TRAVELING TO BELGIUM

Visa for Partners of EU Citizens & residents

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 ON THE BASIS OF COHABITATION WITH A EU CITIZEN:

If you are exempt from a visa C to enter Belgium, please submit your application directly at your local city hall in Belgium.

Documents to be presented by the US partner in person:

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

2. Two visa application forms duly completed, dated and signed 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.

3. An original birth certificate appended with the apostille (two photocopies of this document).

4. A nationwide criminal history record (FBI Identification 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. 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 should be dated within six months of your date of application for the visa.

6. Proof that you have a personal or collective travel insurance that covers for medical expenses during your first 3 months in Belgium.

7. Affidavit of celibacy, i.e. proof that you are at present not legally married (a notarized affidavit notarized by a notary public).

8. Proof that both partners are minimum 21 years old. The minimum age is 18 years old if both partners can prove that they already lived together for 1 year.

Proof that your relationship is a durable one will be measured as following:

+ Proof that partners have lived together for at least 1 year prior to application
+ If the partners have known each other for at least 2 years, proof that they have had regular contact by phone or (e)mail, that they have met in person at least 3 times in the past 2 years, and that those meetings represented a minimum of 45 days.

9. Supporting documents as proof that there is actual cohabitation and that your relationship is a durable one, such as: joint financial records, utility bills in both names, mortgage/rental agreement in both names, letters from friends and family, photographs, etc.

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

Documents to be presented by the Belgian partner or the legal resident of Belgium:

Include three sets (one original set of documents and two copies) collated and stapled.

1. A copy of your Belgian identity card (certified by the Belgian town hall of your place of residence) or a certificate of residence issued by the Belgian town hall of your place of residence; (“gemeente van inschrijving/commune d’inscription”).

2. A certificate that you are at present not legally married, please contact the town hall of your place of residence in Belgium “gemeente /commune” and request such a declaration.

3. The financial support document (“verbintenis tot tenlasteneming voor het in concubinaat leven / prise en charge pour concubinage”) to be obtained from and duly certified by the local authorities of your place of residence in Belgium (“gemeente/commune”). Proof that you have sufficient financial means to support your partner (employment letter, salary statement, bank letter, bank statements covering at least a period of 6 months).

4. A letter in which you request that your partner be authorized to reside with you in Belgium and documenting your relationship.

5. Proof of sufficient lodging (rental contract or letter from the employer confirming housing arrangements

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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