VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility
From→ToFind a corridor EN
☰

Syria → Belgium

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
Syria
To
Belgium
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
5,496
Change since 2018
+52.3%
Share of all arrivals in Belgium, 2023
3.60%
Inflow 20235,496OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<BESYRIA<BELGIUM<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
SY8<BE9<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<6

Migration from Syria to Belgium

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

Inflows by year

5,18110k200820112014201720202023
5,18110k200820112014201720202023
Data table
2008160
2009204
2010503
2011627
2012540
20131,017
20142,780
201510,362
20164,669
20175,513
20183,609
20192,790
20201,667
20213,282
20223,557
20235,496
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—33,760—
20235,49632,2743,776
20223,55732,2643,615
20213,28232,7803,385
20201,66733,1331,431
20192,79030,809979
20183,60927,492474
20175,51322,107243
20164,66918,042253
201510,3627,369185
20142,7804,62792
20131,0173,836205
20125403,096246
20116272,927186
20105031,809259
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

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

Migrant population by year

25k50k19901995200020052010201520202024
25k50k19902000201020202024
Data table
19901,011
19951,467
20002,130
20053,093
20105,121
201515,951
202035,717
202450,068
Estimate, 2024
50,068
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
2.1%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
14
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

Belgium's consulates in Syria

Short-stay Schengen (C) visa applications at Belgium's consulates located in Syria.

YearApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
201219018413772.1%
20111,15279136131.3%
20101,19888631226.0%
20091,26289336929.2%

Applications by year

6311,2622009201020112012
6311,2622009201020112012
Data table
20091,262
20101,198
20111,152
2012190
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Belgium

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

First permits by reason, 2025
  1. Family2,809
  2. Other reasons1,402
  3. Education11
  4. Work7
YearFirst permitsEU Blue CardsCitizenships acquiredStudents
20254,229000
20245,25403,639160
20234,60003,776223
20222,98103,615269
20213,49613,385320
20201,97501,431270
20192,4370979283
20184,0550474162
20176,5890243123
20168,902025393
20154,400018590
20141,73309299
20131,543020568
201252002460
201137901860
201046702590
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)6
  2. Other paid activities1
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
31,411
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
2,376
Changed status into work, 2025
8
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; Syria ranks 9.

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 Syria, 2023
  1. Germany128,742
  2. Netherlands19,551
  3. Austria15,246
  4. Canada9,345
  5. United States4,250
  6. France3,381
  7. Türkiye3,330
  8. Norway3,116
  9. Sweden2,515
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