Recently, Indians have been traveling to all of the Schengen countries to explore this side of Europe. Among these states, Belgium is also a part of the Schengen region.
So, if you want to plan a trip to Belgium from India, you must go through the entire process. For example, it may include applying for a,
- Belgium visa from India
- Collecting the documents
- Visiting the embassy to submit the application form
Therefore, this article will help you find all the standard visa requirements that you must fulfill to start the application form. Moreover, it will also discuss the various visa types that you can apply for depending on your reason for visiting the target country.
Facts about Belgium
Belgium is a country popular for several things. For instance, it may include beer, waffles, chocolates, etc.
Moreover, it is a European nation visited for its architecture from the medieval and Renaissance periods. In addition, the headquarters of UNESCO, the European Union, and NATO are also located in Belgium.
Besides, being a country famous for travelers and visitors, Belgium offers multiple opportunities for entrepreneurs and businessmen. So, you can apply for any visa type you want when traveling from India to Belgium.
Types of Belgium Visa for Indians
When planning a trip to Belgium from India, you may need to be specific about why you are traveling to the target country. Moreover, the embassy may also ask you to disclose the purpose of your visit. This is the basis of the entire visa process.
Only after that, you can select the most appropriate visa type depending on the reason for your trip. Therefore, the following are the most common visa types that you can apply for when moving to Belgium from India.
Schengen visa
Another term for this is a short-stay visa. This will allow you to spend at least three months in Belgium. Besides, it is valid for up to one hundred and eighty days.
If you apply for this visa, you can travel to as many countries as you want within the validity period of the visa. Moreover, you can use it for the following purposes,
- Business
- Tourism
- Family visits
Business visa
With a business visa, you can attend conferences, business meetings, and other trade affairs. This also permits you to stay in the country and engage in business-related activities for almost ninety days.
Tourist visa
As the name implies, you can travel to the destination country with a tourist visa for leisure purposes. As a result, you can visit and explore the landscapes and culture of Belgium. A tourist visa is usually valid for one to three months.
National visa
A national visa is also called a long-stay visa. This is required in case you want to stay for more than 90 days. Furthermore, you can use a Type-D visa for purposes including,
- Long-term study
- Employment
- Family reunion
Transit visa
Lastly, an Indian citizen will require a transit visa to transit through Belgium if their target country is a non-EU/non-Schengen country. You can stay at the Belgian airport for almost 2-3 days without leaving the country’s borders. This visa has further two categories, named Type A and Type B visa.
Who Can Apply for a Belgium Visa?
The following are the categories of Indian citizens who can travel to the target country when applying for a visa.
- If you are a tourist and want to visit Belgium for tourism or sightseeing purposes, you must apply for a tourist visa.
- Moreover, businessmen and entrepreneurs can travel to the destination country if they want to engage in business-related activities. For this purpose, they must apply for a business visa.
- Indian students can also pursue their higher studies in any Belgian educational institute. Therefore, make sure to apply for a long-stay visa to fulfill your purpose of traveling to the destination country,
- Lastly, employees and workers are required to apply for a long-stay visa if they have secured employment in Belgium. This visa will be valid till the duration of your employment in the destination country.
Legal Documents Required When You Apply for a Belgium Visa from India
When you apply for a Belgium visa from India, the embassy may request you to attach the following documents.
Passport
The most important document is your passport which should be valid for at least three months after you exit Belgium. Moreover, it should have two blank pages to affix the visa stamps.
If your passport does not fulfill these requirements, the chances of visa rejection become higher.
Previous visas (if any)
In case you have any previous visas, you must submit their color copy to the embassy. Besides, you can also submit your previous passports as well.
Belgium visa application form
You are also required to fill out your application form for a Belgian visa. You can download it from the website of the embassy. The form may ask you questions related to,
- Your name and surname
- Gender
- Date and place of birth
- Nationality
- Passport number
- Contact information
Cover letter
Writing and submitting a cover letter is also an important visa requirement. You can disclose details such as the reason for visiting the country, the duration of your stay, and when you will return to your home country.
Besides, you can also include other details related to the visa type you apply for.
Two passport-size photographs
Other than the documents mentioned above, you must submit two passport-size pictures to the embassy. In addition, the submitted photographs should be according to the Schengen photo rules.
For example, this may include having a dimension of 35x40mm, a blank or white background, your face should be fully visible, etc.
Civil status documents
The embassy may also request you to disclose your civil status. For this purpose, you are supposed to submit the following documents.
- Your marriage certificate
- Birth certificate of your children
- Divorce certificate
- Death certificate of your spouse (if applicable)
- Family certificate
Travel health insurance
Another important requirement for a Belgium visa is travel health insurance. The insurance policy should have a coverage amount of at least 30,000 euros. This is equivalent to almost 27 lakh Indian Rupees.
Moreover, it will help you bear unexpected medical expenses such as,
- Illness
- Surgery
- Evacuation
- Repatriation
Flight itinerary
Whenever you apply for a visa, the embassy will ask you to submit a round-trip flight ticket. This will help the immigration officer know your flight and seat number, booking ID, passenger name record, etc.
Besides, it also shows that you will return to your home country before your visa expires. This will save you from engaging in illegal activities.
Hotel reservation
Your trip to Belgium also requires you to have a place to stay. For this purpose, you can either reserve a hotel, stay at a friend/family member’s house, or rent an apartment. As a result, it shows the embassy that you will not put a burden on the target country’s government.
Where to get these documents?
If you want to get these travel documents online, you can have them from RFV. We provide visa and flight services to our customers from all over the world at a discounted price.
Language preference form
The preferred languages for a Belgium visa from India are English, Dutch, French, or German. So, make sure that you choose the language available when downloading the visa application form.
Proof of funds
When you plan your trip to Belgium from India, you need to have a sufficient amount to manage your daily expenses in the target country. This may include food, transportation, and accommodation.
Therefore, you can present documents such as your bank statement, credit card balance, proof of salary, etc.
Residence permit
In case your intended stay is more than ninety days, you should also submit a residence permit. It can be used for any visa type such as study, employment, work, research, or humanitarian.
Supporting Documents Needed as per your Employment Status
Irrespective of the common documents listed above, you are also required to submit the following documents if applying for a business visa. This varies as per the status of your employment.
- In case you are employed, then the embassy may request you to bring the following documents,
- employment contract
- bank statement (three to six months)
- income tax returns
- a permission letter from the company acknowledging your absence
- On the other hand, make sure to attach a business registration certificate, ITR, and business bank statement with the application form if you have your own business.
- Moreover, if you are traveling to Belgium as a student, make sure to submit an admission letter and NOC from the university or college.
- Lastly, pension statements from the last three to six months will be enough if you are a retired individual.
Besides, you can also disclose other financial resources if you have such as your property or land.
Must Have Additional Documents for the Minors
If a minor is traveling with you to Belgium, you are also required to bring these documents to the embassy.
- Application form signed by the parents
- ID and passport of both parents
- In case of separation, a family court order is needed
- If the child is traveling alone, the parents need to give their consent which should be notarized
Also, if the child is underage, the parents or guardians should accompany him/her to the Belgian embassy when applying for a visa.
Where Can I Submit my Belgian Visa Application in India?
There are two ways through which you can submit your Belgian visa application in India.
- Firstly, you can visit the Embassy of Belgium in India. You can find it at 50-N, Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, Delhi 110021, India. The visa officer will help you select the visa type and the documents required when applying for a permit. But, please note that you should only visit the embassy to start the application process if you are applying for a long-stay visa.
- The second method will help you apply for the other visa types such as a short-stay or tourist visa, etc. For this purpose, you should search VFS Global on Google and follow the steps to apply for a specific visa. Applying through this method will require you to pay an additional fee for service charges.
How to Apply for the Process?
You can choose any of the methods mentioned above to apply for a Belgium visa from India. So, make sure to follow the points discussed below for a smooth application process.
- The first step requires you to visit the official website of the embassy and select the home and destination countries. After that, you can download the visa application form.
- Once you fill it out, print the form and put your signatures on it. Then, you are required to collect the legal documents needed as per your visa type.
- Next, book an appointment with a VAC or the relevant embassy to provide your biometric data. This may include your fingerprints and photos.
- Then, according to your appointment schedule, you can visit the visa application center or the embassy. The visa officer may also require you to submit the application form along with the required documents.
- Moreover, on the same day of appointment, you should pay the visa fees before or after the visa interview. This is an important step of the visa process as the immigration officer wants to know more about your travel plans.
- In addition, you can also track the status of your application through the booking ID received in the email. Then, upon approval, pick up your new passport from the same VAC or embassy through which you applied.
How Much is the Belgium Visa Application Fee for Indian Citizens?
The application fee when traveling to Belgium from India varies depending on the visa type you apply for.
For example, the standard amount for a short-stay visa is 90 euros (8,200 INR) for adults. On the other hand, children between the ages of six and twelve can pay 45 euros (4,100 INR) to the embassy. Surprisingly, if you are a minor, below the age of six, you can freely travel to any European country.
Similar is the case with a Belgium tourist visa from India. However, it depends on the length of your stay in the target country.
Contrary to this, the visa cost for a national visa is slightly higher than the Type C visa. For this purpose, you must deposit at least 180 euros. This is equivalent to 16,400 Indian Rupees.
Other factors:
Also, please note that if you apply through a visa application center other than the embassy, you are required to pay an additional fee for service charges. This can range from 2,200 to 3,000 INR.
Moreover, keep in mind that this visa fee is non-refundable. This means that you cannot get it back even if your visa is rejected.
Visa Processing Time
The processing time for a Belgium visa from India is usually fifteen working days. However, it depends on,
- Your visa type
- The workload of the relevant embassy through which you are applying
- Submission of the documents
Besides, the embassy may also take almost a month or 60 days to process your visa. This happens only in rare cases. So, it is always advisable to apply for the process earlier than your intended departure from your home country.
FAQs
- Is it easy for Indians to get a Belgian visa?
Yes, getting a Belgium visa from India is a simple process. However, it depends on whether you fulfill the standard visa requirements and submit the required documents correctly or not.
Moreover, getting a visa successfully is also based on,
- Your situation
- The reason for visiting the target country
- How you have prepared the application and what documents are submitted to speed up the process
- Which language is required for the legal documents?
As an Indian, make sure that you translate the required documents either in English, Dutch, German, or French. If you apply for a visa through the embassy, they will ask you to download the application form in the preferred language
For this purpose, you can translate your documents through a certified translator in your home country. Make sure to meet this visa requirement to avoid having problems in the application process later on.
- Is it necessary to legalize the paperwork?
In case you want to recognize your documents outside of your motherland, you should legalize them. For this purpose, you will need an Apostille stamp.
Moreover, the following documents need apostille,
Certificate of business registration.
- Marriage certificate
- Birth certificate of children
- Death certificate of spouse (if applicable)
- Power of attorney
- Diploma from a university or college
- Court orders in case of parental dispute
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