Belgium Visa From Philippines – How to Apply for Belgian Schengen Visa Application Requirements Guide

Of all the 26 Schengen countries, Belgium is an exciting country to visit. Wander around the city and you will find lots of little alleyways to explore and some cute bars and restaurants which sell lovely food and drink. Head further afield to Bruges and you will be delighted by the pretty canals and bridges! In this article, learn more about how to apply for a Belgium visa from the Philippines, Belgium visa appointment booking, processing time at the Belgium visa application centre, flight itinerary for a Belgium visa, hotel bookings for a Belgium visa, Schengen travel insurance for a Belgium visa application, and Belgium visa application process in the Philippines.

Source: pikist

Belgium Schengen Visas

In 2019, 248,021 visa applications for Belgium were received and 46,649 were rejected. The embassy in Manila dealt with 6,884 applications and rejected 522.

Applying for a Schengen Visa from the Philippines

If you are a citizen of the Philippines, you will need to apply for a visa to be able to enter and stay in Belgium. It’s easy to apply. All you need to do is gather the documents you need and submit them to VFS Global in Manila. Your application will be processed by the Belgium Embassy in Manila. You should NOT send your application directly to the embassy.

You can apply up to 3 months before your departure date, so make sure you apply in plenty of time. Applications generally take around 15 days to be processed.

It may look like this is a difficult process but, don’t worry, this article will explain everything!

Types of Schengen visas offered at VFS Global/the Belgium Embassy in Manila

There are different visas for different purposes of travel, therefore, the one you will apply for will depend on why you wish to go to Belgium.

Visas are categorized into short-stay and long-stay:

Short-stay

1. Visa for tourism (visa C)
2. Visa for family visit or private invitation (visa C)
3. Visa for business, cultural or sports event, official purpose (visa C)
4. Visa for student (visa C)
5. Visa for seafarers (visa C)
6. Visa for cohabitation (visa C)
7. Visa for marriage (visa C)

Long-stay

1. Visa for family reunion with Belgian spouse (visa D)
2. Visa for family reunion with non-EU spouse (visa D)
3. Visa for reunion with children with one Belgian parent (visa D)
4. Visa for family reunion for children with non-EU parent (visa D)
5. Visa for work permit (visa D)
6. Visa for au-pair (visa D)
7. Visa for student (visa D)

As you can see, there are many types of visa, so you must be sure which one you need before you apply.

1. Visa C will permit you to stay in Belgium for up to 90 days
2. Visa D will permit you to stay in Belgium for over 90 days

If you are not sure, the Belgium embassy’s website has links to the different visas which will give you more information about each one. Alternatively, you can find this information on VFS Global’s website. This is the first step in applying for your visa (see below):

If you are going to Belgium on holiday, then you would apply for; Visa for tourism (visa C).

How Can I Apply for a Schengen Visa from VFS Global in the Philippines?

Once you know the visa you will be applying for, go to VFS Global’s website and click on: “How to Apply”:

You will then see a series of steps you will need to follow:

1. Step 1 – Know your visa
2. Step 2 – Complete your application form
3. Step 3 – Make an appointment
4. Step 4 – Prepare your documents and submit them to the visa application center
5. Step 5 – Collect your passport

Step 2 – Complete your application form

As you have already completed the first step (see above), the next step is to complete your application form. You will need to do this online, so on this page, click on the link:

You will need to create an account first:

Then, you will be able to log in and complete your application. Make sure you print and sign it before submitting it!

Step 3 – Make an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate or visa application centre 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, the 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.

1. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on “Schedule an appointment”
2. Click on the link
3. Click “here” to access the appointment system
4. Create an account and log in
5. Make an appointment on a day that’s convenient for you

Step 4 – Prepare your documents

This step is very important and you must get it right! If you fail to submit everything that is required, it could delay your application or it could be denied!

You should also prepare photocopies as well as providing the original documents, so don’t forget to do that too!

Documents include:

1. Application form – completed fully and signed
   
2. Passport – valid for at least 3 months after the end date of your trip
3. Copy of passport data page with all pages that have visas and stamps
4. 1 x passport photograph not older than 6 months on a white background
5. Proof of travel – roundtrip airline ticket reservation
6. Proof of travel insurance with a minimum cover of EUR 30,000, be valid in all the Schengen countries and to cover the entire duration of the trip
7. Proof of financial means – bank and/or credit card statements for the last six months
8. Proof of occupation – certificate of employment and certificate of leave of absence, registration of business and/or income tax return, financial statements, proof of enrolment and certificate of leave of absence
9. Marriage certificate
10. Birth certificate
11. Alien Certificate of Registration and re-entry permit – for non-Filipino residents
12. Proof of accommodation – hotel reservation
13. Proof of transportation – train tickets, domestic flights or car rental
14. Travel itinerary to show details of day-to-day planned trips
15. Proof of relationship – invitation letter and host’s passport
16. Proof of sponsorship
17. Proof of legal guardianship, parental consent (for minors)

Remember! Different visas require different documents, so take time to look at the checklist (s) before you apply!

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

Submitting your documents

On the day of your scheduled appointment, arrive at the visa application center early. If you miss your appointment, you may have to reschedule. Most importantly, remember to take everything with you!

You will also pay the visa fee and provide biometric data.

Visa fees

You will pay the visa fee when you submit your documents at the visa application center. These fees are non-refundable and must be paid in Pesos in cash only.

As part of the visa application process, you may have to attend an interview at the embassy if they need more information from you. They may ask you questions about your application.

Typical questions include:

1. Are you planning on working in Belgium?
2. Who are you going to stay with?
3. Do you have children?
4. Have you ever been to Belgium before?

Don’t worry if this happens, all you need to do is answer the questions clearly and truthfully.

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

Step 5 – Collect your passport

Once you have submitted your visa application, you can track its progress by going to VFS Global’s website and clicking on: “Track your application”:

Then, key in your reference number and last name and you will be able to find out what stage your application is at:

Once a decision has been reached, your passport will be returned to VFS Global and you can collect it in person or have it returned via courier.

The decision will be either:

1. Approved – your visa will be attached inside your passport
2. Rejected – this would be for a specific reason

Visa applications can be rejected for any number of reasons including:

1. Your passport is out of date – if your passport is not valid, you must get a new one before applying for a visa
2. Invitation letter missing – if you are being invited to Belgium by a person or a company, you must provide an invitation letter as part of your application
3. No proof of accommodation – you must provide proof of where you will be staying for your entire trip

How to contact VFS Global:

VFS Office Address: Belgium Visa Application Centre, Ground Floor, Ecoplaza Bldg., Don Chino Roces Ave., Makati City, Metro Manila, 1231 Philippines

Phone: + 63 2 8790 4908

Email: info.beph@vfshelpline.com

Hours:

Appointments: Monday – Thursday, 09.00 – 14.00

Passport Collection: Monday – Thursday, 14.00 – 16.00

To apply for a Belgium visa from the Belgium Embassy in Manila, follow these simple steps:

1. Step 1 – Know your visa
2. Step 2 – Complete your application form
3. Step 3 – Make an appointment
4. Step 4 – Prepare your documents and submit them to the visa application center
5. Step 5 – Collect your passport
6. Step 6 is counting down the days until you fly to 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

How to Apply for Schengen Visa from Philippines

How to Apply for Austria Schengen Visa from Philippines