Belgium is a prominent European budget destination. Located near Germany, it offers stunning attractions at a fraction of the expense. You must get a Belgium Schengen visa before traveling.
Citizens from Belgium Schengen visa-requiring nations should read this.
Contact our Belgium visa consulting service for help at any time.
How do I apply for a Schengen Visa to Belgium?
- Step 1: Determine your Purpose for traveling to Belgium, which will determine the type of visa you should apply for.
- Step 2: Determine how many entries to Belgium/the Schengen area you need.
- Step 3: Gather your required documents.
- Step 4: Schedule a Schengen Visa appointment (if applicable).
- Step 5: Fill out the Belgium visa application
- Step 6: Pay the application fee.
- Step 7: Submit your Belgium Schengen visa application (at least 15 days prior to travelling, not before 6 months).
Who needs a Schengen Visa to enter Belgium?
Traveling to Belgium requires a Schengen Visa for non-Schengen citizens or those previously denied visa-free travel. Working or studying in Belgium for more than 90 days requires a visa.
Types of Belgium Schengen visa
The type of visa you need depends on your purpose of travel & duration. These can be categorised as :
- Belgium Transit Visa : If you are having a layover in one of the airports of Belgium, then you may need to get a transit visa.
- Belgium Tourist Visa : Want to backpack across the Alps of Belgium? Then you can get a tourist visa for a maximum period of 90 days.
- Belgium Visitor visa : This visa if for those who have a relative or friend who is living in Belgium.
- Belgium Business visa : If you are attending any trade fair, meeting clients or engaging in any business related activity you need a business visa.
- Belgium Diploma visa : for official visits of national delegations or government officials.
- Belgium Medical visa : If you want to get some surgery or medical treatment in Belgium.
- Belgium Student Visa : Enrolling in a university in Belgium. Then you can get a student visa or study visa.
- Belgium visa for Sports, Film Crew : If you are attending any football event or shooting a movie ? then you need to get a culture visa.
- Belgium Spouse Visa : If you want to join your spouse who either is a citizen or has a work permit.
Where to apply for a Belgian Schengen Visa?
Visa applications must be made at the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country or through VFS Global, Belgium’s official visa partner.
When to apply for Belgium Schengen Visa?
Application must be submitted 15 days before travel and no sooner than 6 months before trip.
Documents needed for Belgium Schengen visa
The next step is to prepare the documents required for your Belgium visa and there depend on several factors such as type of visa, age of the applicant & work status.
In summary the minimum documents you need for Schengen visa are:
- Schengen visa application form
- Covid Vaccination Certificate
- Two Photographs as per Schengen visa specifications
- A Valid Passport
- Travel Itinerary
- RoundTrip Flight Itinerary
- Schengen Approved Travel Insurance
- Proof of accommodation
- Proof of Sustenance
- Proof of civil status
Depending on the applicant’s job situation, extra documents may be needed..
Are you employeed ?
- Employment contract
- Recent bank statements (at least 6 months).Banks must sign these.
- Leave company approval letter.
- Forms for ITRs.
Are you self-employed ?
- A copy of your business registration, such as Tax ID, Company TIN, or PAN.
- Latest bank statements from at least six months, signed by the bank.
- Latest income tax returns.
Are you a Student ?
- Enrollment proof.
- No-objection certificate from school or college.
Are you retired ?
- Your six-month pension order copy.
- Bank-endorsed statements.
Is the visa applicant a minor ?
- Birth certificate for minor traveling to Belgium.
- Belgium Both parents signed visa application.
- Court order if one parent has sole custody.
- Both parents’ certified ID/passport copies.
- The Guardianship Authority must approve travel by a minor with a parent or other person.
If your main income is from a different source ?
- Any rental certificate or other proof of recurring income.
You will also need to submit additional documents based on the type of visa that you are applying for.
Additional Documents for Belgium Tourist Visa
- Travel itinerary with daily schedule.
- Hotel, hostel, or invitation letter proof of accommodation.
- Visa-related flying itinerary or fully refundable ticket.
Additional Documents for Belgium Business Visa
- European company invitation letter.
- Your employer’s leave approval letter indicating the purpose of your trip.
- Last six months’ business bank statements.
- Original Memorandum of Association certificate copy.
- Trade license (if needed).
- Trip sustenance proof: A basic employer letter accepting responsibility for trip expenses and arranging payment.
Additional documents for Belgium Medical Visa
- If applicable, therapy payment proof
- A hospital letter from your native country confirming the need for treatment abroad
- Treatment support letter (if provided)
- Foreign hospital appointment confirmation (if applicable)
- Ministry of Health letter verifying expenditure coverage (if appropriate)
Additional documents for Belgium Student Visa
- Institutional enrollment proof
- No-objection certificate from your college
Additional Documents for Belgium Visitor Visa
The tourist visa application format now includes:
For non-sponsored visitors and residents in Belgium with friends or family: A host invitation letter stating the host and invitee’s name, address, birth date, official identification number, occupations, permanent residence, purpose of visit, duration of stay, and accommodations. A copy of the host’s passport and proof of residence are needed.
For financially sponsored visitors staying with friends or family in Belgium: If a Belgian sponsor funds your visit, the host must get an electronic affidavit from the nearest aliens police.
Sometimes you must offer a “Electronic Guarantee Letter.” The local aliens police provide this free service. Your Electronic Guarantee Letter authority will send the information to the Belgian Embassy within 48 hours. After receiving an ID number, the visa applicant must provide it at the interview.
Additional Documents for Belgium Transit Visa
- Final destination airfare.
- Visas are required for the destination.
Additional Documents for Belgium Sports, Culture Visa
Event details include:
- Invitation letter from the Belgian entity describing the events or activities.
- Tickets to events.
- Enrollment rules.
- Comprehensive Belgian event calendar.
- Additional documents with crew member names and event details.
- Past performance evidence, such as cultural or religious festivals, sports tournaments, certificates of success, and world/international sports rankings.
Additional Documents for Belgium Spouse Visa
The spouse of a Belgian citizen must provide the following documents to obtain a visa:
Belgian citizenship proof (ID card, consular card, nationality certification, naturalization order).
Belgian marriage certificate.
Belgian family register.
Visa criteria must include the following in the letter:
Submission of two applications.
Marriage certificate copy.
Spouse’s passport and residency permission copy.
How long is the Belgium Schengen Visa valid?
The Belgium Schengen visa is valid for 90 days within six months. The 90-day rule applies to all the countries that are part of the Schengen area, not only Belgium.
Do You Need A Flight Ticket To Apply for Belgium Visa ?
Every time you apply for a visa to visit a Schengen country, the Embassy or the Consulate will ask you to provide proof of a Booked Flight or Flight Reservation. Your flight itinerary should contain the exact dates and flight numbers of entry and exit from Belgium.
To know more about flight itinerary for visa contact us.
What Does A Travel Itinerary mean When Applying for Belgium Visa ?
A travel itinerary is a day-wise plan of what you intend to do in Belgium if your visa is approved. This information must be included in your cover letter or visa letter which will then be used by the consulate to decide on your visa approval.
Is a Cover Letter Needed When Applying For Belgium Visa ?
Yes. A cover letter is a mandatory document when applying for Schengen visa. As per the VFS website you need to bring a cover letter during your Schengen visa appointment.
Is The Travel Insurance Mandatory For Schengen Visa Application ?
Yes. Travel Medical Insurance is compulsory for Schengen visas under Regulation (EU) 2009/810 of the European Parliament.
You can get your travel insurance for less than $1 per day from visitorscoverage.com.
Cover Letter for Belgium Schengen visa ?
A cover letter is a very important document during the visa process as it is the first document that the visa officer will read and it is the only place where you can personally speak to the visa officer .
You can create cover letter for your visa application for just $5 using BlinkDocs App
How long does it take to approve Belgium visa Application ?
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. Applications can be introduced up to 90 days in advance.
What is the fee for Belgium Schengen visa ?
The fee for Belgium Schengen visa is € 80 for adults and €40 for kids over age of 6 . Children below 6 can apply for Schengen visa for free If you are applying with VFS or BLSS, then there is a processing fee of €20 that you will need to pay with VFS or BLSS.