 | This article needs to beupdated. The reason given is: the latest passport received substantial media coverage for featuring comic book characters, such asThe Adventures of Tintin andSuske en Wiske. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(October 2022) |
| |
|---|---|
 The front cover of a contemporary Belgian biometric passport (2022, version shown for citizens of theFrench Community) | |
 The information page of a contemporary Belgianbiometric passport (2022, version shown for citizens of theFlemish Community) | |
| Type | Passport |
| Issued by |  Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs |
| First issued | 1 February 2008 (biometric passport) 7 February 2022 (current version)[1] |
| Purpose | Identification |
| Eligibility | Belgian citizenship |
| Expiration |
|
| Cost |
|
ABelgian passport (Dutch:Belgisch paspoort;French:Passeport belge;German:Belgischer Reisepass) is atravel document issued byBelgium toBelgian citizens to facilitate international travel. It grants the bearer international passage in accordance withvisa requirements and serves as proof of citizenship.
Belgium introduced a newly designed passport featuring illustrations from famous Belgian comic strips, such asTintin,The Smurfs, andLucky Luke. This redesign celebrates Belgium's rich artistic and cultural heritage, showcasing its influence in the world of comics. The updated passport also includes enhanced security features, making it both a tribute to Belgian creativity and a more secure travel document.[3]
Standard passports are issued for ordinary travel, such as vacations and business trips. They areburgundy, available in 35 and 60-page formats, and are valid for 7 years.
Diplomatic passports are issued to members of theBelgian royal family, members of thegovernment,ministers of State, as well as representatives of Belgium or of theCommunities or Regions (diplomats, economic or trade attaches, the main representative of each Community or Region).
Service passports are issued to civil servants within thefederal public services, ministries, parliaments, and judicial services sent on an official mission abroad by the Belgian authorities.
Temporary passports are issued in Emergency Conditions, if there is a justifiable urgent matter requiring immediate travel. They are dark green and valid for only 6 months.
Emergency Travel Documents are issued by Belgian diplomatic representatives abroad when a previously issued passport has been lost. They have only 6 pages.
Belgian passports use the standard EU design and are usually burgundy.
The front cover is emblazoned with theBelgian lesser coat of arms.
Text on the front cover is printed in four languages (from top to bottom):French,Dutch,German andEnglish.
The sequence of the first three languages varies according to the lingual community of the bearer (either Dutch-French-German, French-Dutch-German or German-French-Dutch).
The following words are inscribed above the coat of arms, if the bearer is from theFlemish Community:
"EUROPESE UNIE" (Dutch), "UNION EUROPÉENNE" (French), "EUROPÄISCHE UNION" (German), "EUROPEAN UNION" (English)"KONINKRIJK BELGIË" (Dutch), "ROYAUME DE BELGIQUE" (French), "KÖNIGREICH BELGIEN" (German), "KINGDOM OF BELGIUM" (English)
The following is inscribed below the coat of arms, if the bearer is from the Flemish Community:
"PASPOORT – PASSEPORT – REISEPASS – PASSPORT"
Biometric passports have been issued since 2015 and these bear the standard biometric symbol (
) at the bottom of the front cover.
Belgian passports are issued byFPS Foreign Affairs, the country'sministry of foreign affairs. Belgian citizens may apply for a passport at themunicipality orembassy where they are legally registered, which in turn procures the passport from the ministry.
Passports cost approximately €93.50, depending on the location of issuance. It is possible to make an urgent application at a higher cost.
The passport identifier is an 8-character alphanumeric with the structure AB123456; 2 alphas followed by 6 digits.
According to the Belgian police, 19,050 blank Belgian passports had been stolen between 1990 and 2002 and had been used to create forged travel documents.[4]
Due to concerns about forgery, the Belgian authorities charge increasingly higher fees for the replacement of lost or stolen passports after the 2nd and 3rd loss.
Belgian citizens are alsocitizens of the European Union and thus enjoy the rights of free movement and residence in any other country in theEuropean Union, as well as otherEuropean Economic Area states andSwitzerland. The right to free movement is provided for inArticle 21 of the EU Treaty.[5]
Belgian citizens are able to use theiridentity card to travel within the European Union and to other countries in the periphery of Europe.
As of 20 July 2025, Belgian citizens have visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 188 countries and territories, ranking the Belgian passport 4th in the world according to theHenley Passport Index.
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
