New travelers who have never traveled abroad or to Belgium may not know that a Belgium Schengen visa appointment is an important part of the application process. As long as you require a visa to visit the Kingdom of Belgium, you must present yourself before a visa officer at the embassy or visa application center who will crosscheck your documents. In addition, the visa officer will ask you questions about your trip and your itinerary plans, among other details. If you are planning for a trip to Belgium, we have compiled a list of the steps you need to take for Belgium visa applications in this article.
Taking a Trip To Belgium
If you are not European or have never been to Europe, taking a trip to Belgium may be exciting and challenging at the same time, but we must say that you are in for an adventure for sure. The Kingdom of Belgium is located in Western Europe, with its capital in Brussels also doubles as the European Union capital, where the EU parliament presides over legislative duties. Belgium has a population of more than 11 million, most of whom are literate and enjoy high living standards.
The country remained a monarchy for a long until it evolved into a Democratic State but still maintained a monarchical constitutional system just like the British. Brussels is the most extensive and populated city and home to many international agencies and organizations and several Fortune 500 companies.
In terms of modernity, many will argue that Belgium is a mixture of modern and classical architecture because of the sky-high skyscrapers and the medieval buildings found in the country. It is also home to hundreds of canals, especially in the city of Bruges, where canals run across the city from east to west.
Despite being a service-driven economy, Belgium earns significant revenue from tourism, with millions of visitors pouring in every year to enjoy the sights and sounds on offer. Despite not being as famous as other Western countries as a number one tourist destination in Europe, Belgium still manages to awe and inspire visitors all year round.
Who Needs A Schengen Visa?
This visa is mandatory for foreign nationals from third-world countries or countries not on the visa-exempt list. There are currently more than 60 countries that make up the Schengen visa exempt list, but if your country is not on the list, you will need to approach the Belgian embassy in your country to apply for this visa before boarding a flight.
Validity & Length of Stay
The Schengen visa is valid for six months and becomes active from the moment it is issued to you. This short visit visa will allow you to stay in Belgium for 90 days maximum; furthermore, you are free to travel to any other Schengen country in the zone you so wish on the same visa instead of applying for a separate visa for that country. However, you must not stay in any of these countries for more than 90 days combined.
How To Book A Belgium Schengen Visa Appointment
At the start of the article, we mentioned that booking an appointment with the embassy is mandatory if you want to book a Schengen visa; below, we review the steps you will need to take to do so.
Evaluate Your Eligibility: The first thing you will need to do is first to know whether you need a visa.
If you qualify for visa-free entry, applying for a visa is not necessary. If a visa is necessary because of your nationality, move on to the next step.
Arrange Your Documents: The second step is to arrange your documents based on the requirements. Arrange them in a single file and crosscheck to ensure none is missing.
Fill out The Visa Application Form: You may choose to fill out the application form before or after you book the appointment; the choice is yours. When filling out the form, be mindful of errors and leave no section empty.
Book The Appointment: The next step is to book the appointment with the Belgian embassy in your country. The booking procedure will depend on the embassy’s standard practice. Some embassies use booking agents, while others allow bookings via email or phone. Follow the procedure as arranged.
Go For The Appointment: After booking the appointment, you will be scheduled to appear before the visa officer. Appear as agreed and tender your documents to the officer for review. The officer will also ask you random questions about your trip, so endeavor to answer them honestly.
After the Belgium Schengen visa appointment, the application processing will take up to 15 days before your visa will be released. Once it is ready, you will be contacted to return to the embassy to pick up the visa and your passport.