Schengen visa datasets show clear patterns for Belgium. Below are concise Belgium schengen visa statistics for 2014–2024: key figures, year-by-year changes, and actionable takeaways for Schengen travel visa applicants.
Belgium Schengen Visa Statistics — Quick Facts
- Belgium remains a top Schengen destination visa stats country, though not in the top five.
- Belgium short stay visa application (2024): 255,564
- Year-on-year growth (2023 → 2024): +13.1%
- Belgium’s share of all Schengen visa requests (2024): ~2.18%
- Belgium visa approval rate 2024: ~74%
- Belgium Schengen visa refusal (2024): ~26%
Belgium Schengen Visa Application Trends (2014–2024)
| Year | Applications | Approvals | Denials | Approval Rate % | Denial Rate % |
| 2014 | 219,758 | 180,470 | 37,120 | 82.12% | 16.89% |
| 2015 | 239,500 | 198,658 | 33,420 | 82.95% | 13.95% |
| 2016 | 219,687 | 181,000 | 33,659 | 82.39% | 15.32% |
| 2017 | 231,437 | 185,864 | 37,062 | 80.31% | 16.01% |
| 2018 | 219,827 | 174,511 | 36,906 | 79.39% | 16.79% |
| 2019 | 248,021 | 190,771 | 46,649 | 76.92% | 18.81% |
| 2020 | 50,058 | 35,910 | 11,072 | 71.74% | 22.12% |
| 2021 | 50,796 | 34,902 | 8,971 | 68.71% | 17.66% |
| 2022 | 171,966 | 117,269 | 46,569 | 68.19% | 27.08% |
| 2023 | 225,951 | 166,454 | 60,148 | 73.67% | 26.62% |
| 2024 | 255,564 | 189,126 | 61,724 | 74.00% | 24.15% |
This decade of Schengen visa data and trends shows one thing clearly: Belgium bounced back hard after COVID, but approval rates never returned to pre-2019 highs.
Belgium Schengen Visa Statistics on Applications (2014–2024)
What the chart tells you
- Stable demand from 2014–2019
- A cliff-drop in 2020–2021
- Sharp recovery starting 2022
- 2024 is the highest application year of the last decade
This mirrors broader global Schengen visa trends, not a Belgium-only story.
Belgium Schengen Visa Statistics – Approval & Rejection Rate (2014–2024)
What I see from this curve
- Belgium once approved 4 out of 5 applicants
- Post-COVID screening stayed tighter
- Belgium visa approval rate 2024 (~74%) means roughly 1 in 4 applicants still face refusal
That matters if you’re planning a Schengen visa application with weak paperwork.
How Many Schengen Visas Does Belgium Issue?
- Belgium issued ~189,000 short-stay visas in 2024
- Issuance tracks closely with demand, but refusals stay consistent
- Belgium sits mid-pack among Schengen countries — not the strictest, not the most lenient
If you compare Schengen visa approval rates across Europe, Belgium behaves like a cautious but predictable processor.
Statistics on Top Nationalities Applying for Belgium Schengen Visa (2024)
This explains why Belgium shows unique Schengen visa rejection statistics compared to tourist-heavy countries like Spain or Italy.
Belgium Visa Processing Time 2025 — What to Expect
From what we’re seeing on the ground:
- Standard filing window: 15–45 calendar days
- Peak months (May–August): delays common
- Certain VACs hit appointment shortages during spikes in Schengen visa demand
If you’re filing under Schengen visa Belgium 2025, book appointments early and avoid last-minute travel plans.
Belgium vs Broader Schengen Visa Application Trends
- Schengen received ~11.7 million applications in 2024
- Belgium handled just over 2% of that total
- Europe-wide refusals hovered near 14–15%, lower than Belgium’s rate
So yes — Belgium screens slightly tighter than the Schengen average.