BELGIUM

Schengen Visa for Belgium

If you are planning to visit Belgium in your vacations or for some other purpose , then you can choose your Schengen visa type and can proceed further with the following information.

What documents are required while applying for Belgium's schengen visa ?

The following documents are required while applying for schengen visa :

• Get the application form by clicking here. Fill it properly with your signature.

• Two recent passport size photos.You can check more about the requirement of photos in detail.

• Your passport and copies of your previous visas – valid for at least 3 months beyond return date – are required. Your passport must have at least two blank pages.

• ​Language Preference Form. Belgian authorities offer to you the opportunity to choose in which of the three national languages of Belgium you wish your application to be treated (French, German or Dutch). On the other hand, if you choose to complete the application in English, please choose “no preference”.

• Travel Insurance confirmation of minimum 30,000 € coverage within Belgium and the entire Schengen area

• A cover letter stating the purpose of visit to Belgium.

• Flight Reservation/Itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Belgium.

• Proof of accommodation for the whole duration of the intended stay in Belgium. 

• Proof of civil status (marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, ration card if applicable)

• Means of subsistence – Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Belgium.  A foreign national who seeks to enter the territory of Belgium needs to attest to the Embassy or Consulate when applying for Belgium Visa owning of at least 53.34€. However, this number is not officially fixed and typically the amount is decided on a case-by-case basis.

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Keep in mind , the below mentioned points also.You need to submit the following documents also on the basis of your work status :

• If you are an employee then you need to submit the below documents:

  • Employment letter from the employer.

  • Contract information if you are working on contract.

  • Salary/pay slips of the last 3 months.

  • Bank statement of the last six months where your salary is being credited .

  • Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary.

  • A leave letter from the organisation.​​

• If you are a student then please submit the below documents :

  • A document/certificate from the school/college/university which will show that you are a student of that particular organisation.

  • No objection letter from school/college/university.

• If you are self employed, then you can submit the following documents:

• A document/certificate from the school/college/university which will show that you are a student of that particular organisation.

• No objection letter from school/college/university.​​

• If you are retire, then you can submit the below documents:
  A letter or document from the government/organisation regarding your retirement.Bank statements of last six months  where the pension is being credited.

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Note :The signed application form must be accompanied the rest of the above-mentioned mandatory documents and handed personally at the appropriate embassy/consulate or its representative in your home country.

What are the other important documents required for most common types of Visa that are being applied by the visitors while visiting Belgium ?

Belgium's Tourist/Visitor Visa :

• Invitation letter from your family or friends in Belgium.

• Bank statement of the last 6 months.

• Travel Itinerary. 

• Proof how you will be financing your trip to Belgium.

• Passport copies

Belgium's Visa for Business Purposes :

• Invitation letter from the Belgium's company which you will be visiting and their detailed address accompanied with the dates of your visit.

• A certificate from your employer stating/allowing your business travel

• If there were previous trade relations between the two companies, proof of such events must be provided.

• Business bank statement of the latest 6 months.

• Memorandum and Article of Association in original certified copy (registered with joint stock companies) Trade License (first issued and present renewal), Proprietorship/Partnership documents.

• Regarding the applicant’s expenses during stay in the Schengen zone, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.

Belgium's Visa for Medical Purposes:

• A local medical report.

• A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in Belgium, confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation.

• Payment receipt of medical fees.

• Official confirmation of the treatment/appointment by the receiving medical institution (hospital/clinic) in Belgium.

• Proof that you have sufficient financial means to pay the medical expenses and other related expenses throughout your treatment.

Belgium's Visa for Culture, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes:

• Invitation letter from the above-mentioned authorities with details upon the nature of events or activities – purpose of visit , expense coverage

• Names of the applicants (crew members)

• Duration of stay

• Travel itinerary

• Proof of finance

• Details about the previous events if it had happened before.

Belgium's Visa for Members of Official Delegations:

• The official invitation copy

• Identity of applicant

• Purpose of journey (negotiations, meetings, event by intergovernmental organizations, consultations)

• Duration of stay

• Place of accommodation 

Belgium's Visa for Study, Training, Research, or other type of Internship Purposes:

• An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses

• Certificate of completion or courses attended

• Financial sustenance 

Belgium's Visa For The Wife/Husband of a Norwegian citizen:

• Proof of Belgium citizenship (ID card or consular card or certification of Belgium's nationality or naturalization order)

• Belgium marriage certificate.

• Belgium family record book.

Belgium's Airport Transit Visa:

• Visa or other type of entry permit in the transit country.

• Copy of your valid visa for your final destination.

• The flight ticket for the final destination country you are travelling to.

Belgium's Visa for Underage Children:

• Proof of parent’s regular income (work contract with specified monthly income or a bank statement or business license)

• Notarized travel permission from parent (parental travel consent)

• If one parent lives in another country – their notarized parental travel consent

*Note: When applying at the Belgium embassy/consulate in home country, the guardian or parent should accompany their under-age children.

How to apply for Belgium's Schengen Visa?

• Figure out the type of visa you need to apply for.

• Check for the requirements and gather them accordingly.

• Find out the place where you need to apply for the visa.

• Schedule an appointment with the concerned embassy/consulate or a visa application center in your country of residence.

• Attend the visa interview and wait for the decision.

Where to apply for Belgium's Schengen Visa?

You will have to apply for a short-stay visa to Belgium at the Belgium's body responsible for visa admission in your country of residence. This could be one of the following:

• The Belgium Embassy

• The Belgium consulate

• A Visa Application Center to which Belgium has outsourced visa submission

• The Embassy / Consulate of another Schengen country to which Belgium has outsourced visa submission

When you can apply for Belgium's Schengen Visa ?

It is recommended that you can apply for schengen visa before 3 months of your journey or the latest you can submit the documents prior to two weeks.

How long does it take to get the visa ?

Generally the process of visa takes only 15 business days but sometimes due to certain issues it may take longer also. Infact, it can take upto 30 days or more.

Exceptional applications may take up to 60 days to be processed by the Belgium embassy/consulate. That is why you are highly recommended to apply for your  short-stay visa as soon as you can, but no earlier than three months prior to your trip to Belgium.

What is the validity of the Belgium's schengen visa ?

The validity of the schengen visa is same for all the countries i.e., 90 days with in a period of 180 days. It means that you can stay in that particular country for period of 90 days with in a circle of 180 days. It also includes your stay in other country , if you are wishing to visit there under schengen visa.

NOTE : If you are the national of a country that still has not reached a visa-free agreement with Belgium and the other Schengen members, you will not be allowed to enter the Belgium without a visa, at all.

How long can you stay in Belgium without a visa?

• If you are the resident of the country which is not the member of schengen free zone , then you are not allowed to stay in schengen zone without visa.

• If you are resident/national of the country which is the member of schengen zone , then you can stay in any schengen country for 90 days with in a period of 180 days.

Do US citizens need a visa to visit Belgium?

U.S. citizens don’t need to obtain an Belgian visa when traveling to Belgium for up to 90 days for tourism and business purposes. However, US nationals are required to hold a US passport, which should be valid for at least 3 months beyond the period of their stay in Belgium.

When and who can apply for a Schengen Visa at the Belgian Embassy / Consulate / VAC?

If Belgium is the only country in the Schengen Area, which you plan to visit, then simply apply at the Belgian embassy / consulate / VAC in your country of residence.

On the other hand, if you will be visiting Belgium and at least one more Schengen state, then you should apply at the Belgian embassy / consulate / VAC in your country of residence if:

• You will be spending more days in Belgium, than in the other countries.

• You will be spending an equal amount of days in each country, but you will enter the Schengen Zone through Belgium.

Please keep in mind that to be eligible to apply for a Belgian short stay visa you must be:

• A citizen of the country from where you are applying

• A foreign citizen currently in a temporary residence permit in the country from where you are applying

You cannot apply for a short-stay Belgian visa from a country in which you are currently on a visa.

Extension of Schengen Visa

For more information regarding the extension of your schengen visa please click here.

Schengen Visa Fee

For more information regarding the fee of  schengen visa please click here.