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Afghanistan → Belgium

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Afghanistan
To
Belgium
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
3,934
Change since 2018
+78.7%
Share of all arrivals in Belgium, 2023
2.58%
Inflow 20233,934OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
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Migration from Afghanistan to Belgium

Inflows of nationals of Afghanistan recorded by Belgium; stock of nationals of Afghanistan living there; and acquisitions of Belgium's nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

3,7277,453200820112014201720202023
3,7277,453200820112014201720202023
Data table
2008138
2009150
20101,249
20113,080
20122,071
20131,138
20141,134
20157,453
20162,634
20171,551
20182,201
20193,761
20203,163
20216,215
20226,893
20233,934
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—32,457—
20233,93432,4442,551
20226,89327,7891,979
20216,21523,3141,460
20203,16322,7431,464
20193,76119,7141,418
20182,20119,1801,067
20171,55119,021875
20162,63417,529534
20157,4539,584326
20141,1348,489194
20131,1388,783283
20122,0717,174260
20113,0804,819174
20101,2492,050370
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in Afghanistan who live in Belgium: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

25k51k19901995200020052010201520202024
25k51k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990431
1995985
20001,750
20052,710
20105,538
201516,526
202028,289
202450,906
Estimate, 2024
50,906
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
2.2%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
13
Counted by
country of birth, refugees added
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Belgium

First residence permits issued by Belgium to citizens of Afghanistan (Eurostat).

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family2,611
  2. Other reasons2,577
  3. Education7
  4. Work4
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20255,199000
20244,56802,77160
20234,11602,55154
20223,73001,97959
20212,67501,46056
20202,04001,46445
20192,81301,41865
20183,38601,06761
20173,295087534
20162,156053452
20151,921032620
20141,504019414
20131,763028316
20121,72502600
20111,14801740
201078503700
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Other paid activities3
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)1
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
27,581
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
2,822
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2025

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in Belgium, 2023; Afghanistan ranks 12.

Inflows to Belgium, 2023
  1. Romania12,889
  2. Ukraine11,972
  3. France11,830
  4. Netherlands7,385
  5. Spain6,420
  6. Morocco6,155
  7. Türkiye6,119
  8. Italy5,642
  9. Syria5,496
  10. Portugal4,398
  11. Palestine4,001
  12. Afghanistan3,934
Other destinations for people from Afghanistan, 2023
  1. Germany58,482
  2. United States35,630
  3. Canada20,180
  4. Türkiye12,732
  5. France10,974
  6. Australia4,275
  7. Austria3,530
  8. Switzerland3,466
  9. Sweden3,125
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more