with the statutory 90-day deadline. Meanwhile, consulates have begun rejecting under-paid bank transfers and asking applicants to top up the difference, creating appointment back-logs in high-volume missions such as New Delhi and Istanbul. Practical tips: 1) ensure that invitation letters reflect the new fee when employees seek reimbursement; 2) double-check that payment proof shows the correct amount in euros, not local currency; and 3) alert relocating staff that fee increases also affect accompanying dependants over six years old.
