The different types of visas in Belgium

The different types of visas for living or staying in Belgium

Belgium warmly welcomes citizens of all nationalities for:

• A short stay;
• A long stay;
• Permanent residence;
• Studies;
• Airport transits;
• Special cases: family reunification or airport transit.

There are different reasons to go to Belgium for a short stay:

• Visiting friends or family;
• Tourism;
• Business trips;
• Short studies or training;
• Participation in a cultural, sports, scientific, academic, or religious event;
• Airport transit.

Here are the different categories of travelers who might want to visit Belgium:

• EU/EEA nationals who have signed the Schengen Agreement;
• EU/EEA nationals who have not signed Schengen;
• Foreign citizens living in an EU member country (whether a Schengen signatory or not);
• Citizens from other countries.

Read also Traveling in Belgium

For Short Stays in Belgium

Citizens of EU member states do not need a visa to stay less than 90 days in Belgium, regardless of the reason for their stay. However, they do need the following documents:

• A national identity card, or,
• A valid passport, or,
• An expired identity document (if they have none of the above), or,
• A residence permit issued in another member state (if they have none of the above).

However, EU nationals staying in private accommodation must report their presence to the local municipal administration within 10 days of arrival. They will then receive a declaration of presence.

Please note, among other things, that:

• Minor travelers need parental authorization, annotated from the country they are coming from.
• Citizens from other countries (outside the European Union) cannot stay more than 90 days within a 180-day period in Belgium.

Below are examples of short-stay visas you may need to apply for, depending on the reason for your entry into the country.

Airport Transit Visa

Many people mistakenly think they do not need a visa during an airport layover, as they are only passing through without leaving the airport. You may be surprised to learn that you will indeed need to have an airport transit visa (type A) in certain countries, including Belgium.

The good news is that most travelers are exempt from this requirement. However, if you are from one of the following countries, you will need to apply at least 15 days before your trip: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Syria.

The only exception is if you are a family member of an EU or EFTA citizen, as their freedom of movement extends to you.

To apply for an airport transit visa, visit the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country. This applies only if a Belgian airport is your first or only transit airport. With the application, you will need to submit and present the following documents:

• Passport or identity document;
• 2 recent passport photos;
• Proof of your flight (itinerary);
• Proof of travel insurance.

Tourist Visa

Depending on your nationality, you may need a short-stay Schengen visa (visa C), unless your country is on the list of 60 exempt countries.

As with the airport transit visa, you will need to apply at your local Belgian embassy at least 15 days before your trip. You will need all the documents mentioned for the transit visa, as well as proof of:

• Health insurance coverage;
• Accommodation in Belgium;
• Provision of sufficient funds for your stay.

This Schengen visa allows you to visit other Schengen countries without applying for another visa.

Visitor visa

You might think that the visitor visa is synonymous with the tourist visa. They are actually two different things ! They are extremely similar in that you must apply for them in the same way and for the same reason: a short stay in Belgium.

However, the visitor visa is specifically for those visiting family and friends in Belgium. This means you will essentially need an invitation letter, as well as proof of your relationship if you are visiting a family member.

Other short-stay visas

There are several other short-term visas that may be required for traveling to Belgium.

The first is the business visa. This is for business trips lasting up to 90 days in Belgium. Of course, if you are an EU citizen, you will not need to apply for this visa. Otherwise, if you are not an EU citizen, you will need to follow roughly the same procedures as for the tourist visa. However, a notable difference is that you will need either a letter of explanation from your employer or an invitation letter from a Belgian organization.

There is also the official visit visa. This is also very similar to the tourist visa in terms of procedures and requirements. And like the business visa, you will need an invitation letter for any official meeting, negotiation, exchange program, or intergovernmental event you must attend.

If you need medical treatment in Belgium, you can apply for a medical visa. This applies if your stay is less than 90 days. Otherwise, if it is longer, you will need a long-term visa. You will need to prove that you specifically need medical treatment in Belgium, demonstrate that you have valid health insurance, and that you have the means to make an advance payment for the treatment you will receive.

Although there is already a student visa, this is intended for longer programs. If you need to go to Belgium for up to 90 days for educational purposes, you will need to apply for a short-term study visa.

Read alsoDoing an internship in Belgium

Long-term visas in Belgium

Long-term visa (Non-Permanent)

For a stay longer than 90 days in Belgium, EU citizens will need to report to their local commune and apply for a registration certificate (called Annex 19, valid for three months).

Once this is done, EU nationals receive a national number and are registered. Residence control will follow, and then they must register with the foreigner's register. During the three months of the registration certificate's validity, long-stay applicants will be invited to gather a number of documents.

They will receive a registration certificate (called Annex 8) once all conditions are met.

As for citizens who do not come from a European Union member state, they must apply for their visa at the Belgian consulate or embassy in their country of origin.

They must provide:

• A valid travel document (e.g., a national passport) valid for at least 12 months after the date of arrival, with space for the visa to be affixed;
• Two completed visa application forms and 2 color passport photos;
• A criminal record extract, issued no later than 6 months prior. The certificate must refer to the previous year and be translated by a sworn translator;
• A medical certificate, issued by a practitioner approved by the Belgian embassy or consulate;
• Additional documents may be required, depending on the status of the third-country national (employee, self-employed, intern).

Once they have obtained their visa, and within 8 days of their arrival date, non-EU nationals must register with the foreigner's register at the Population Service or the Foreigners Office of their place of residence in Belgium. The Foreigners Office will possibly affix a temporary residence permit to their passport.

Once they have done all this, a new file must be submitted. This application must include:

• A valid passport showing a temporary residence permit;
• A work permit or a professional card (a work exemption or an internship authorization for interns);
• Several passport photos;
• Payment of a small fee (varies from one commune to another).

These documents are necessary for obtaining a certificate of registration in the foreigner's register. Once the citizen's stay is controlled, and if the temporary residence permit is not subject to any restrictions, the registration certificate will then be valid for one year.

This registration certificate allows people to travel freely within the Schengen area.

Read alsoWork permits in Belgium

Student visa

If you wish to study in Belgium as a non-EU student, you will need to apply for a student visa. You will need to provide evidence of the following:

• Studies as the main activity during your stay in Belgium;
• Enrollment in a recognized university;
• Provision of sufficient funds for the stay (around €650 per month);
• Coverage by a health insurance;
• A clean criminal record.

Temporary work visa

If you are coming to temporarily work in Belgium, several visa options are available to you depending on your situation:

Work Permit C: Temporarily Working During Your Stay

If you are already in Belgium under another status (student, asylum seeker, family reunification, etc.) and wish to engage in temporary professional activity, you can apply for a Work Permit C.

Specifically:

• It allows you to work for any Belgian employer.
• It is generally valid for a period of 12 months.
• It can be renewed in certain cases.
• You do not need an employer to apply on your behalf; the process is individual.

Work Permit B: Temporarily Working from Abroad with a Sponsor Employer

If you are still in your home country and a Belgian company wants to hire you for a temporary position, the employer will submit the application for a Work Permit B.

What you need to know:

• This permit is linked to a specific job and a specific employer.
• The duration depends on the contract, generally 1 year renewable.
• The application is processed by the competent regional administration (Flanders, Wallonia, or Brussels).

Read also 'working in Belgium'

Au-Pair visa

If you wish to come to Belgium as part of an au pair program, here are the conditions to meet:

Here are the conditions to be met:

• Be aged between 18 and 26 years old;
• Have been educated at least until 17 years old;
• Be able to prove sufficient knowledge of the host region's language;
• Have never worked as an au pair in Belgium before.

Here are the conditions for the host family:

• Have at least one child under 13 years old;
• Have a childcare plan for children under 6 years old;
• Provide you with individual accommodation;
• Pay you a minimum allowance of €450 per month;
• Provide health insurance covering the entire duration of the stay.

Read also Pregnancy and childbirth in Belgium

Family Reunification Visa

If you wish to join a family member living in Belgium for an extended period (more than 90 days), you will need to apply for a family reunification visa.

Concretely, the procedures take place in two steps:

• Obtain a "D" category family reunification visa before departure from the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.
• Register with the commune once you arrive in Belgium to obtain a temporary residence card.

The temporary residence card is generally valid for 1 year and renewable. After several years (often 5 years), it is possible to apply for a permanent residence card if the conditions remain met.

The documents and conditions vary according to several criteria:

• The nationality of the person already residing in Belgium (Belgian citizen, EU citizen, or third-country citizen);
• The type of family relationship (spouse, minor child, dependent parent, etc.);
• Your own nationality and legal status.

Permanent Stay in Belgium

Citizens of European Union member states automatically obtain permanent residence after five years of uninterrupted residence in Belgium. These permanent residence cards are valid for five years and are renewable.

As for non-EU citizens, they must provide proof of:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage;
• Sufficient financial resources to cover their expenses as well as those of their family;
• Five years of uninterrupted residence in Belgium.

You must make your application for permanent residence in Belgium by submitting your request to the Federal Office for Foreigners. Once your application is approved, your permanent resident card will be valid for five years and will be renewable.

Some people may be eligible for Belgian nationality. If this interests you, it will be very beneficial for you to inquire in advance to be able to live in Belgium permanently and securely.