Belgium's Requirements for Applying for Visa

Belgium is country located in the North western Europe; it is officially called the Kingdom of Belgium. It covers an area of 30, 528 km2 with a population of more than 11.5 million.

Interestingly, the Belgium is a part of an area which is called as the Low countries, historically a region bigger than Benelux group of states. The capital of Belgium is Brussels.

The tourist attractions in Belgium are just spectacular. Some of them are Grand place, Brussels, The Belfry of Bruges, Basilica of the Holy Blood, Meuse Valley, Atomium in Brussels to name a few.

In the year 1995, the government of Belgium has made a Schengen agreement, thus joining the European border-free zone. Today, when visitors plan to travel to the Belgium, it also allows travellers to visit other Schengen member states too.

Entry Requirements for Belgium

If you are planning to travel to Belgium via flight, you have to present travel identification documents to the border officer upon arrival at Belgium. Following are the documents you need to present:

A valid passport or travel document. Valid for at least 3 months from the date you wish to leave Belgium, and the Schengen Area, issued within the last 10 years.

Visa – if you are covered by the Belgian visa system.

You may also be required to present document such as – Proof of accommodation or return flight ticket and Invitation letter from your Belgian host. For information related to this, you must contact to the Belgian Consulate in your country.

Remember, all these documents will be verified by the Belgian border official, who can ask few questions such as:

The purpose of your visiting Belgium?
How long do you intend to stay?
Where are you going to stay in Belgium? Etc.

After examining your documents, the Belgian border officer will make the final determination of whether you should be granted entry into Belgium and the Schengen Area. If all of your documents meet the necessary requirements, you will be allowed to enter Belgium.

Kindly make sure that you receive an entry stamp in your passport from the Belgian border officer when you enter the Schengen area. Avoid any fines or detainment by having the entry stamp.

Who Requires a Schengen Visa to Travel Belgium?

Due to the general Schengen rules for issuing visas, you must apply for a visa when traveling to Belgium if:

Citizens of third world country that do not have visa liberalization agreements with the EU.

Citizens of third world country who have visa liberalization agreements with Schengen countries, but are denied visa-free entry to Belgium or other Schengen countries.

What Type of Visa Do you Require to Visit Belgium?

Are you planning a trip to Belgium for a short-term duration? Make sure to apply for a Schengen Visa to make the most of your stay! Depending on your purpose of visit, you can get one of the following Schengen Visa types:

Belgium Airport transit – In case, you require to transit through one of Belgium’s airports to reach your destination country outside the Schengen area. Get to know, if you need a Belgian airport transit visa.

Belgium tourist visa – For visitors who want to spend their holidays in Belgium or stop by for sightseeing and exploration.

Belgium visitor visa – For foreigners who have family or friends in Belgium and want to visit.

Belgium business visa – Established for business people who want or need to participate in business activities in Belgium.

Belgium Visa for Official Visits – for delegations traveling to Belgium on official visits.

Belgium Medical Visa – for patients requiring medical care in a Belgian hospital or clinic

Belgium Visa for Study – If you wish to study for up to 3 months in a Belgian educational institution.

Belgium visa for cultural, sporting and film teams – If you are planning to participate in cultural or sporting activities taking place in Belgium.

What Documents do you Require When you Apply for Belgium Schengen Visa?

According to Belgian visa regulations, your need to submit following documents when applying for short-term Belgium visa:

Belgian visa application form. This should be filled completely, printed and signed.

2 similar photos. The photo must be no more than 3 months old and taken as per the Belgian visa photo requirements and specifications.

Passport. Must contain at least 2 blank pages for the Belgian visa sticker. Please check the expiry date of your passport before applying. Must be valid for at least 3 months from date of departure from Belgium (Schengen Area). Also, it should not be more than 10 years old.

Copies of your previous visas

Language preference form – Belgium gives you the chance to select which of the three official languages of the country you would like your application to be handled in – French, German or Dutch. Alternatively, if you choose to apply in English, please select ‘no preference’. Make the most of this opportunity to get your application processed quickly and efficiently.

A cover letter – Explaining why you wish to visit Belgium and you provide required details on your trip.

Round-trip Flight Itinerary – It includes the dates and flight numbers indicating the entry and exit from Belgium.

Proof of accommodation – a document showing your stay in Belgium i.e. hotel bookings during your stay in Belgium.

Proof of citizenship. This can be a marriage certificate, a child’s birth certificate, a spouse’s death certificate, etc.

Proof of sufficient financial resources for the duration of your stay in Belgium. According to the Belgian Immigration Service, the traveller must prove that he is 95 euros per day if staying in a hotel, and 45 euros if staying in a cheaper place.

Schengen Travel Insurance. You will need to show documentation confirming that you have travel insurance for Belgium and the entire Schengen area. This insurance includes a minimum of €30,000 for medical emergencies and repatriation in case of death.

Note: Need travel health insurance for your upcoming trip to Belgium? Europ Assistance and Mondial Care offer policies that fulfil Belgium Visa requirements and are accepted by Belgian Embassies and Consulates all over the world. Get your coverage online, hassle-free!

Visa Requirement for Belgium Depending on your Employment Status

In addition, you will have to rovide the Embassy/Consulate with documentation proving that you meet the Belgian visa requirements based on your employment status.

If you are an employed:

Employment contract
Checking statements for the last 6 months
Employer paid vacation
Your income tax return (ITR) or income tax certificate will be deducted from your salary

If you a self-employed:

Copy of business license
Company account statements for the last 6 months
Income Tax Return (ITR)

If you are a student:

Certificate of enrolment
School or college clearance certificate
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If you are a retired:

Pension statement of the last 6 months

If it applies:

Proof of regular income from the property for the last 6 months

Note: Kindly find information on How to Obtain No-objection certificate (NOC) from school or university, or your employer.

Belgium Visa Requirements for Minors

Here are the additional Belgian visa requirements for minors who intend to visit Belgium for a short stay:

You need to present birth certificate for minors traveling to Belgium
You need to present Belgium Application signed by parents
You need to family court order, if in case, only one parent has custody of the child
Notarized copies of parents’ ID/passports
Notarized parental authorization to travel to Belgium signed by both parents and legal guardians, in case, if the minor is traveling alone.

Note: Parents or guardians must accompany minor children when applying at the Belgian Embassy/Consulate.

Requirements Depending on the Purpose of Entry to Belgium

Depending on the purpose of your visit to Belgium, you will need to produce some additional Belgian visa requirements. Below are additional required documents that you will need to submit:

The following additional documents must be presented when applying for a Belgian airport visa:

Account statement. Preferably within the last 6 months.

Travel itinerary. A description of your trip to Belgium. Please be sure to include the intention of your trip and duration of stay, as well as your hotel reservation where you will be staying during your stay in Belgium.

Proof of how you are funding your trip to Belgium.

Documents Required for a Schengen Visitor Visa to Belgium

When applying for a visa to travel to Belgium to see a friend or relative, you must present some extra documents in order to comply with Belgium’s visa regulations.

Proof of financial means: Proof that shows you have sufficient money throughout your stay in Belgium. The Belgian government requires that you demonstrate that you possess the financial resources to cover your stay in Belgium, which is set at a minimum of €95 each day when staying in a hotel (if you have not already done so) and €45 when lodging in a less expensive place or if you have pre-paid your hotel. To satisfy this requirement, you will need to present the following document:

A bank statement if you are paying for all expenses yourself.

Proof of funding. If another Belgian resident will cover the costs during your stay in Belgium, you must also submit the following documents:

Formal obligation within 6 months
Copies of Sponsor’s three most recent pay stubs / Sponsor’s latest tax returns / Other official proof of Sponsor’s ability to pay.
A copy of ID card or permanent residence permit.
Sponsor’s original family registration certificate issued by the Belgian municipality (no resident card).

Travel itinerary. Your trip’s description, including why you are journeying to Belgium, the length of time you will be there, and the sites you plan to explore/engagements you mean to attend. Additionally, information regarding where you will be staying in Belgium, such as the address of your host if you have been invited to reside at their home.

Invitation letter. By friend or relative staying in Belgium attached to their ID card of Belgium or Belgium residence permit.

Documents Required for a Business Schengen Visa to Belgium

When applying for a Belgian business visa, you will need to submit the following additional documents:

Invitation letter from the Belgian company you intend to visit with details and address, date of visit.

Certificate from employer. This letter should state why you are traveling to Belgium and whether your employer will allow you to leave the country during this period.

Business statement. Preferably within the last 6 months.

Articles and Memorandum of Incorporation. A certified copy (registered to a stock company) must be submitted.

Trading license (originally issued and currently being renewed).

Proof of travel funds. Regarding your expenditure during the stay in Belgium, either your employer or your affiliated company must indicate expenditure coverage on the invitation or letter.

Documents you Require for a Student Schengen Visa to Belgium

When applying for a Belgian student visa, you will need to submit the following additional documents:

Enrolment certificate that allows you to attend a Belgium course in school, university, or any language course etc.)

No objection notices from your current educational institution (if applicable)

Documents you Require for a Medical Schengen Visa to Belgium

The following additional documents must be presented when applying for a visa to receive treatment in Belgium:

A local medicinal report released by a physician or clinic in the native land of the visa applicant necessitating medical care in Belgium.
A medical certificate from a Belgian hospital or doctor confirming the appointment date and health status
Medical fee receipt
Official treatment/appointment confirmation from the receiving medical institution (hospital/clinic)
Evidence of sufficient financial resources to pay for medical and other related costs during treatment.

Documents Required for a Schengen visa to Belgium for cultural, sports, film crew, or religious purposes

When applying to secure a Belgian visa with the aim of participating in a Cultural/Sports/Religious Event in Belgium, you should provide the following documents:

Event information. As:

Invitation letter from the Belgian competent authority, specifying the type of event or activity to be held in Belgium.
Event ticket
Registration conditions
Detailed program of events in Belgium
Documents containing other information related to the event, such as the name of the applicant.

Evidence of previous performances. Involvement in previous festivals and ceremonies. Participation can be into cultural, religious, sporting competitions, winning certificates or even international ranking in sports.

Documents Required for a Belgium Schengen Visa for a Husband or a Wife of a Belgium Native

Proof of Belgian citizenship (ID card, certificate of Belgian citizenship or naturalization order)
Marriage certificate of Belgian
Family Book of Belgian

Belgium Schengen visa for members of official delegations:

Official copy of the invitation.
Proof of the purpose of the trip (meetings, intergovernmental organization events, negotiations, or consultations).

How you can Apply for a Belgium Visa

To complete the application process for a short stay visa for Belgium, you need to follow these steps:

Discover where you must apply for a visa to Belgium.
Identify the applicable Belgium Schengen visa type. Depending on the objective of your trip to Belgium, choose the suitable visa type to apply for.
Collect the necessary documents for a visa to Belgium. Collect the correct documents for the type of Belgian visa you are applying for and ensure that they all meet the criteria set by the Belgian Embassy/Consulate in your native country.
Please make your visa appointment at the Belgian Embassy/Consulate or at a Belgian Authorized Visa Application Center in your country of residence.
Finally, attend a visa interview at the Belgian Embassy/Consulate/VAC.

Where you can Apply for a Belgium Visa?

Depending on the rules laid out by the Belgian authorities regarding visa application and processing in your nation of dwelling, it is necessary to request a short-stay visa to Belgium at one of the following:

Belgian embassy in your country of residence
One of the Belgian Consulates
Visa application centres where Belgium entrusts the issuance of visas
Embassies/Consulates of other Schengen countries entrusted by Belgium to issue visas

Who can Apply for a Schengen Visa at the Belgian Embassy/Consulate/VAC?

If Belgium is the sole nation from the Schengen Zone that you are aiming to go to, then apply at application at the Belgian embassy/consulate/VAC in your home country.

Alternatively, if you plan to tour both Belgium and an additional country within the Schengen Area, then you should make an application at the Belgian embassy/consulate or VAC in your home country if:

You will spend more days in Belgium than in other countries.

Spend the same number of days in each country, but enter the Schengen area via Belgium.

Make sure that to be eligible to apply for a Belgian visa for short-term, you must be a :

Citizens of the country of origin of the application.
Foreigners who currently have a temporary residence permit in the country you are applying for

Note: Remember that you cannot apply for a short stay visa for Belgium from a country wherein you are currently on a visa.

How Much Time Duration it Takes to Get a Belgian Visa

The time interval for a Belgian Schengen visa may take up to 15 days of time. But, in some cases, the time period can as follows:

Due to the large quantity of application requests at Embassy of Belgium, it may take up to 30 days may be necessary.

If the Belgian Embassy needs to consult one or more Schengen members, it may take up to 60 days.

Therefore, it is profoundly suggested that you apply for your Belgian short-stay visa as promptly as possible, but not more than three months before your visit to Belgium.

What’s the Cost to Apply for a Belgian Visa?

Take a look at Belgium Short Term Visa Fees –

Belgium Short-Stay Visa Application Type	Visa Fee in Euro
Belgium visa for adult travellers	80
Belgium visa for children (6 – 12 years)	40
Belgium visas for children (under 6 years)	Free

For How Long You Stay in Belgium without a Visa?

Individuals from nations not incorporated in the list of Schengen Visa-exempt states are not allowed to enter or stay in Belgium or any other Schengen country without a visa.

On the other hand, citizens of visa-exempt countries are able to stay in Belgium for 90 days in a 180-day span. The total amount of time spent in other Schengen states is also taken into account.

Regardless of your circumstances, exceeding the 90-day stay for every 180-day period is strictly prohibited. Consequences may ensue should the regulations not be followed, and repercussions will be imposed for every circumstance.

Note: Calculate the remaining number of days you can stay in Belgium through the EU visa calculator

Is there a Need for Visa to visit Belgium being a U.S Citizen

U.S. Residents don’t have to secure a Belgium visa when journeying to Belgium for up to 90 days for leisure and work purposes. Nevertheless, US citizens should possess a US passport, which must be valid for a minimum of 3 months following the duration of their stay in Belgium.

For additional details, please check US Citizens Going to Europe and Schengen Visa Regulations for Green Card Owners and US Locals.

Can you Extend a Schengen Visa in Belgium?

Yes, it is possible to prolong your Belgian Schengen visa, yet only under extraordinary circumstances in which novel facts and unique reasons appear after entering Belgium. You can apply for an expansion of your visa in this location:

Federal public service Interior – Immigration Office – if you are a holder of ordinary passports

Federal public service foreign affairs – if you are a holder of diplomatic, or special passport.

Kindly have a look at how to extend a visa to Belgium to know the circumstances and conditions you need to fulfil to be eligible to Belgian Schengen visa extension.

Can a Belgian Visa be Revoked?

Yes, the pertinent Belgian authorities could rescind your visa if the prerequisites for offering the visa are no longer met.

Not fulfilling the immigration official’s entry conditions does not consistently result in the withdrawal of a Schengen visa to Belgium, however it could result in that.

Here’re some relevant information you may need to know:

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