Schengen Visa Belgium: How to apply (2024)

Visiting Belgium on a Schengen Visa

Belgium, officially known as the Kingdom of Belgium, has its capital in Brussels, a thriving city that also serves as the de facto capital of the European Union. Belgium is home to the beautiful tourist cities of Antwerp and Bruges too.

To travel to Belgium for a short trip lasting fewer than 90 days, you will need a Belgian Schengen Visa, as it is part of the Schengen Area of European countries that have abolished border controls between each other. Travel can be for any of the following reasons: Tourism and recreation, business purposes, visiting friends or family, cultural and sporting events, airport and seafaring transit visits, official visits, medical treatment, short-term study, and research purposes.

Who needs a Schengen Visa to enter Belgium?

When traveling to Belgium, you will need a Schengen Visa if you are a citizen of a non-Schengen country without a visa-free travel agreement with the area, or if you have been refused for visa-free travel. Those wishing to work or study for longer than 90 days will also require a Belgian work or study visa.

How do I apply for a Schengen Visa to Belgium?

Travelers planning to visit Belgium will need to fill in a Schengen Visa application form, have two recently taken passport-style photos, and a passport or other travel documents that are no older than 10 years and are valid for at least three months after your departure date from the Schengen Area. You will also need travel and medical insurance covering you up to costs of €30,000, a cover letter stating your itinerary and the purpose of your visit, as well as a flight itinerary, proof of accommodation, proof of your civil status, like a marriage certificate, and proof you have means of subsistence during your stay. The amount you need to show you have will vary from country to country, but in Belgium, it is €95 per day if staying in a hotel, and €45 when planning to stay in cheaper accommodation. You can do this by showing bank statements, hotel bookings, and that your income or investments are enough to support yourself during your trip. Those planning to work or study will need additional documents.

Schengen Visa Belgium: How to apply (1)

What are the Belgian Visa requirements for a work, business or student visa?

If applying for a work visa to Belgium, you will need to provide the embassy/consulate with documents that prove you meet Belgian Schengen visa requirements based on your employment status. If employed, you need an employment contract, a current bank statement, a no objection letter from your employer giving you leave to travel, and an income tax return. If self-employed, you will need a copy of your business license, company bank statements, and income tax returns. You will also need an invitation letter regardless of whether you are applying for a longer time work visa, or are applying for a short-stay Schengen Visa for business or study. Student visas require proof of enrolment at a Belgian institution, a no objection letter from your place of study in your homeland, and an invitation letter.

Where do I go to apply for a Belgian Visa?

You will need to apply to the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country of residence, or a visa application center acting on the nation’s behalf. The official visa partner of Belgium is VFS Global.

Why choose AXA Schengen Insurance?

Those traveling to the Schengen Area, including Belgium, need travel cover. AXA’s Low Cost Travel Insurance costs just €22($23.82) per weekof your trip and will meet your visa requirements, while the AXA Schengen Europe Travel Insurance offers extended coverage up to costs of €100,000.

Those seeking a multiple-entry visa can purchase the Multi Trip insurance from €328 per year, which again, covers you for expenses up to €100,000.

Other Schengen countries you might be interested in

Austria visa

Belgium visa

Czech Republic visa

Denmark visa

Estonia visa

Finland visa

France visa

Germany visa

Greece visa

Hungary visa

Iceland visa

Italy Visa

Latvia visa

Liechtenstein visa

Lithuania visa

Luxembourg visa

Malta visa

Netherlands visa

Norway visa

Poland visa

Portugal visa

Slovakia visa

Slovenia visa

Spain Visa

Sweden visa

Switzerland visa

Croatia visa

Related topics :

  • Which countries are not part of the Schengen area ?
  • What is the Schengen Agreement ?

Frequently asked questions about getting an Belgian Schengen Visa

Schengen Visa Belgium: How to apply (2024)

FAQs

How to fill visa application form for Belgium? ›

Start to fill the application. You'll have to provide personal information such as name and surname, nationality, date, and place of birth, gender, and civil status. You also have to state information like travel purpose, whether you have previously had a Schengen visa, employment status, etc.

How to answer Schengen visa interview questions? ›

Tips for Answering Schengen Visa Interview Questions
  1. Be honest and consistent. Being honest is one of the most important things during the entire process of applying for a visa. ...
  2. Be concise and focused. ...
  3. Provide specific examples. ...
  4. Maintain a calm and confident demeanor. ...
  5. Be prepared to provide supporting documents.

What is the acceptance rate for Schengen visa in Belgium? ›

Belgium is another Schengen country that is well-known for its high rejection rates. With 23.6% of applications rejected and only 76.4% approved, you need to be extra cautious when applying for a Visa for Belgium. With 23% of Schengen Visa applications refused and 77% approved, this Scandinavian country ranks no.

How can I avoid Schengen visa rejection? ›

The visa period of the Schengen visa is 90 days, so the time of stay duration needs to be planned. This means, not just your leaving the country dates, but returning the country dates and flight must be planned and booked. If you do not show proof that you will not overstay, your visa might be rejected.

Is Belgium visa easy to get? ›

You will need to fill out your application, pay a fee of €80 for adults and €40 for minors, obtain all the documents you need for your Belgium Visa, and attend an interview at a consulate, embassy, or visa application center.

How to fill Italian Schengen visa form? ›

For Italy Schengen Visa: Write the name and surname of the person inviting/sponsoring you to Italy (if you have one). If you do not have a sponsor, write the name of the other type of temporary accommodation, such as a hotel/hostel/rental home etc.

What makes Schengen visa rejected? ›

Insufficient or Inconsistent Documentation

Failure to provide all supporting documents can lead to the rejection of your visa application. The lack of documentation, such as employment letters, hotel reservations, proof of financial means, etc, make your visa application seem ingenuine and incomplete.

How can I impress in visa interview? ›

  1. TIES TO YOUR HOME COUNTRY.
  2. ENGLISH.
  3. SPEAK FOR YOURSELF.
  4. KNOW THE PROGRAM AND HOW IT FITS YOUR CAREER PLANS.
  5. BE BRIEF.
  6. ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION.
  7. NOT ALL COUNTRIES ARE EQUAL.
  8. EMPLOYMENT.

Can you get Schengen visa without interview? ›

Usually you do not need to attend a interview for a Schengen tourist visa but they could call you for a interview if they need it. You need to keep a 10% chance for interview. If its the first time you are applying for a Schengen visa then there are high chances they might call you for a interview.

What is the rejection rate of Belgium in Schengen? ›

Viewed from a different perspective, the countries with the highest visa rejection percentages, including Malta at 35.53%, Sweden at 28.43%, and Belgium at 27.08%, may suggest a combination of stricter visa requirements and potentially a more selective profile of applicants.

Which visa has highest rejection rate? ›

The Schengen visa application process saw high rejection rates in 2022, with Algerian nationals having the highest rate at 45.8%. India and Turkey followed with 18% and 15.2% respectively.

How do I know if my Belgium visa is approved? ›

Applicants applying for a Belgium visa would receive an automated email response indicating the status of the application, this is a complimentary service. Please ensure you provide a valid email address when submitting your application.

How do I appeal a visa refusal in Belgium? ›

If the Immigration Office refuses to grant the visa, an appeal may be lodged at the Council for Alien Law Litigation within 30 days of the notification of the decision. In some cases, a supplementary request for suspension can be lodged under an extremely urgent procedure at the Council for Alien Law Litigation.

Which European country has the highest visa rejection rate? ›

Schengen Countries with the Highest Visa Rejection Rate Includes Malta, Sweden, Belgium, and France.

Which Schengen visa has the lowest rejection rate? ›

According to visa statistics for 2022, the top five Schengen Area countries with the lowest rejection rates are as follows:
  • Iceland – only 1.9 percent.
  • Lithuania – 7.8 percent.
  • Latvia – 9.5 percent.
  • Finland – 9.7 percent.
  • Slovakia – 9.7 percent.
Jun 12, 2023

Can you fill visa application form online? ›

Apply online

Once you've started your application you can save your form and complete it later. If you're applying with family members, each person must have their own application and pay the fee. They need to attend their own appointment at a visa application centre.

How long does it take for Belgium visa to be approved? ›

Applications received at the Belgian Embassy/Consulate General will be processed within 2 and 15 working days, provided that a complete file is submitted. We recommend that you introduce your applications 15 days prior to the intended departure date.

Can you fill out a visa application online? ›

Form DS-160 is submitted electronically to the Department of State website via the Internet. Consular Officers use the information entered on the DS-160 to process the visa application and, combined with a personal interview, determine an applicant's eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa.

What are the documents required for Belgium visa? ›

  • Belgium Visa Documents Checklist.
  • Belgium Visa Application Form.
  • Two Identical Photos.
  • Passport.
  • Copies of Your Previous Visas (if Applicable)
  • A Cover Letter.
  • Round-Trip Flight Itinerary.
  • Schengen Travel Insurance.

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