Visa Requirements and Other Formalities Before Your Departure

Visa requirements and other formalities before your departure

Version August 21th 2014

More information can be found on:  The Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs: www.diplomatie.belgium.be  Immigration Office: Belgian authority competent for matters relating to the access, residence, settlement and expulsion of immigrants Website: www.dofi.ibz.be E-mail: [email protected] Callcenter: + 32 (0)2 793 80 00

All information below is subject to changes. Please check with the Belgian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence for the latest information. You can find a list with Consulates and Embassies on http://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/services/embassies_and_consulates/

A. Short stays (less than three months)

A.1 Access to Belgium for short stays (up to 3 months) with a passport or identity card without a visa

Nationals of the following countries can enter Belgium with a valid identity card (no passport or visa is required):  The 27 European Union countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greek-Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.  Other countries: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

Nationals of the following countries can enter Belgium with a valid passport (no visa is required):  The 27 European Union countries: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.  Other countries: Albania (only in case of biometric passport), Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (only in case of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport), Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Macao, Macedonia (only in case of biometric passport), Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova (only in case of biometric passport), Monaco, Montenegro (only in case of biometric passport), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia (only in case of biometric passport), Seychelles, Singapore, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela.

A.2 Access to Belgium for short stays (up to 3 months) with a passport and a visa (visa type C)

Nationals of any country other than those referred to above and holders of identity and travel documents other than those mentioned above are only allowed to enter Belgium, provided they have a valid passport or equivalent travel document plus a visa valid for Belgium. Inhabitants of e.g. Turkey will need a visa to enter Belgium, even for a short period. More information about a short term visa application in the framework of study or another type of short training: https://dofi.ibz.be/sites/dvzoe/EN/Application- guides/Pages/Travel_conducted_in_the_framework_of_study_or_another_type_of_short_training_c ourse.aspx

B. Long stays (more than three months)

B.1 EU and some non-EU countries: a valid passport or identity card

 Nationals of the 27 European Union countries: Austria, Croatia Bulgaria, Greek-Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.  Other countries: Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.

An identity card or passport is sufficient to be allowed to enter Belgium and remain in Belgium, provided your stay is recognized by the municipal authorities (the Migration Counter of the City of Ghent) or the Belgian Immigration Office.

B.2 All other countries: visa type D

Nationals of other countries who wish to remain in Belgium for more than three months are subject to visa requirements (for example, Turkey, Russia, USA). It can take up to 5 months to receive a visa type D.

An application for a visa type D may be submitted exclusively to the Belgian diplomatic or consular authorities in the country where the applicant resides.

More information about a long term visa application in the framework of study: https://dofi.ibz.be/sites/dvzoe/EN/Application- guides/Pages/Higher_education_or_preparatory_year.aspx