Belgium Immigration-Major Visa Requirements
About 26 countries can visit the Schengen area. They do not need a visa to cross Belgian borders because it is one of its member states, nor do foreigners who are legally in this European territory, provided that they are stays of less than 90 days.
The only persons who required a Schengen visa for Belgium have a passport from one of the countries that do not benefit from this travel permit’s exemption.
Those residing in a country whose citizens do not require a special permit to enter the Schengen boundary, but do not have a national passport and originate from another that does not benefit from this same exemption, must have a Schengen visa to enter this territory.
List of documents to travel to Belgium
Every visitor needs to enter Belgium depending on their nationality and the duration and reason for their trip.
Visa-free travel
The visitors, who do not require a visa to enter the Schengen land, including Belgium, do not have to submit any documentation before their trip formally, but they must meet several requirements:
● Please have a valid and valid passport, issued at some point in the last ten years and which does not expire within three months of the date on which its holder is expected to leave Belgium. It must have enough white space, at least two pages, so that the authorities can seal it at border controls.
● Book a round-trip ticket, demonstrating the traveler’s intention to leave Belgian territory before the end of the 03 months. He is allowed to spend in the Schengen area without a visa.
● Provide the accommodation details, such as a hotel reservation or an Airbnb. When a family member or friend runs accommodation, a letter of invitation that the authorities could request at border controls upon arrival in Belgium must be in possession.
● Justify the reasons for the visit to Belgium, which may be by tourism, studying, visiting family or friends, attending a cultural or sporting event, as part of an official visit, undergoing medical treatment, or by airport transit.
● Demonstrate that sufficient financial means are available to pay for the total length of stay through a recent statement from a bank account, for example. The minimum amount of money required for trips to Belgium is 95 euros per day if the traveler stays in a hotel or 45 euros if he chooses to stay at an acquaintance’s home.
Important information for the future: ETIAS
As of 2022, travelers currently benefiting from visa exemption must have an ETIAS authorization to cross Belgian external borders and other Schengen states. Fortunately, the process to obtain it will be effortless and will be done online.
Traveling with a visa
Persons required to have a visa to travel to both Belgium and the rest of the Schengen area must carry out the formalities to obtain it through the Belgian embassy or consulate of their country of residence.
● Please have a valid and valid passport, issued at some point in the last ten years and not experishing within six months of the date on which its holder is scheduled to leave Belgium. Make sure it contains enough white space, at least two pages, for the authorities at border controls to seal it.
● Book a round-trip ticket, demonstrating the traveler’s intention to leave Belgian territory before the end of the 03 months.
● Offer proof of accommodation for the total length of stays, such as a hotel reservation or an Airbnb. If a family member or friend runs the capacity, a letter of invitation must be available, which can be requested by the authorities at border controls.
● Justify the reasons for the visit to Belgium, in the case of a business or work stay.
● Demonstrate that sufficient financial means are available to pay for the total length of stay by extracting a bank account, for example. In Belgium, the minimum amount is 75 Euros for each crossing of its borders, plus 40 Euros for each day of stay.
● Have a guard proving that travel health insurance has been taken out, valid throughout the Schengen territory, and with a minimum coverage of 30,000 Euros.
Belgium Visa Costs
The Schengen visa entails a processing fee which, since February 2020, has been set at EUR 80 for 18+ candidates and 40 for children or under 18 between six and twelve years old; children under that age are exempt from paying.
Work & Employment in Belgium
Residents of visa-exempt countries may visit Belgium for work or business reasons without obtaining a special permit, provided that it is a stay of fewer than 90 days in six months.
People who want to work in Belgium for more than 90 days must obtain a long-term or type D visa before starting their trip. Such permits are the responsibility of each Schengen state and are processed through Belgian consulates abroad.
In either case, whether or not you need a visa, the traveler will have to have an invitation certificate from the company or entity that invited him to Belgium or the company for which he works in his country of origin, explaining what tasks he will perform during his stay.
Belgium For Student
Residents of visa-exempt countries may visit Belgium to expand their studies without a visa, provided that it is a stay of fewer than 90 days in six months.
People who wish to study in Belgium for more than 90 days must obtain a long-term or type D visa before starting their trip. Such permits are the responsibility of each Schengen state and are processed through Belgian consulates abroad.
Students must demonstrate that they have a scholarship or sufficient financial means to pay for their health insurance, their accommodation and the cost of staying in the country, and hypothetical repatriation in the event of an accident or death. The minimum amount that has been set to cover all these expenses varies each year: for the academic year 2020/2021, it is 700 Euros per month.
Visa procedures are carried out at Belgian embassies or consulates in the country of residence wishing to travel to their territory. In some cases, this process may have been outsourced to specialized companies, also known as visa centers. The most commonly used by Belgium is VFS Global.
Visa Extension in Belgium
Travelers who do not need a Schengen visa will be able to extend their stay, and it does not exceed 90 days. On the other hand, those who have entered Belgium with this permit must request an extension if they want to live in the country beyond their visa sticker’s validity date. However, it should be noted that such extensions are rarely granted unless grounds for force majeure can be justified.