Citizens of EU/EEA countries and Switzerland do not need a visa when traveling to Belgium.

Unless exempt by treaty or other reciprocity agreement, non-EEA nationals are generally required to obtain a short-stay type C visa (Schengen visa) prior to entering Belgium for short business visits.

Citizens of certain specific countries (e.g., the US, the UK, Canada, Japan, Brazil and Mexico) do not need a visa when traveling to Belgium for short-term business purposes. They will be allowed to enter Belgium based on their nationality upon presenting their international passport. The permitted length of stay is up to 90 days in any 180-day period only. A calculator has been developed for the general public and authorities of each member state to apply the 90 days in a 180-day period rule.

Although no visa is required, the individual must prove the purpose of the trip and demonstrate sufficient means of subsistence if asked by border control (this is, of course, not applicable to EU citizens). Upon entering Belgium, a foreign national may be asked for one or more of the following documents:

• Proof of hotel reservation
• Departure ticket
• Proof of adequate means of subsistence (e.g., cash or credit cards accepted in Belgium)
• Original copy of a pledge of financial support

A business traveler must in principle also report to the local commune of residence after arrival, unless an exemption is applicable (e.g., when the business traveler will be residing in a "lodging house" as referred to in the law (such as a hotel)).

The short-stay visa (Schengen visa) is generally valid within the territory of all the Schengen member states (unless it concerns a Schengen visa with limited territorial validity) and permits short trips for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.

Foreign nationals coming to Belgium on short-term business trips are exempt from obtaining a work permit, subject to certain conditions. No work permit is required if the foreign national's activities are restricted to attending "business meetings in a closed circle" or scientific seminars. The maximum length of stay under this work permit exemption for business purposes is 20 consecutive days per meeting, with a maximum of 60 days per calendar year. For attending scientific seminars, the work permit exemption is limited to the duration of the seminar.

The notion of a business trip or "meetings in a closed circle" is not defined under Belgian law. However, the concept of "meetings in a closed circle" is interpreted restrictively and refers to a range of meetings, including discussions on strategy, contract negotiations with a customer, evaluation interviews and board of directors' meetings. It is forbidden to perform any productive work activity in Belgium under this status. Once a foreign national requires a work authorization, they are no longer considered a business visitor from a Belgian immigration perspective, even if they consider the purpose of their trip to Belgium to be a business purpose.

Foreign national sales representatives that travel to Belgium to meet with customers on behalf of foreign companies that do not have a branch or legal entity in Belgium also do not require a work permit, if their stay in Belgium does not exceed three consecutive months (subject to certain conditions).

Self-employed foreign individuals coming to Belgium for business purposes (i.e., to visit professional partners, develop professional contacts, attend trade fairs, negotiate or conclude contracts or attend board of directors' meetings) do not require a professional card, if their stay does not exceed three months.