Passport Rank
7
Non-European nationals require a 'professional card' to engage in self-employed work in Belgium. They can apply for a professional card (similar to the EU Blue Card) if they can prove their business contributes significantly to the Belgium economy. After 5 years of permanent residency, the applicant can apply for Belgian citizenship.
Applicants must prove their professional knowledge required to meet the access requirements for the intended professional activities, as well as that all other obligations associated with their status are met.
The economic utility is evaluated based on job creation, productive investments, economic benefits for Belgium and for businesses established on Belgian territory, the opening of markets, rare, innovative, or highly specialized activities, or activities that meet an unmet or inadequate need. There is no minimum for this program, which is why we took a base case of 10k, which is probably low depending on the type of business activities.
According to the SovSpot Passport Ranking Index, the Belgian passport is now ranked seventh. It allows anyone to travel to 190 countries without needing a visa. With a very high mobility score, it has become one of the most sought passports in the world. Visa-free and visa-on-arrival entry is available to Belgian passport holders in countries such as Brazil, Japan, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, and the European Union as a whole, allowing nearly instant travel around the world. Belgian passport holders, on the other hand, need a visa to visit around 39 countries around the world.
7
190
The number of countries Belgium passport holders can enter without a visa (i.e. visa-free countries) is added to the number of countries Belgium passport holders can enter by obtaining a visa on arrival (i.e. visa-on-arrival countries) or an electronic travel authorization (i.e. visa-on-arrival countries) (eTA). There are now 144 visa-free countries for Belgium passport holders, 35 visa-on-arrival countries for Belgium passport holders, and 11 eTA destinations. In total, Belgium passport holders can visit 190 countries without a visa, via a visa on arrival, or via an eTA. As a result, the Belgian passport is ranked number seven in the world. In addition to these visa-free and visa-on-arrival countries, Belgium passport holders must apply for a physical visa or an eVisa to visit 39 other countries (i.e. visa required countries).
In Belgium, you can only obtain citizenship via descent through your parents. Nonetheless, due to 1984 modifications to Belgium's citizenship legislation, two rules apply depending on your date of birth.
If you were born before January 1, 1967, you can obtain citizenship if the following conditions are met:
If you were born after January 1, 1985, you may qualify for Belgian citizenship if the following conditions are met:
Note: Keep in mind that the costs for citizenship by descent applications can vary and depend on many factors, such as: