How to apply for a Schengen visa for Belgium?

Planning a trip to Belgium? Eager to discover Brussels, the capital of the Kingdom and the heart of the European Union, to visit relatives in Liege, to attend a business meeting in Ghent, to stroll around the canals in Bruges or to buy a shiny diamond for your fiancée’s engagement ring, your bags are packed and you’re all ready to go. But wait! Whatever your reasons to travel to the homeland of the Manneken Pis, chips and waffles, you might need to apply for a visa for Belgium, otherwise you won’t be allowed in the country, which is part of the Schengen area.

Have no fear the AXA team is here to help you along the process. Follow our lead!

• What are the different types of visas to enter and stay in Belgium?
• Who needs a short-stay visa to visit Belgium?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa for Belgium?
• What documents must be enclosed with your visa application?
• How long does it take to get a Schengen visa for Belgium?
• How much does a visa for Belgium cost?
• Why is AXA Schengen travel insurance the best choice when travelling to Belgium?

What are the different types of visas to enter and stay in Belgium?

The need to apply for a visa and what type will be issued depend on your nationality, the purpose of your trip and how long you intend on staying in the country.

There are several different types of visas to enter and stay in Belgium.
The most common is the short-stay Schengen visa (Type C).

It is issued for the most frequent travel purposes: tourism, business, internship, visiting family or friends, taking part in a sports or cultural event, etc.

It is valid for 90 days over a 180-day period (starting from the scheduled entry date in the Schengen area). This visa also allows its holder to travel freely in the other Schengen states.

How does this 180-day period work?

Visitors requiring a visa can only stay in the Schengen area for a total of 90 days, over a 180-day period. When the visa holder enters the Schengen area, the 180-day period starts.

Starting from the date on which you intend on leaving the Schengen area, count back 180 days and make sure that, if you undertake this trip, you will not have stayed more than 90 days in the Schengen area between those two dates.

Feeling confused or unsure? Use the calculator available on the European Commission website.

Good to know

A Schengen visa can be valid for a limited number of entries in the Schengen area (1 or 2) or several.
In the case of a multiple-entry visa, it can be valid from 6 months to 5 years.
Find out the different types of visas and which one is the most suited to your situation.

Do you need a Schengen visa to visit Belgium?

Travellers who do NOT require a visa to visit Belgium

1- Citizens of the European Union and the Schengen area as well as those of 4 European microstates (Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican) do NOT need a visa to travel and stay in Belgium.

2- Holders of a long-stay visa or a valid residence permit issued by another Schengen state.

3- Holders of a short-stay visa issued by another Schengen country, only if their stay doesn’t exceed 90 days over a 180-day period.

4- Nationals of around sixty third-countries, which have signed a visa waiver agreement with the European Union including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Australia and Japan.

However, they need to present a biometric passport, valid at least 3 months after their scheduled exit date from the Schengen area and issued within the last 10 years.

Important: starting mid-2025, citizens of these third countries exempt from Schengen visa requirements will have to apply for a travel authorisation online.
They will need to fill out an ETIAS form (European Travel Information and Authorization System).

PRO TIP: Here's everything you need to know about the differences between the EU and the Schengen Area.

Travellers who need a visa for Belgium

Citizens of all other countries (around a hundred), i.e. non Schengen or EU states and countries which have not signed a visa waiver agreement, are required to apply for a visa to enter the Schengen area.

To find out if your nationality requires you to obtain a visa, check the list of countries subject to Schengen visa obligations.

PRO TIP: If you are an Algerian, Moroccan, Tunisian or Indian national, these articles will provide useful information:

How to apply for a visa for Belgium from Algeria?

How to apply for a visa for Belgium from Morocco?

How to apply for a visa for Belgium from Tunisia?

How to apply for a visa for Belgium from India?

How to apply for a Schengen visa for Belgium?

The Schengen Borders Code sets the procedure and conditions to issue short-stay Schengen visas. This means that all Schengen states examine visa demands by applying the same rules. However, your visa application must be submitted in the first Schengen country by which you will enter the Schengen area and/ or where you plan to stay the longest… In this case, Belgium! You must submit your visa application either at its embassy, its consulate or in a visa centre authorised by Belgian consular authorities to handle visa applications. Here, we explain the procedure step-by-step.

Four steps to follow

1. Log in to the official visa application for Belgium website to create a user account.
2. Start your electronic visa application online by filling out a form. This document will in turn be sent to you by email in PDF format. You will need to print, date and sign it by hand.
3. You will then need to book an appointment to submit your application file, either at the Embassy or Consulate of Belgium to which you are attached, or at an external service provider which Belgian authorities have entrusted to handle visa applications (VFS Global or TLS Contact).
4. When you attend your appointment, you will need to present your passport (or any other recognised travel document), your printed, dated and signed application form as well as all the required supporting documents.

Your biometric data (digital prints and photography) will be collected and you will need to pay the visa fees and, if need be, the service fees charged by the external service provider.

Please note:

Children under the age of 12 and travellers who have applied for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months and have thus already recorded their fingerprints are exempt from providing their biometric data. Therefore their visa application can be submitted by another person.

What documents must you provide with your visa for Belgium application file?

The mandatory documents which must feature in your application file vary depending on the applicant’s nationality and the purpose of their trip. Consequently, the list hereafter is not exhaustive but presents the most commonly required:

• Your passport: issued within the last ten years and valid at least 3 months after your scheduled date of exit from the Schengen area. It must include two blank pages.
• A photocopy of the first page of your passport and of all the pages featuring visas as well as Schengen area entry and exit stamps.
• Your residence permit or card if applicable.
• Your Schengen visa application form (duly completed and signed): you can find it on the official visa for Belgium website.
• Two recent passport-size photos. They absolutely need to be in colour and on white or light grey background.
• Proof of your round-trip transport booking
• Proof of accommodation in Belgium (hotel or rental booking confirmation, letter of invitation, etc.)
• Proof of financial means: documents (pay slips, bank statements) showing you can provide for your needs during your stay.
• Proof of social, economic and professional stability in your home country, guaranteeing the applicant’s motivation to leave the Schengen area before the expiration date of their visa.
• Schengen visa travel insurance. It is mandatory to obtain your visa and must meet several criteria to be accepted by authorities: minimum coverage of €30,000 in case of medical care/ hospitalisation, medical repatriation. It must be valid in all the countries of the Schengen area and during the entire duration of validity of your visa.
• Signed authorisation of parents or legal guardians for underage travellers.

How long does it take to obtain a visa for Belgium?

Visa processing times vary and depend on the time of year when you submit your application. They are longer during school holidays, before the summer and the end of year Holidays.

If the services in charge of examining visa applications have enough information to grant the visa without consulting the Immigration Office, processing time can be rather short but never less than 15 days. In certain situations, the visa services have to transfer your application to the Foreign Office for further examination which can extend response time up to 45 days.

We thus recommend you submit your visa application for Belgium at least 6 weeks prior to your scheduled date of departure.

Good to know!

• If your visa application is granted, you will find a secured sticker fixed on your travel document and featuring the following information: the dates of validity of your visa, how long you are allowed to stay, the number of allowed entries (1,2 or multiple) and the territorial validity of your visa which can vary.
• A Uniform Visa is valid in the entire Schengen area whereas a Limited Territorial Validity Visa only allows its holder to travel in the Schengen state or states where it is valid.

How much does a short-stay visa for Belgium cost?

Visa fees depend on the age and the situation of the traveller. Children under age 6 are exempt from visa fees.

Costs for a visa for Belgium include:

• The visa fee itself,
• If you submit your application through an external service provider, you will pay additional service fees.

Beware! Visa and service fees are non-refundable even if your visa application is denied or if you withdraw your demand.

NB: certain categories of travellers such as schoolchildren, students, teachers accompanying groups, researchers, and participants in sports, cultural or educational events are exempt from visa fees.

You can find more information by reading our article on the costs of a Schengen visa.

Why choose AXA Schengen visa Insurance for Belgium?

• AXA Schengen travel insurance meets all the criteria demanded to obtain a Schengen visa for Belgium.
• It is certified and thus accepted by the consulates and embassies of all the Schengen member States.
• You can easily and quickly subscribe online.
• The AXA travel insurance certificate is immediately sent by email after your subscription.
• It allows you to save time in your Schengen visa application process.
• AXA Schengen travel insurance offers comprehensive coverage during the entire duration of your stay. It covers medical expenses (consultations, surgical acts, prescriptions, medical tests), emergency hospitalisation, search and rescue in case of accidents, repatriation (sanitary or in case of death).
• It is affordable.
• No deductible
• Its three different options - Low Cost, Europe Travel and Multi Trip- fit your needs and budget.
• Enjoy particularly attractive offers, completely secured means of payment and an effortless online procedure.

You might find these articles interesting

• How to apply for a Schengen visa for France?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa for Switzerland?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa for Italy?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa for Croatia?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa for Germany?
• How to apply for a Schengen visa for Spain?

FAQ

I have multiple nationalities. Which one must I use when applying for a Schengen visa for Belgium?

You must indicate on your application form the nationality of the passport you will be using for your trip. In the form, you will state your original nationality and the one featuring on your passport.

How can a family member or friend visit me in Belgium?

Regardless of the situation, the visitor must apply for their visa for Belgium themselves. You can assist with the process by providing an invitation letter outlining the reasons for their trip. Additionally, you can purchase Schengen travel insurance on their behalf.

What is the Belgian A-card?

The A- card or single permit is one of the many residence permits issued by Belgian authorities. All foreign nationals can apply for one but this does not exempt them from visa requirements. The Immigration Office is in charge of handling all matters relating to foreigners’ entries and residence in Belgium.