TRAVELING TO BELGIUM

Visa for Self-supporting Persons Wishing to Retire

NEW: Biometric visa at the Embassy of Belgium in Washington, D.C.

A picture and fingerprints will be taken of visa applicants at the Embassy of Belgium in Washington, D.C. These biometric data are sent electronically to Belgian border control for verification at entry in the Schengen area.

APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENCY WITHOUT GAINFUL OCCUPATION

If you want to settle in Belgium for more than three months and you do not intend to engage in a gainful occupation, you should apply for an authorization for temporary residency. To determine the consular office where you should introduce your application and to check office hours, please , click here.

HOW TO APPLY?

Please submit the following documents in person:

1. A valid national passport (validity 15 months).

2.Two original visa application forms and three recent passport-size photographs.

Include three sets of the following documents (one original set of documents and two copies) collated and stapled:

The originals will be returned to you together with your passport and visa. You will need them to register at city hall in Belgium.

3. A medical certificate according to the model enclosed. For a list of doctors affiliated with the Embassy or the Consulate General, click here.

If you choose your family physician, the doctor's signature needs to be notarized. The medical document should be less than 3 months old from the date of your application.

4. a nationwide criminal history record (FBI Identi-fication Record) covering the last five years, obtained from the FBI CJIS Division (Record Request, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306), dated within six months of your date of application for the visa. For more information, please go to the FBI website.

5. Proof of sufficient available funds and/or income, e.g. Social Security, bank letters, bank statements covering at least a period of 6 months, income from real estate properties, etc.

6. A letter stating why you wish to take up residency in Belgium, e.g. because you have family in Belgium or have been living there before.

7. Written letters of reference from Belgium (names, address, telephone numbers, relationship).

8. Visa fee (this price includes consular taxes and handling fees) : 126.00 USD in cash, certified check or money order. Personal checks are not accepted.

In the Embassy in Washington, you can also pay with a credit card.

A personal appearance is required and you must apply in person at the Embassy or Consulate General in whose jurisdiction you reside.

If you wish to make the application by mail (this is possible at the consulates in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, but not at the Embassy in Washington, DC), the following requirements apply:
(1) your signature on the application form must be notarized (certified) by a notary public of your place of residence in the U.S.

(2) do not send your application documents to an Honorary Consul. The application will be processed by the Embassy or by a Consulate General. Always make sure you mail your application to the competent Embassy or Consulate General. Only the Honorary Consuls in Nassau (Bahamas) and San Juan (Porto Rico) may accept visa-applications and they will send them to the Embassy..

After verification of your application, a personal appearance will still be necessary to collect your passport with the visa.

Applicants are invited to submit their applications at least 4 months prior to their scheduled departure. The Consular Officer will go over all the documents and process your application. It will then be forwarded to the appropriate Belgian authorities for approval, this may take several months.

Please do not make travel arrangements until the consular office has received the authorization to issue your visa.

UPON ARRIVAL IN BELGIUM:

It is important that you register with the City Hall of your place of residence in Belgium within 8 days of your arrival. Make sure that your passport is endorsed by the immigration authorities when first entering Belgium (at airport or other border post).

The local authorities will process your registration identity document that will allow you to enter and leave the country as a legal temporary resident of Belgium.

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