Travel to Belgium from Canada with ETIAS
Belgium attracts more than 7 million tourists each year. Many non-EU citizens, including Canadians, can enter the country without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Canadian nationals will soon need a visa waiver to travel to Belgium. This will be an obligatory requirement along with a valid passport when crossing the border.
The ETIAS visa waiver is a travel authorisation that lets Canadian citizens enter Belgium without having to apply for a travel visa. ETIAS is not a visa for Belgium and is easy and quick to obtain online. ETIAS allows Canadian travellers to spend time in Belgium as well as the rest of the Schengen countries.
How can Canadians apply for ETIAS to visit Belgium?
The ETIAS for Canadians application process is straightforward and only takes a few minutes to complete. Applicants will need a valid Canadian passport, a credit or debit card to pay the application fee, and an email address to receive their ETIAS for Belgium travel authorisation.
They will also need to make sure to meet all the ETIAS requirements for Canadian citizens and comply with the visa waiver conditions.
The whole application can be completed online from anywhere in the world — there’s no need to go to a Belgian consulate in person. It’s essential that the applicant completes the ETIAS application form for Belgium as accurately as possible. Incomplete or incorrect information may result in the travel authorisation being delayed or even denied.
Travelling to Belgium from Canada with the ETIAS visa waiver
Once the Belgium ETIAS application has been approved, the traveller will be notified by email and the visa waiver will be linked to the passport electronically. Canadians need to use the passport that they applied with to travel to Belgium, it is not possible to transfer the visa waiver to a new passport.
The ETIAS visa waiver for Belgium is valid for the whole Schengen area. As long as the ETIAS holder enters the Schengen territory in Belgium, they can then visit as many Schengen countries as they like for a maximum stay of 90 days within a 180-day period.
Tourist information for Belgium
Home to the headquarters of the European Union and NATO as well as delightful art cities, canals, and some of the finest chocolatiers in the world. Belgium fascinates international tourists with its distinctly European charm.
If you travel from Canada to Belgium, you must know that weather can be cold during the winter and is usually variable all year round. However, spring and early autumn are the best times to enjoy a holiday in the country.
Health information for Belgium
Like most European countries, Belgium boasts very high healthcare standards. However, Canadian citizens will not be covered by the Belgian national health service and are advised to purchase health insurance before travelling.
- In case of a medical emergency, call 112 to contact the ambulance service
- Belgian tap water is safe to drink
- Make sure that all medication you bring from Canada is in its original package and is clearly labelled
- Although most Belgians speak English, carry a Dutch or French phrasebook with you if you visit a pharmacy
Does a Canadian need a visa for Belgium?
Canadian citizens do not need a visa to visit Belgium for up to 3 months.
Canadian passport holders may spend up to 90 days anywhere in the Schengen Area for the purposes of tourism or business without applying for a visa. They may also transit through a Belgian airport visa-free, at least unitil ETIAS for Belgium it’s implemented.
From 2026, Canadians will need an ETIAS visa waiver to go to Belgium short term. The new travel authorization will be an essential entry requirement to visit Belgium from Canada.
Canadians do not need to apply for ETIAS before each trip to Belgium. The permit is valid for 3 years or until the passport expires and can be used to enter the Schengen Area multiple times.
When do Canadian citizens need a visa to visit Belgium?
Citizens of Canada need a visa to visit Belgium if they:
- Will stay for more than 90 days per 180-day period
- Are visiting for reasons other than tourism, business, or transit
- Do not meet all the ETIAS eligibility requirements
Canadians who require a visa for Belgium should begin the application process well ahead of their trip. It takes longer to apply for a visa than ETIAS and several supporting documents may be required.
Visas for Belgium are obtained through the embassy or consulate in Canada.
Canada-Belgium: embassies and consulates
If you need consular assistance whilst in Belgium, it’s best to visit one of the Canadian foreign missions in the country. Below is the address and contact information of the embassy of Canada in Brussels:
- Address: Avenue des Arts 58, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
- Telephone: 32 (2) 741-0611
- Fax: 32 (2) 741-0619
- Email: bru@international.gc.ca