Belgium Visa - Step by step guide to apply

Belgium Visa is the legal document that grants immigrants access to enter the Belgian territory. Belgium is a small country that is recognized for its amazing medieval cities, well-preserved Renaissance architecture, and delectable cuisines. It is also regarded for being a lovely country. 

Belgium is one of the smallest countries in the world, but when it comes to the variety of options available to consumers, it competes head-to-head with some of the largest countries in the world.

Those who have never filed for a visa before might first have the impression that the application procedure is difficult, but once they get started, they should have no problems.

Belgium Visa

Do I need a Belgium Visa?

If you choose to go to Belgium, you should investigate whether or not you require a visa to enter the country. 

If you fit any of the following criteria, you won't require a tourist visa to visit Belgium:

• Your nation is a member of the European Economic Area and the European Union.

• If you are a citizen of the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Monaco, the Republic of Andorra, Japan, or any other nation that has negotiated a visa-free travel agreement with Schengen, you do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area.

• Everyone who does not come from a country that is a member of the EU or the EEA is required to submit an application for a Belgian national visa in order to study, work, or live in Belgium on a permanent basis.

Belgium Visa Types

You have the option of applying for either a Belgian short-stay visa (good for up to 90 days) or a Belgian long-stay visa, depending on the length of time you plan to remain in the country (longer than 90 days).

Belgium Short-Stay Visas

• Tourists and visitors can obtain a Schengen visa for Belgium. There is no difference between the Schengen visa and the Belgium tourist visa. You are permitted to stay in the country for a maximum of ninety days as a tourist.

• Belgium Transit Visa. The transit visa is a type of authorization that is granted to visitors who need to enter the Schengen zone but only to switch their mode of transportation.

Belgium Long-Stay Visas (D-Visa)

Depending on the reason for the trip, individuals who wish to remain in Belgium for more than ninety days are required to apply for a long-stay visa, often known as a visa D.

• Belgium Student visa. If you wish to pursue educational opportunities in Belgium, you will need to submit an application for this visa. Although its typical duration of validity is six months, it may be extended to cover the entirety of your educational program.

• Belgium Work visa. If you wish to find employment in Belgium, you will need to submit an application for a work visa. In order to qualify for this sort of visa, you will typically need a Belgian employer who is willing to act as your sponsor; however, the specific requirements for this prerequisite may differ.

• Belgium Dependent visa. This type of visa is also known as a family reunion visa, and it is granted to individuals who already have a family member, typically a partner, residing in Belgium and who wish to join that family member there. The length of time that your dependent visa is valid for is typically determined by the length of time that your partner's visa is valid for.

Belgium Residence Permit

If you want to live in Belgium permanently, you will need to apply for a residence permit after entering the country on a visa valid for an extended period of time (type D). After then, the D visa is replaced by the residency permit.

In order to study, work, or reside in Belgium for longer than three months, you are need to have both a visa and a permission. While the Belgian Embassy will provide you a D visa before you go, the Immigration Authorities in Belgium will give you a residence permit once you have entered the country.

Documents Required for a Belgium Visa

You will need to compile a list of documents that the embassy of Belgium requests in order to submit an application for a Belgium Visa.

The following items must be presented in order to apply for a visa to Belgium:

• Belgium visa application form.

• Two identical images.

• Your passport.

• Copies of any previous visas you have been issued (if applicable).

• Form for Selecting Your Preferred Language

• A cover letter.

• Itinerary for a Flight Making a Round Trip

• Insurance for Travel to Schengen.

• Evidence that accommodations were made.

• Evidence of one's civil status

• Documentation demonstrating that you have sufficient funds to cover your stay in Belgium in its entirety is required.

How Do I Apply for a Visa to Visit Belgium?

The following is a rundown of the process you need to go through to apply for a visa to enter Belgium:

• Complete the application form for your visa. Please make sure that all of the relevant fields for your personal information are filled out.

• Collect all your documentation. After you have completed your application, you will need to ensure that you have all of the necessary documentation for the type of Belgium visa for which you are applying.

• Determine the location where you must submit your application for a visa to enter Belgium. Pick one of the authoritative offices that is located closest to you:

1. The Embassy of Belgium in the country in which you now reside
2. A consular office of the Belgian government
3. A Visa Application Center that Belgium has delegated the responsibility of visa submission to.
4. The Embassy or Consulate of one of the other Schengen countries to whom the submission of visa applications has been outsourced by Belgium.

• Make sure to keep your appointment. When you have finished working on the documents, you will need to make an appointment to either hand them over in person or send them by email.

• Attend the interview for the visa. You will be asked questions concerning the factors that led to your decision to travel to Belgium.

• An in-depth walkthrough of the procedures involved in obtaining a visa to enter Belgium

Belgium Visa Processing Time

The processing period for a visa to enter Schengen with Belgium might take up to 15 days on average. It is possible for it to take longer in situations such as:

• The number of applicants is excessive; the wait could take up to a month.

• Additional paperwork is necessary, and the process could take up to 45 days.

• In certain circumstances, the wait may be as long as sixty days.

• It is highly recommended that you submit your application for the Belgium visa for short stays as soon as possible, or at the very least, within three months before the trip that you are planned to take.

How Much Does a Belgium Visa Cost?

These are the costs for obtaining a tourist visa in Belgium:

• The cost is €80 for an adult.

• The cost is €40 for youngsters aged six to twelve years old.

• Free of charge for children younger than six years old.

Belgium Visa Duration

A visitor to Belgium is permitted to stay for up to 90 days within any period of 180 consecutive days. The number of days you spend in other Schengen Area countries will count toward the total amount of time you have available.

Your visa for Belgium may be obtained for the following reasons:

• You are only permitted one entry into Belgium or any of the other countries that are part of the Schengen Zone. You are permitted to remain in the country for up to ninety days (or a shorter amount of time if it is specified on your visa), but you are not permitted to return after leaving.

• Multiple entries; within the period of 180 days, you are permitted multiple entrances into Belgium as well as any other Schengen Zone country. You are not allowed to go beyond a total of 90 days.

• If you have been granted a long-stay visa, you must apply for a residence permit in Belgium within 90 days of entering the country in order to extend your stay for more than 90 days. 

• Even if you just break the regulation for one day, please do not violate the 90-day/180-day limit for Schengen visas; otherwise, you risk facing sanctions, such as being denied visas in the future.

• Keep in mind that even though a visa for Belgium can be awarded for up to 90 days, the Embassy or Consulate may only grant it for a shorter period of time.

Can I Extend a Belgium Visa?

Your Schengen visa for Belgium can be extended, but only under extraordinary and unanticipated circumstances, such as the following examples:

• For reasons related to humanity.

• Because of health concerns

• In the event that anything catastrophic occurs in your home nation, such as a natural disaster, extremely severe weather conditions, or a large political uprising, this is known as "force majeure."

• Important personal motives.

What Happens If My Application for a Visa to Belgium Is Refused?

If your application for a visa to Belgium is denied, you have the following choices:

• Submit a fresh application for a Schengen visa. After having your visa application denied, you are free to submit a new one at any time.

• You should contest the decision. You need to have a high level of assurance that the decision to reject your application was made in error before you proceed. After making the decision to appeal the denial, you should put some effort into improving the situation.

• Make an application for a national visa to go to one of the Schengen countries. If the reason for your trip does not fall within the parameters of a Schengen visa (for example, you wished to work or study in Belgium), you may be required to obtain a national visa of type D, which is intended for longer stays. The procedure to submit an application for a national visa is handled independently from the Schengen visa application procedure.

• Your visa application could be denied for a variety of reasons, including a lack of sufficient information regarding the purpose of your trip, the presentation of false documents, a damaged passport, a criminal record that is either historical or current, the absence of a travel itinerary, an invalid letter of reference, invalid travel insurance, and other similar issues.

Do Citizens of the United States Need a Visa to Enter Belgium?

1. There is no requirement for a tourist visa, business visa, or transit visa for US nationals who are in possession of valid US passports. Citizens of the United States are permitted to remain in the Schengen area for up to ninety days during any period of six months.
2. When staying in Belgium for an extended period of time, you are required to obtain a residence permit (such as for studies or work).

Covid 19 Tips

Many nations still have entry restrictions and closed borders. If you need assistance planning your travels, please visit the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Travel Centre website. 

Before leaving for the airport, you are encouraged to check with your airline or travel agency to make sure that your flight routes are still operating because the measures implemented could cause flight cancellations and a decrease in flight frequency.

For further travel details regarding the locations, you can also consult the MFA Travel Information pages.

Information for Incoming and Outgoing Travellers

• Under the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF), all countries/regions will be classified under the General Travel or Restricted Category and accord border measures by individual traveller’s vaccination status. Currently, all countries/regions come under the General Travel Category. There are no countries/regions in the Restricted Category at the moment.

• Advisory for Singaporean students studying overseas can be found on the MOE website and the Travel Advisory on the MOH website. Common concerns pertaining to the advisory have been addressed here. FAQs on the MOH website (under Border Measures) also provide information for students on overseas studies.

• Updates on Singapore’s border control measures in response to COVID-19 can be found on the ICA website. Information on the SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration can be found here.

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