Belgium Business Immigration

Belgium visa

Belgium is a beautiful small country famous for its magnificent medieval towns, well-preserved Renaissance architecture, and delicious cuisine.
It may be small in size, but when it comes to choice, Belgium ranks alongside some of the largest countries in the world.
The application process may initially seem daunting to those who have never applied for a visa, but you should have no problem getting started.

Do You Need a Visa to Go to Belgium?

If you want to visit Belgium, you may need to apply for a Belgian visa.

You do not need a tourist visa to visit Belgium if: Your country is part of the Schengen area or the EEA/EU.
You are from the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Monaco, the Republic of Andorra, Japan or any other country that has a visa-free agreement with Schengen.

To study, work or live permanently in Belgium, anyone not from an EU/EEA country must apply for a Belgian national visa.

Documents Required for a Belgium Visa

To apply for a Belgian visa, you must collect a set of documents required by the Belgian embassy. The documents required to apply for a Belgian visa are:

Belgium visa application form.
Two identical photos according to Belgian visa photo requirements.
Your passport.
Copy of your previous visa (if applicable).
Form Preferred Language.
A cover letter.
Round trip route.
Travel insurance Schengen.
Proof of residence.
Proof of civil status.
Proof of sufficient financial resources for the period of stay in Belgium.

Belgium Visa Types

Depending on your need, you can apply for two types of visas:

a Belgian short-stay visa (up to 90 days)
a Belgian long-stay visa (longer than 90 days).

Belgium Short-Stay Visas

Belgian Schengen visa for tourists and visitors. The Schengen visa is the same as the Belgium tourist visa. As a visitor, you can stay in the country for up to 90 days.
Belgium Transit Visa. The transit visa is a permit for travelers who have to enter the Schengen zone only to switch their means of transport.

Belgium Long-Stay Visas (D-Visa)

People who want to stay in Belgium for more than 90 days have to apply for a long-stay visa (visa D), depending on the purpose of travel:

Belgium Student visa.
You can apply for this visa if you want to study in Belgium; usually, it is valid for six months, but it may last until your study program is over.
Belgium Work visa.
You can apply for a work visa if you want to work in Belgium.
You usually need an employer in Belgium to sponsor you for this type of visa, but this requirement can vary.
Visa Belgium for dependents.
Also known as a family reunification visa, this visa is issued if you have a family member, usually a spouse, residing in Belgium and you want to join them. Your dependent visa is usually issued for the same duration as your spouse’s visa.

Belgium Residence Permit

After arriving in Belgium with a long-term visa (D), you must apply for a residence permit to live there permanently. The residence permit then replaces the D visa.
You need both a visa and a permit to study, work, or live in Belgium longer than three months. The Belgian Embassy issues a D visa before you travel, whereas the Immigration Authorities in Belgium issue residence permits after you enter the country.

How to Apply For a Belgium Visa?

Begin by clicking on the “Login” button, which can be found in the menu on the right side of the screen.
If you haven’t registered yet, please register yourself first. After registering, proceed to log in to the panel.
Once you are logged in, navigate to the menu on the left side of the panel.
Select the “Visa Application Form” option from the menu.
Fill out this form with the required information.
Finally, submit the completed form.

Belgium Visa Processing Time

Typically, the processing time for the Belgium Schengen visa is up to 15 days. It can take longer in cases when:

The number of applicants is too high – up to 30 days.
Additional documents are required – up to 45 days.
In extraordinary cases – up to up to 60 days.

It is recommended to apply for the Belgium short-stay visa as soon as possible, at least within three months of your planning trip.

How Much Does a Belgium Visa Cost?

These are the tourist visa fees for Belgium:

For an adult: €80
For children (six to twelve years): €40
For children (under six years): Free

Belgium Visa Duration

The duration of a Belgian visa can be up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The days you spend in other Schengen countries count towards this period.
Your Belgium visa can be issued to:

Single entry; you can only enter Belgium or other Schengen countries once. You can stay for up to 90 days (or less if it says so on your visa), but you can’t return after you leave.
Multiple entries; you can enter Belgium or other Schengen area countries multiple times within 180 days. You must not exceed 90 days in total.

If you have received a long-stay visa, upon arrival in Belgium you must convert that visa into a residence permit for a stay of more than 90 days.
Please do not violate Schengen visa regulations 90/180 even for one day; otherwise, you may face consequences such as visa refusal in the future.
* Calculate your remaining days in Belgium with this Schengen calculator.
Remember: Although Belgian visas can be issued for a maximum period of 90 days, the embassy/consulate can issue visas for shorter periods.

Can I Extend a Belgium Visa?

Yes, you can extend your Belgian Schengen visa, but only in exceptional and unexpected cases, such as:

Humanitarian reasons.
Medical reasons.
Force majeure – if something serious happens to your home country as a natural disaster, extreme weather conditions, major political riot.
Important personal reasons.

What If My Belgium Visa Application Is Rejected?

These are your options if your Belgium visa is rejected:

Apply for a new Schengen visa. You can always apply again after your visa has been rejected.
Appeal your rejection. Before doing it, you must be very confident that your application was wrongly rejected. After deciding to appeal the refusal, you should do some work on it.
Application for a national visa for a Schengen country. If the purpose of your trip does not correspond to a Schengen visa (for example, if you want to work or study in Belgium), you may need a national visa (type D), intended for extended stays.
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The national visa application process is separate from the Schengen visa application process.
Common reasons why your visa application is rejected can be due to incomplete information about the purpose of your trip, fake documents, damaged passport, past criminal behavior or current, missing travel itinerary, invalid letter of recommendation, invalid travel insurance, etc.

Do US Citizens Need a Visa for Belgium?

US citizens with valid US passports do not need a transit visa, tourist, or business visa. US citizens can stay for up to 90 days in the Schengen area within a sixth-month period.

You have to obtain a Belgian residence permit for longer stays (such as for studies or work).

https://visaguide.world/europe/belgium-visa/

Visa Guide