Belgium Visa from UK – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Belgian Schengen Visa

Belgium has a rich history and it’s a delight to explore the old centers in the cities throughout this European country. There are vibrant places to visit, like Brussels and Bruges, where you can eat, drink and be merry or you might like to go to La Petite Merveille – an adventure park where you can indulge in a host of exciting outdoor activities. In this article learn more about how to apply for Belgium visa at the Belgian consulate in UK, London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Belgium visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Belgium visa application center, flight itinerary for Belgium visa, hotel bookings for Belgium visa, Schengen travel insurance for Belgium visa application, and Belgium Visa Application Process at the London, Edinburgh and Manchester embassy.

Belgium Schengen Visas

In 2018, there were 219,827 Schengen visa applications received worldwide. 36,906 (16.8%) of these were rejected. The Embassy of Belgium in London received 7,129 applications and rejected 353 (5%).

Applying for a Belgium Schengen Visa from the United Kingdom

If you are a British citizen, you do not need a visa to be able to visit Belgium. However, if you are not a British citizen, but you are currently living in the UK on a permanent basis, you do need to apply for a visa to enter and stay in Belgium.

You have to make sure you apply at the right Belgian embassy and consulate. The Embassy of Belgium in London has outsourced visa applications for Belgium to TLS Contact, so you will submit your application to one of their offices located in London, Manchester or Edinburgh depending on where you live in the UK. The embassy still makes the final decision about your visa.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Embassy of Belgium in London

There are different types of visas that you may apply for:

1. Schengen visa – for stays of up to 90 days for tourism, business, visiting family/friends, other family reasons and airport transit. Schengen visas are issued as single, double, or multiple entry
2. National visa – for stays exceeding 90 days for employment, study, family reasons, etc. If you wish to apply for this type of visa, you will also need to apply for a work/residence permit. Check the website of the Immigration Office for further information about National visas. National visas are issued are single or multiple entry.

The visa you choose will depend on 2 things, so you must ensure you apply for the correct one:

1. The duration of your trip
2. The reason you are traveling to Belgium

Schengen Visa Application Process at TLS Contact/the Embassy of Belgium in London

Visa applications are processed within 3 weeks, so you should submit your visa application at least 3 weeks prior to your departure date to allow enough time for processing. However, some applications may take longer and since you can apply up to 90 days ahead, you should apply well in advance – the earlier the better!

Here are a few steps to help you apply for your Belgium visa:

Step 1: Register on Visa on Web and complete your application form       

The first thing you need to do is to register on TLS Contact’s Visa on Web system.

1. Go to TLS Contact’s website and choose the correct office – London, Manchester or Edinburgh
2. Click on: “Visa on Web“
3. Scroll down and click on the link
4. You will need to register as a new user
5. Then, log in
6. Complete and validate the electronic application form
7. As soon as your form is validated, your VOW application form will be sent to your email address
8. Print and sign the form

Step 2: Create a TLS Contact account and book your appointment

Making appointments with the embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below:

The next step is to book an appointment in order to submit your application to TLS Contact

1. Go to TLS Contact’s website and choose the correct office – London, Manchester or Edinburgh
2. Create your account
3. Select a convenient day and time for you to submit your complete application file at the TLScontact centre
4. Don’t forget to print out your appointment confirmation because you need to take it to TLS Contact when you attend your appointment

It is possible to submit your application directly to the embassy in London, but you need to make an appointment by sending an email to london.visa@diplobel.fed.be. However, the procedure will be quicker and easier if you submit your application to TLS Contact.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

If you hand over an incomplete application, it will be rejected, so it’s a good idea to refer to the document checklists on TLS Contact’s website before you start this step.

Original documents AND photocopies must be provided (2 sets for National visas). Foreign documents must also be translated into English and properly legalized.

Documents include:

1. Completed Visa on Web application form
2. Passport valid for at least 3 months after your return to the UK. It must have at least 2 free pages and issued within the last 10 years
   
3. Copy of the passport bio/photo page
4. Valid UK residence permit – should be valid for 3 months past your trip to Belgium
5. 1 x photograph less than 3 months old. See full guidelines for acceptable photos
6. Proof of family ties – marriage or birth certificate and passport of EU national (for EU family members)
7. Proof of status in the UK for employees – letter from your employer
8. Proof of status in the UK for students – letter from your school/university
9. Proof of status in the UK for those that are self-employed – a letter from your accountant
10. Proof of financial means – 3 x bank statements/payslips; credit card with the latest statement; travelers’ checks for €95 per day
    
11. Evidence of the purpose of the trip – full itinerary or details of booked trips/tours
12. Fully booked hotel reservation OR letter of invitation from your host in Belgium along with host’s  ID/passport and/or residence permit in Belgium
13. Fully paid return flight tickets. Note that Embassies in UK may require actual fully paid tickets for the visa application and not the flight reservation based on the jurisdiction you live in. So double check the embassy requirements within your jurisdiction before submitting the documents for visa application.
14. Schengen Travel insurance covering the entire trip for emergency medical care and/or hospital care or death for at least €30,000
15. Parent’s passports and travel authorization letter (for minors)
16. Evidence and details of participation in any type of event
17. Acceptance letter and details of studies to be undertaken from the university in Belgium

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Attend your appointment

On the day of your appointment:

1. Go to the TLS Contact center with your appointment confirmation, your passport and your completed application supporting documents
2. Your application documents will be checked to make sure they are complete and you will receive an acknowledgement that TLS Contact have received them
3. Arrive on time! If you do not attend the scheduled appointment, you will need to book another one online
4. You will pay the service and visa fees

Once the embassy has received your application for processing, you may be called to an interview if they wish to clarify anything and/or they need any further information. They could ask you questions or they could ask you to provide further documentation. Just comply with their requests and provide honest answers to any questions.

Typical questions include:

1. Are you traveling to Belgium or the Schengen area alone?
2. What is your salary?
3. Has your employer permitted you absence of leave?
4. How will you pay for this trip?
5. Can you provide me with a credit/bank statement?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

For each visa application, you will have to pay:

1. Visa fee
2. Service fee
3. Courier fee (if you wish to have your passport returned by mail)

You can pay these fees by credit or debit card (except American Express). If you are submitting your application directly to the embassy, you can pay in cash only. The fees are collected in Pounds Sterling (GBP) and may fluctuate due to currency rates. These fees are non-refundable.

You will also provide a scan of your fingerprints and a photo. If you have previously provided this data within the last 5 years, it can be reused.

Please note, if you have a previous Schengen visa for which the biometric data capture has been taken in the previous 59 months AND you have already received a previous Schengen visa from a Belgian embassy, you may be eligible to send your application to TLS Contact by mail rather than in person.

Please note, your application will be returned to you if:

1. The amount of visa or service fees is not correct
2. You have not included your passport, copy of your UK residency permit, photo, and a completed VisaOnWeb application form as well as all the supporting documents
3. You have not provided biometric data in the last 59 months

Visit TLS Contact’s website for further information on postal applications.

Step 5: Receive your visa

Once you have submitted your application, you have the option of tracking it by:

1. Logging into your TLS Contact account
2. Telephone: +32 2 793 80 00 (Immigration office in Brussels)
3. Email: infodesk@ibz.fgov.be
4. Immigration Office website

You will need your file number which TLS Contact would have given you when you submitted your application.

When a decision has been reached, TLS Contact will send you a text message and you can either collect your passport from their office or have it returned by mail.

The decision will be either:

1. Approved – you will find your Belgium visa inside your passport
2. Rejected – your visa application has been rejected for a reason

Common rejection reasons

1. Invalid/Damaged passport – your passport must be in good condition and valid. If it isn’t, you must obtain a new one before you apply for your visa
2. Birth/marriage certificate not provided – some types of visa applications require you to provide evidence of family ties, for example, if you are meeting your spouse or child in the EU. If this is the case, you need to provide a birth or marriage certificate
3. You have overstayed in the Schengen area in the past – you are permitted to enter and stay in Belgium/the Schengen area for a limited number of days, depending on the visa you have. If you have overstayed in the past, this could affect future visa applications
4. You already have a valid Schengen visa – if you have previously applied for a Schengen visa and it was approved, it may still be valid, so check before you apply for a new one

Contact details for TLS Contact in London

Address: Suite 18, Exhibition House, Ground Floor, Addison Bridge Place, London W14 8XP

Tel: +44 207 605 6744 – Monday to Friday, 8.30 am – 4.30 pm (or you can use the contact form)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30 am – 1.00 pm (for visa applications); 8.30 am – 4.30 pm (for passport returns)

Contact details for TLS Contact in Manchester

Address: The Junction, Quay Side, Salford Quays, Manchester, M50 3SG

Tel: +44 207 605 6744 – Monday to Friday, 8.30 am – 4.30 pm (or you can use the contact form)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30 am – 1.00 pm (for visa applications); 8.30 am – 4.30 pm (for passport returns)

Contact details for TLS Contact in Edinburgh

Address: City West, 4th Floor, 2A Robertson Avenue, Edinburgh, EH11 1PZ

Tel: +44 207 605 6744 – Monday to Friday, 8.30 am – 4.30 pm (or you can use the contact form)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30 am – 1.00 pm (for visa applications); 8.30 am – 1.00 pm (for passport returns)

Contact details for the Embassy of Belgium in London

Address: 17, Grosvenor Crescent, London, SW1X 7EE

Phone: +44 20 7470 3770 (Mondays and Thursdays, 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm)

Email: london@diplobel.fed.be (please note, the embassy prefers to be contacted by email only. Please provide – full name, date of birth and passport number)

Hours: Monday to Friday, 2.00 pm – 4.30 pm (appointments only)

Conclusion

There are just 5 easy steps to follow when you apply for your Belgium Schengen visa:

1. Register on Visa on Web and complete your application
2. Create a TLS Contact account and book an appointment
3. Prepare your documents
4. Attend your appointment
5. Receive your visa

The next step is to start getting exciting about what fun things you’ll be doing in Belgium!

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.

See Also

Apply Schengen Visa From UK

Apply France Visa From UK

Apply Germany Visa From UK

Apply Spain Visa From UK

Apply Italy Visa From UK

Apply Switzerland Visa From UK

Apply Netherlands Visa From UK

Apply Greece Visa From UK

Apply Portugal Visa From UK