Short stay

Member States

The Schengen Area consists of 29 States: Austria (AT), Belgium (BE), Switzerland (CH), Czech Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Denmark (DK), Estonia (EE), Greece (EL), Spain (ES), Finland (FI), France (FR), Croatia (HR), Hungary (HU), Iceland (IS), Italy (IT), Liechtenstein (LI), Lithuania (LT), Luxembourg (LU), Latvia (LV), Malta (MT), Netherlands (NL), Portugal (PT), Norway (NO), Poland (PL), Sweden (SE), Slovenia (SI), Slovakia (SK), Romania (RO), Bulgaria (BG). 

External borders of the Schengen Area

If you enter the Schengen Area via Belgium, you must pass through one of the following transit points:

• the airports of Brussels National Airport, Deurne, Ostend, Gosselies, Bierset and Wevelgem;
• the ports of Antwerp, Ostend, Zeebrugge, Ghent, Nieuwpoort and Blankenberge;
• Brussels South station (Eurostar Terminal).

The Immigration Office may impose an administrative fine of 200 euros on the foreigner who does not respect the obligation to enter through one of these crossing points.

Conditions for entering the Schengen Area

The conditions for entering the Schengen Area are set out in Article 6 of Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on a Union Code for the rules governing the movement of people across borders (Schengen Borders Code)

These conditions apply to any foreigner, regardless of whether they are subject to the short stay visa requirement or are exempt from that requirement.

The checks performed by border guards at the external borders is governed by the Schengen Borders Code.

Council Regulation (EC) No. 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 establishes the list of third countries whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing the external borders and the list of countries whose citizens are exempt from that requirement.

These lists will be published in the Border Control tab.

The list of residence permits issued by Schengen states that allow visa-free entry will also be published in the Border Control (VISA) tab.

A

anyone who does not provide proof of Belgian nationality.

may not choose the Schengen state that will examine their

an authorisation issued by a Member State or a decision taken by such State which is required with a view to entry for an intended stay in that Member State or in several Member States, or for transit through the territory of that Member State or several Member States.

application. They must apply to the Schengen state to which they wish to go (sole destination or principal destination).

The procedure and conditions for issuing Short Stay visas in the Schengen Area are set out in the Visa Code. This means that all Schengen states apply the same rules when examining a visa application. 

The foreigner applying for a visa must prove that they meet the conditions for entering the Schengen Area. They must therefore present a series of documents relating to the purpose of their trip, their accommodation, and the financial and medical coverage for their trip. They must also provide guarantees of return to their country of residence at the end of their stay.

Learn more about the Schengen Area Entry Visa (

visa issued for a short stay (up to 90 days).

) application.

_{Useful information: The European Union has signed an agreement with certain third countries aimed at facilitating the issuing of visas. The nationals of these countries are invited to consult the site of the Belgian embassy competent for this country. On the other hand, the family members of a citizen of the European Union or of a citizen of an associated country benefit from the special provisions, within the limits of and under the conditions set out in Directive 2004/38/EC.}

The period of validity of a visa and the length of the authorised stay shall be based on the verification of entry conditions and risk assessment.

A visa may be issued for one, two or multiple entries. The period of validity shall not exceed five years.

Provided that the applicant fulfils the entry conditions, multiple-entry visas with a long validity shall be issued for the following validity periods, unless the validity of the visa would exceed that of the travel document:

(a) for a validity period of one year, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used three visas within the previous two years;

(b) for a validity period of two years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year within the previous two years;

(c) for a validity period of five years, provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for two years within the previous three years.

_{[Article 5 of the Act of 15 December 1980 and Articles 18 and 20 of the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981]}

The foreigner who is not staying in a lodging house subject to the legislation on control of travellers must, within three working days of entering Belgium, register with the municipal administration of the place where they are staying, unless they fall under one of the categories of foreigners exempt from this obligation.

_{NB: the foreigner admitted to a hospital or similar nursing facility for treatment during a trip in Belgium and the foreigner arrested and detained at a penal institution or at a facility for the protection of society are exempt from presenting themselves to the municipal administration.}

The foreigner will receive a declaration of arrival. [Annex 3 of the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981]

This document is valid for a maximum of 90 days from the date of entry into Belgium, unless the foreigner holds a visa that stipulates a shorter duration.  

_{[Article 33 of the Visa Code]}

A foreigner staying in Belgium for a short period of time may not be able to leave the territory of the Schengen states before the end of the period of validity of their visa or the authorised duration of stay.

The Immigration Office may grant an extension to the stay if this foreigner proves, with documents, the existence of serious personal reasons justifying the extension of the stay, or force majeure or humanitarian reasons preventing them from leaving the territory of the Schengen states.

The application for an extension of stay must be submitted to the municipal administration of the place of residence with the following documents:

• a copy of the passport (identifying features, visa, entry and exit stamps);
• a copy of the declaration of arrival, if the foreigner is subject to this obligation (annex 3 of the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981);
• a letter explaining the reasons for requesting the extension of the stay;
• documentation demonstrating the existence of compelling personal reasons, force majeure or humanitarian reasons;
• proof that the applicant has taken out Schengen medical travel insurance valid for the entire duration of the stay, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros.

If the Immigration Office grants the extension of stay, there are two options:

• the municipal administration will extend the declaration of arrival; or
• the foreigner will receive an invitation to present themselves, by appointment, at the counter of the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, in order to receive a new visa. This new visa is free if the extension of the stay is justified by force majeure or humanitarian reasons. However, payment for the new visa (30 euros) is required if the extension of the stay is justified by compelling personal reasons.

_{The FPS Foreign Affairs counter is located at 27 Rue des Petits Carmes, 1000 Brussels. It is open, by appointment, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9:30am to 11:30am.The appointment must be made via e-Appointment (diplomatie.be)}

_{ATTENTION: from July 1, 2024, the counter will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9.20am to 12pm.} 

_{[Article 7, first paragraph, 2° of the Act of 15 December 1980]}

The Immigration Office will issue an order to leave the territory of the Schengen states to the foreigner who remains in the territory for more than the authorised 90 days, within each 180-day period, or longer than the length of stay authorised by their visa, within the validity period indicated on this (see Reading the visa sticker).

The period given to leave the territory of the Schengen states voluntarily is stated in the document given to the foreigner by the municipal administration.