You have to apply for a Belgium visa at the Belgian Embassy or Consulate in your country. You should start the application process at least a month before you intend to travel.
To apply for a Belgium visa, follow the instructions below:
The first step on your visa application journey is to find out where you have to submit your application. To do so, either contact the Belgian Embassy in your country or visit their website.
You can check the nearest diplomatic mission of Belgium here.
In case there is no Belgian embassy or consulate in your homeland, you can submit your visa application in one of the following:
As soon as you know where to submit your Belgium visa application, you have to contact the Belgium representation to set up an appointment. You cannot submit your application without a prior appointment. Keep in mind that the embassy/consulate may set your appointment several days to several weeks later.
The main thing you should do when you start the process of Schengen visa application is to fill in your visa application form:
If the forms are available online, simply choose the application form you wish to apply for and print it. 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.
When filling the application form, make sure you read every question carefully and do not leave any fields unfilled. Be aware that the slightest error can bring you to your visa rejection.
After you are done, you have to attach the application form with all the other necessary documents.
Without a doubt, your Belgium visa issuance depends on your documents. If you submit the documents required by the Belgian authorities as accurately as possible, it increases your chances of receiving your visa.
Some of the required documents for a Belgium visa are a passport, pictures, travel insurance, and application form. Other additional documents change depending on the visa you apply for and where you are from.
On the date of your visa appointment, make sure to be on time. You will submit your visa application and attend an interview, usually around 10-15 minutes. You’ll have to answer questions such as your purpose of travel, where you will stay, how you will support yourself, and personal questions.
The answers to all the questions should be truthful. And remember, a good first impression always helps, so keep an adequate posture, try to be polite and friendly, but not too familiar with the interviewer.
Here you find several possible questions you may be asked when you attend an interview:
Questions may vary depending on the type of visa you are applying to; for example, for a student visa, most likely, you will be asked questions regarding the University you have been admitted to study.
The payment of the Belgium visa fee depends on the country you are applying to. Most embassies require you to pay the visa fee before you attend your visa interview. However, some embassies ask you to pay the fee in advance and bring a receipt with you. To make sure, check with your local embassy before you apply.
After you submit your Belgium visa application, the processing time may take up to 15 days. It can take longer in situations like:
You should always consider the processing time of your visa to calculate the dates of your planned trip and apply for the visa well in advance. You should also consider the time it takes to get a visa appointment to know when to start the application process.
The Belgium Embassy will decide when you can travel to Belgium by setting the first date you can enter and the last day you can stay. There is a difference between the duration of stay and visa validity:
| Duration of stay | The maximum of days you have the right to stay in the Schengen area. |
| Visa validity | The period between your visa issue date and expiration date. |
If your application is rejected:
The application process for a long-stay visa is the same as for a short-term visa. It may have slight changes during the process depending on the type of long-stay visa you are applying for: