Belgium Visa Types, Requirements, Application & Guidelines (2024)

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The Western European country of Belgium, officially known as the Kingdom of Belgium, is home to 11,420,163 residents. Its capital, Brussels, is among the largest and the most densely populated Belgian cities.

Different parts of today’s Belgium have been ruled by the Dutch, Spanish, French, Austrian, which have left behind a rich history and architecture. The country is distinguished by its canals, cobbled streets and medieval buildings.

Some of the favorite tourist attractions in Europe are located in Belgium, like the spectacularly beautiful medieval city of Antwerp, the Archaeological Museum of Arlon, the Flemish béguinages, the fairytale-like the ancient city of Bruges crisscrossed by canals, and much more.

In 1995, the government of Belgium signed the Schengen Agreement, thus joining the European border-free area. Today, short-stay entry to Belgium also enables one to travel to the rest of the Schengen member states as well, which includes a great share of Europe.

Who Needs a Schengen Visa to Enter Belgium?

Because of the common rules of the Schengen zone in the issuance of visas, you will have to apply for a visa when travelling to Belgium if you are:

A citizen of a third country that have not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the EU
A citizen of a third country that has reached a visa liberalization agreement with the Schengen states, but you were rejected from entering Belgium or any other Schengen country visa-free.

What Type of Visa Do I Need to Enter Belgium?

If you are planning to visit Belgium for a short-term trip, you will have to apply for a Schengen Visa to Belgium. According to the purpose of your visit to Belgium, you can get one of the following Schengen visa types:

Belgium Airport Transit Visa– if you need to transit through one of the Belgian airports, to reach your travel destination country, outside the Schengen Area.
Belgium Tourist Visa – for tourists who desire to have a vacation in Belgium, or those who intend to visit for the purpose of sightseeing and discovering.
Belgium Visitor Visa – individuals from other countries who have relatives or acquaintances living in Belgium and wish to visit them.
Belgium Business Visa – established for business people that want/need to participate in activities that are related to business, in Belgium.
Belgium Visa for Official Visit – for delegations travelling to Belgium on official visits.
Belgium Visa for Medical reasons – per patients that that need to obtain medical care in one of the hospitals or clinics in Belgium
Belgium Visa for Study Purposes – for those who wish to study at an educational institution in Belgium, for up to three months.
Belgium Visa for Cultural, Sports and Film Crews – for people wishing to attend an activity in the cultural or sports field, which takes place in Belgium.

Holding a Belgium visa is not a guarantee that you will be allowed into Belgium. There are specific entry requirements that you need to fulfill before the Belgian border official allows you into the country.

What Documents are Required when Applying for a Belgium Schengen Visa?

According to Belgium visa requirements, the following documents must be submitted to the Belgium embassy/consulatewhen applying for any short-term Belgium visa:

Belgium visa application form. Fully completed, printed and signed at the end.
Two identical photos. The photographs should be no older than three months and taken according to the .
Your passport. It should contain at least two blank pages in order to be able to affix the Belgium visa sticker. Check the validity of your passport before you apply, since it must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you exit Belgium (Schengen territory). It must be no older than 10 years, as well.
Copies of your previous visas (if applicable).
Language Preference Form. Belgian authorities offer 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”.
A cover letter. In which you explain why you wish to visit Belgium and you give further details on your trip.
Round-trip Flight Itinerary. Containing the dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Belgium (Schengen area).
Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will stay in Belgium. I.e. Hotel reservation for the whole duration of the intended stay in Belgium.
Proof of civil status. This could be a marriage certificate, birth certificate of children, death certificate of spouse, etc.
Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Belgium. According to the Belgian Immigration Office, a traveller has to attest possessing €95 per day if staying in a hotel and €45 when planning to get accommodated by cheaper means.
Schengen Travel Insurance. You are required to submit a document which confirms that you have purchased travel insurance for Belgium and the whole territory of Schengen, with a minimum €30,000 coverage for medical emergencies, and repatriation in case of death.

Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Belgium that fulfil Belgium Visa requirements can be purchased online from Europ Assistance or Mondial Care. Both companies are accepted by Belgian Embassies and Consulates worldwide.

Belgium Visa Requirements Based on Your Employment Status

Additionally, you will need to provide the embassy/consulate with documents that prove you meetBelgium visa requirements based on your employment status:

If employed:

Employment contract
Current bank statement of the latest 6 months
Leave permission from the employer
Income Tax Return (ITR) form or Certificate of Income Tax deducted at the source of salary

If self-employed:

A copy of your business license
Company bank statement of the latest 6 months
Income Tax Return (ITR)

If a student:

Proof of enrolment
No-objection certificate from school or university
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If retired:

Pension statement of the latest 6 months

If applicable:

Proof of regular income generated by a property, for the last 6 months

>>No-objection certificate (NOC) from school or university, or your employer.

Belgium Visa Requirements for Minors

Additional Belgium visa requirements for minors wishing to visit Belgium for short-stays are as follows:

Birth certificate of the minor travelling to Belgium
Belgium application form signed by both parents.
Family court order – in cases where only one parent has full custody of the child.
Certified copies of ID/passport of both parents.
A notarized parental authorization to travel to Belgium, signed by both parents/guardians if the minor will be travelling alone.

*Note: When applying at the Belgian embassy/consulate, the guardian or parent should accompany their underage children.

Additional Requirements Based on the Purpose of Entry to Belgium

Depending on the purpose of your visit to Belgium, you will need to meet some additional Belgium visa requirements. Following, find the extra required documents you need to submit, based on your reason for travelling to Belgium.

Required Documents for an Airport Transit Visa to Belgium

When applying to get a Belgium Airport Visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

A valid visa (if needed) for the final country one travels to.
The flight ticket for the final country you are travelling to.

Required Documents for a Visitor Visa to Belgium

When applying for a visa to visit family members and/or friends in Belgium, you should submit:

Proof of invitation by the relative/friend residing in Austria, inviting you to visit.
- Invitation letter from your host in Belgiumwith a copy of their passport and/or residence permit for Austria.
Proof of sponsorship. In case another person residing in Belgium will cover your expenses throughout your stay in Belgium, the following must also be submitted:
- A formal obligation not older than 6 months.
- A copy of the guarantor’s 3 most recent salary sheets/ guarantor’s most recent tax sheet/ other official proof of the guarantor’s solvency;
- A photocopy of the identity card or the unlimited residence permit of the guarantor.
- An original certificate of the family composition of the guarantor, issued by his/her municipality in Belgium (no residence certificate).

Required Documents for a Business Schengen Visa to Belgium

When applying to obtain a Belgium Business visa, you must provide the following additional documents, which apply to your case:

Invitation letter from the Belgian company you will be visiting and their details and address, accompanied with the dates of your visit.
A certificate from your employer. In this letter should be stated why you will be travelling to Belgium and that your employer permits you to leave throughout that period.
Business bank statement. Preferably for the last 6 months.
Memorandum and Article of Association. It should be submitted in original certified copy (registered with joint-stock companies).
Trade License (first issued and present renewal).
Proof of trip financing. Regarding your expenses during your whole stay in Belgium, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.

Required Documents for a Student Schengen Visa to Belgium

When applying to get a Belgium Student visa, you must provide the following additional documents:

An enrolment certificate allowing attendance of courses (school/university/language course / etc.), in Belgium
No objection letter from the educational institution where you are currently enrolled (if applicable)

Required Documents for a Medical Schengen Visa to Belgium

When applying to get a visa to receive medical treatment in Belgium, you must provide the following additional documents:

A local medical report. Issued by a doctor/clinic/hospital in the home country of the visa candidate that your need medical treatment in Belgium.
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
Proof that you have sufficient financial means to pay the medical expenses and other related expenses throughout their treatment.

Required Documents for a Schengen Visa to Belgium for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes

When applying to get a Belgium visa under the purpose of attending a Cultural / Sports / Religious Event in Belgium you must provide the following additional documents:

Event Information. As:
- Invitation letter from the relevant body in Belgium with details upon the nature of events or activities that are to be held in Belgium.
- Entry tickets to the event
- Enrolment conditions
- Detailed programme of the event in Belgium
- Other documents that present Names of the applicants (crew members) and other relevant information about the event.
Proof of previous performances. Participation in previous festivals and ceremonies (cultural, religious), sports competitions, winners certificates, proof of world/international ranking (sports).

Required Documents for a Belgian Schengen Visa for the Wife/Husband of a Belgian Citizen

Proof of Belgian citizenship (ID card or consular card or certification of Belgian nationality or naturalization order).
Belgian marriage certificate.
Belgian family record book.

Belgian Schengen Visa for Members of Official Delegations:

The official invitation copy.
Evidence for the purpose of the journey (negotiations, meetings, events by intergovernmental organizations, consultations).

How to Apply for a Belgium Visa?

In order to complete the application process to obtain a short-stay visa to Belgium, you must follow these steps:

Find out where you need to apply for a visa to Belgium.
Choose the right Belgium Schengen visa type.Based on the purpose of your travel to Belgium, choose the right visa type to apply for.
Collect the required documents for a visa to Belgium. Make sure you collect the right documents for the type of Belgium visa you are applying for and they all comply with the criteria as defined by the Belgian Embassy/Consulate in your country of residence.
Make a visa appointment with the Belgium Embassy/Consulate or a Belgium accredited visa application centre in your country of residence.
Attend the visa interview at the appropriate Belgium Embassy/Consulate/VAC.

Where to Apply for a Belgium Visa?

Depending on how the Belgian authorities have regulated visa submission and processing in your country of residence, you will have to apply for a short-stay visa to Belgium at one of the following:

The Belgian Embassy in your country of residence
One of the Belgian consulates
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

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 on 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.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Belgian Visa?

The processing time for a Belgian Schengen visa may take up to 15 days, in a normal situation. In some cases, this period may be extended as follows:

up to 30 days due to the high number of applications the embassy of Belgium is receiving or the sensitivity of your case
up to 60 days in extraordinary cases, especially when the Belgian embassy has to consult the embassy of one or more Schengen members

That is why you are highly recommended to apply for your Belgian short-stay visa as soon as you can, but no earlier than three months prior to your trip to Belgium.

How Much Does It Cost to Apply for a Belgian Visa?

Belgium Short Term Visa Fees at a Glance

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

Still, be informed that depending on the applicant’s age, nationality and some other factors you could be exempt from paying the Belgium visa fee, or at least you may have to pay a reduced fee.

How Long Can We Stay in Belgium Without a Visa?

Nationals of countries that are not under the list of Schengen Visa-exempt countries cannot enter or stay in Belgium or any other Schengen country without a visa.

On the other hand, nationals of visa-exempt countries can remain in Belgium for up to 90 days, within a 180 day period. The time spent in other countries within the Schengen Area is also counted in this period.

Do US Citizens Need a Visa to Visit Belgium?

U.S. Citizens don’t need to obtain a Belgium visa when travelling toBelgiumfor up to 90 days fortourism and businesspurposes. 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.

For more information, please check US Citizens Travelling to Europe.

Can I Extend My Schengen Visa in Belgium?

Yes, you can extend your Belgian Schengen visa, but only in exceptional cases where new facts and special reasons arise after entry into Belgium. You can submit the application for an extension of your visa here:

Federal public service Interior – Immigration Office – for holders of ordinary passports
Federal public service Foreign affairs – for holders of diplomatic, service or special passports

Please read How to Extend a Visa to Belgium to understand in what circ*mstances and what are conditions you must fulfil in order to be eligible to extend your Belgian Schengen Visa.

Can My Belgian Schengen Visa Be Revoked?

Yes, the relevant Belgian authorities may revoke your visa. The revocation of a visa may happen if the conditions for issuing the visa are no longer met.

Failure of the visa holder to provide the border officer with the entry requirements does not cause the automatic annulment of a Schengen visa to Belgium. However, it may lead to that.

Related information:

Belgium Digital Nomad Visa
Belgium Health Insurance for Expats

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