2.2 Exceptions and special categories (Refugees and stateless persons, diplomatic service and special passports, NATO,...)
Refugees and stateless persons
More detailed information on the visa requirement for persons with refugee status and stateless persons residing in another EU or Schengen Member State can be found on the following PDF page "Refugees and stateless persons - additional information". You will find this PDF document at the very bottom of this page.
Other special categories: diplomatic, service and special passport, NATO, intergovernmental organisations, …
In the Excel document “National derogations from the visa requirements” on the website of the EU Visa policy - European Commission (europa.eu) you will find further detailed information. First click on the field “"Countries whose nationals require a visa" and then on “visa-free access to certain categories of people”. You can find information such as:
- Visa exemption for holders of diplomatic, service/official and special passports
- Visa exemption for other categories mentioned in Article 4(1): air/sea crew members, Documents issues by intergovernemental organisations
- Visa exemption granted to school pupils who are nationals of a third country listed in Annex I to the Regulation, reside in a third country listed in Annex II to the Regulation and are travelling in the context of a school excursion as members of a group of school pupils accompanied by a teacher from the school in question
- Visa exemption for refugees and stateless persons who are legally resident in a third country/entity listed in Annex II to the Regulation and are in possession of a travel document issued by the competent authorities of that country/entity. The Excel document shows that Belgium grants visa exemption only to persons travelling on refugee passports issued by the United States of America, on the condition that they have a legal long stay in the United States of America. In all other cases where a third country (e.g. Canada, Australia, United Kingdom,...) issues a refugee or stateless person's travel document, Belgium does not apply a visa exemption. Persons travelling with a travel document as stateless persons issued by the United States of America are also not subject to a visa exemption for Belgium.
- Visa exemption granted by Member States to members of the armed forces travelling on NATO or Partnership for Peace business and holders of identification and movement orders provided for by the Agreement of 19 June 1951 between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation regarding the status of their forces:
- Exceptions to the visa exemption for persons carrying out a paid activity during their stay