Travel to Belgium

Do I have to apply for a visa to go to Belgium?

Regulation (EU) No. 2018/1806 of 28 November 2018 lists the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the Schengen States and those whose nationals are exempt from this requirement.

A list of third country nationals who are required to hold a visa can be found on the website of the Immigration Office.

 

What type of visa?

There are three types of visa for Belgium:

• A-type (airport transit visa)
• C-type (short stay visa; duration of stay ≤90 days)
• D-type (long stay visa; duration of stay >90 days)

 

• A-type (airport transit visa)

An airport transit visa is valid for travel through the international zone of the airport, with a next destination outside the Schengen area. It does not allow you to enter Belgian territory.

If you have to leave the international airport transit zone (for changing terminal or to recheck luggage) or when making a transit through more than one airport in the Schengen area, you have to apply for a regular Schengen visa.

A list of third country nationals who are required to hold an airport transit visa can be found on the website of the Immigration Office.

• C-type (short stay visa / Schengen visa; duration of stay ≤90 days)

A short stay visa entitles its holder to travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Below are the subcategories that fall within the short stay visa:

• Business/conference/fair
• Tourism
• Family and/or friend visit
• Cultural and sports events
• ADS (Approved Destination Status) – tourism travel groups with a tour leader
• Professional training
• Return C (right to return to Belgium for F or F+ residence card)
• DIRECTIVE 2004-38-EC

 

Important: When applying for a Belgian Schengen visa, please note that:

• When you are visiting two or more Schengen countries, make sure that Belgium is the main destination (where you will be staying the longest);
• When you are visiting several Schengen countries and the duration of stay is equal in length, make sure that Belgium is either the country of arrival or departure.

 

• D-type (long stay visa / National visa; duration of stay >90 days)

A long stay visa is required for all persons who want to stay in Belgium for more than 90 days. While a long stay visa is not a Schengen visa, it does allow you to travel within the Schengen Area during your stay in Belgium. Below are the subcategories that fall within the long stay visa:

• Marriage
• Co-habitation
• Study
• Work
• Family Reunion
• Au-pair
• Return D (right to return to Belgium for A-, B-, C-, D-, H-, K-, L- or M residence card)

 

How to apply for a Belgium visa and where to submit your visa application?

• At the VACs

Embassy of Belgium in China works with an external service provider, VFS Global (outsourcing partner in Mainland China), for the reception of applications that are not received at the counter of the Embassy or Consulates. Applicants have to go to one of the 15 visa application centers (VACs) to submit their application documents and take biometrics (fingerprint). There are 15 VACs in China:

• Beijing
• Shenyang
• Jinan
• Xi’an
• Changsha
• Chengdu
• Chongqing
• Shanghai
• Nanjing
• Hangzhou
• Wuhan
• Guangzhou
• Shenzhen
• Fuzhou
• Kunming

For more information about VFS Global and VACs address, opening hours, etc., please visit their website at: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/chn/en/bel/attend-centre

 

• Procedure of applying for a Belgium visa at the VACs:

Every applicant needs to choose the correct visa according to the purpose of their travel to Belgium, after that, the applicant needs to fill in the online visa application form. Once this step has been completed, the applicant will be automatically guided to the online appointment booking website of VFS (integrated system). It is mandatory for applicants to make an appointment in order to submit their visa application at one of the VACs. After the VFS fee has been paid, the appointment is confirmed through an automated email.

For more information about how to apply for a Belgium visa at the VACs and the checklist of supporting documents required, please visit VFS’s website at  Apply for a visa | vfsglobal

• At the counter of the Embassy

ONLY several kinds of visa applications will be received at the counter, as below:

• Official or business visa applications from MFA of China, national organizations or FAO (Foreign Affairs Offices) of cities or provinces. From 1 January 2025 onwards, counter of the Embassy will only accept applications from Diplomatic and Service passport holders.
• Visa applications from family members of Belgian citizens/EU nationals such as return, family visit or family reunion visa applications.
• Humanitarian visa applications for emergency travel or for a family reunion/family visit with a diplomat residing in Belgium.
• Visa applications of diplomats from other embassies and their family members.

 

• Procedure of applying for a Belgium visa at the counter of the Embassy:

To submit a visa application at the counter of the Embassy, the applicant must first fill in the online visa application form in advance and bring a hard copy (print out), together with all required documents with them to their appointment. For more information about how to apply at the counter of the Embassy, please email us at: Beijing.visa@diplobel.fed.be

 

 

VAYD service

For group applications, VFS can offer the VAYD (Visa at Your Doorstep) service, which streamlines the submission process. 

 

 

Visa fees

For more information about the visa fees, please visit the VFS website at Apply for a visa | vfsglobal

 

 

Visa application processing time

All decisions should be given within 15 calendar days, extendable to 45 days. For long stay visa, the decision time can be much longer.

Applications cannot be submitted earlier than six months before the start of the intended journey. However, we do recommend applicants to submit visa applications well in advance.

 

 

Are you resident in Mongolia?

• For a short stay visa (maximum of 90 days, type C-Schengen), please address your visa request to the Visa Application Center responsible for the applications of the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar. Germany represents Belgium in this matter.

For opening hours and other practical information, please refer to their website.

• Tel: 70100066
• Mail: info.demn@vfshelpline.com
• Germany Visa Application Center - ULAANBAATAR 
  1st Floor, 37/1 apartment (SN Tower), Mahatma Gandhi Street, 
  Khan-Uul District, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 

The representation is however only valid for short stay Schengen visas (maximum stay of 90 days). 

• When a long stay visa is needed (more than 90 days, type-D, Belgian) please hand in your file at our Visa Application Center in Beijing.

 

After arrival in Belgium/Schengen Area

The Embassy/Consulate General is not authorized to handle immigration matters after you have arrived in Belgium. In case you want to extend your visa, replace a lost visa or change the type of visa, you need to contact the Belgian immigration authorities. Their contacts and extensive information can be found on the website of the Immigration Office.

 

 

What to do if your visa has been refused?

In case of refusal, the applicant will be notified in writing about the reasons for this refusal.

The refusal letter will be written in Dutch, French or German, depending on the language preference given at the time of application.

As the refusal decision has not been taken by the Embassy or Consulate General but by the Belgian immigration authorities, the Embassy or Consulate General is not authorized to comment on this refusal by any means (at the counter, by telephone or in writing).

The applicant can decide to lodge an appeal with the Belgian judicial authorities, as explained in the refusal notice or apply again for a visa with the Embassy or Consulate General.

Below are the following documents:

• Notice border control
• the online application form;
• the medical certificate;
• a list of approved hospitals;
• the contribution for visa long stay.