Belgium, officially known as the Kingdom of Belgium, is situated in Western Europe and boasts a population of 11,420,163 residents. Its capital, Brussels, ranks among the largest and most densely populated cities within Belgium.
The nation’s history has been influenced by various powers including the Dutch, Spanish, French, and Austrian, leaving behind a tapestry of historical significance and architectural marvels. Characterized by its canals, cobblestone streets, and medieval edifices, Belgium exudes a distinct charm.
Belgium offers several captivating attractions that draw tourists from across Europe. Among these are the enchanting medieval city of Antwerp, the Archaeological Museum of Arlon, the Flemish béguinages, and the fairytale-like ancient city of Bruges adorned with crisscrossing canals.
Belgium became a signatory of the Schengen Agreement in 1995, thus joining the realm of the European border-free zone. Presently, entering Belgium for short-term stays also facilitates access to other Schengen member states, encompassing a significant portion of Europe.
Entry Requirements for Belgium
Upon arrival at a Belgian airport via air travel, travellers are required to present specific travel and identification documents to Belgian border officials. These documents encompass:
- A valid passport or travel document, with validity extending for at least three months beyond your intended departure date from Belgium (and the Schengen Zone), and issued within the last decade.
- A visa, if your nationality falls under the Belgian visa regime.
Additionally, you might be requested to provide supporting documentation like an invitation letter from a Belgian host, proof of accommodation, or evidence of a round-trip ticket. For comprehensive details, it’s advisable to communicate with the local consular services of Belgium within your home country.
These documents will be reviewed by Belgian border authorities, who may inquire about the purpose of your visit, intended duration of stay, and accommodation arrangements in Belgium.
After assessing your documents, the Belgian border officer holds the prerogative to grant or deny your entry into Belgium. Assuming all requirements are met, you’ll be granted access to Belgium and the broader Schengen Area.
It’s crucial to ensure that the Belgian border officer stamps your passport upon Schengen area entry. The absence of this stamp could result in fines or potential detainment within Belgium.
Which Individuals Require a Schengen Visa for Entry into 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-world country that have not reached a visa liberalization agreement with the EU
- A citizen of a third-world 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.
Which Visa Category Is Required for Entry into 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– if you need to transit through one of the Belgian airports, to reach your travel destination country, outside the Schengen Area. Find out if will need a Belgian Airport Transit visa.
- Belgium Tourist Visa – for visitors who wish to spend their vacations in Belgium, or that want to come over for sightseeing and exploring.
- Belgium Visitor Visa – for foreigners who have family members or friends residing in Belgium, and wish to pay them a visit.
- 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.
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/consulate when 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 Belgium visa photograph requirements & specifications.
- 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 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”.
- 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).
- 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 traveling to Belgium that fulfill Belgium Visa requirements can be purchased online from AXA Assistance or Europ Assistance. Both companies are accepted by Belgian Embassies and Consulates worldwide.
- 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.
Belgium Visa Requirements Based on Your Employment Status
Additionally, you will need to provide the embassy/consulate with documents that prove you meet Belgium 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
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 is travelling to.
- The flight ticket for the final country you are travelling to.
Required Documents for a Tourist Schengen Visa to Belgium
According to Belgium visa requirements, the following additional documents are required to be submitted when applying to obtain a Belgium Tourist visa:
- Bank statement. Preferably for the last 6 months.
- Travel Itinerary. A detailed description of your trip to Belgium. Make sure to include the purpose of travelling and the intended period of stay (entry/exit dates), as well as any hotel reservations to prove where you will be accommodated while in Belgium. Do not forget to list the places you plan on visiting or activities you will be attending.
- Proof of how you will be financing your trip to Belgium.
Required Documents for a Schengen Visitor Visa to Belgium
When applying to obtain a visa to visit a friend or a family member who lives in Belgium, you must provide the following additional documents in order to meet the Belgium visa requirements:
- Proof of financial means. Evidence that shows you have enough money to support yourself throughout your stay in Belgium. The Belgian authorities want you to prove that you have at least €95 per day when staying at a hotel (if you have not prepaid it), and €45 when staying at a cheaper place or if you have already paid your hotel. This document could be a:
- The bank account statement, if you will be covering all costs by yourself.
- 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).
- Travel Itinerary. A description of your trip, including your purpose of travelling to Belgium, the time frame you will remain there, and places you plan to visit/activities to attend. Include information where you will be staying in Belgium, i.e. your host’s home address if you have been invited to stay at their place
- Letter of Invitation. By the relative/friend residing in Belgium attached to their Belgian ID card or Belgian residence permit.
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.
What is the Processing Time for a Belgian Visa?
Under normal circumstances, obtaining a Belgian Schengen visa typically requires a processing time of up to 15 days. However, there are situations where this duration might be prolonged:
- Up to 30 days if the Belgian embassy is dealing with a high volume of applications or your case involves particular sensitivity.
- Up to 60 days in exceptional scenarios, particularly when the Belgian embassy needs to collaborate with one or more Schengen member embassies.
Given these considerations, it is strongly advised to initiate your application for a Belgian short-stay visa at your earliest convenience, while ensuring that the application is submitted no earlier than three months prior to your intended travel to Belgium.
What Are the Costs Associated with Applying for a Belgian Visa?
Belgium Short Term Visa Fees at a Glance
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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.
Please make sure you understand the 90/180 Schengen Visa Rule. Do not violate this rule, not even for one day, since you may face consequences for overstaying in the Schengen territory.
Do US Citizens Need a Visa to Visit Belgium?
U.S. Citizens don’t need to obtain a Belgium visa when travelling 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.
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.
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.
