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BELGIUM EMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS
IMMIGRATION INFORMATION
| One of the most important things for any travellers and yet forgotten by thousands of ardent travellers every year your passport is one thing you simply can’t leave home without. As well as remembering to take it with you, however, you also need to ensure that your current passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date of your return to your home country. You should also take at least two photocopies of the pages containing your photo and any other important information. Carry one on your person and one somewhere safe or if you’re really clever you could e-mail a copy to yourself or save it onto a floppy disk so you can access it at any time.
Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
You should also find out where your embassy is in the country to which you are travelling as this will come in very handy for genuine emergencies. For example if you need to return home urgently or lose important documents or passports, your embassy should be able to help you out pretty quickly. 
| VISA APPLICATIONS AND PASSPORTS | | | | | Note | | Belgium is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement. | | | Passports | | Passport valid for at least 3 months after period of intended stay required by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of EU countries in possession of a national ID card;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Liechtenstein, Malta, Monaco, San Marino and Switzerland in possession of a national ID card. | | | Visas | | Required by all except the following for stays of up to 3 months:
(a) nationals referred to in the chart above;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Korea (Rep. of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Macau (SAR), Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela for a stay of up to 3 months. | | | Types of visa and cost | | A uniform type of visa, the Schengen visa, is issued for tourist, business and private visits. There are three main types of Schengen visa: Short-stay (Tourist and Business), Transit and Airport transit. Prices depend on type of visa and prevalent rate of exchange but range between $10 and $45. | | | Note | | Spouses and children (under 18 years) of EU nationals receive their visas free of charge (enquire at Embassy for details). The original marriage certificate, the spouse's passport and the birth certificate(s) for the child/children must be produced. | | | Validity | | Short-stay (single- and multiple-entry): usually valid for 6 months from date of issue for stays of maximum 30 or 90 days per entry. Transit (single- and multiple-entry): valid for a maximum of 5 days per entry, including the day of arrival. Visas cannot be extended and a new application must be made each time. | | | Application to | | Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy). Travellers visiting just one Schengen country should apply to the Consulate of that country; travellers visiting more than one Schengen country should apply to the Consulate of the country chosen as the main destination or the country they will enter first (if they have no main destination). The following nationals must always apply in person before a visa can be processed; Albania, Algeria, China (PR), CIS, Congo (Dem. Rep. of), Cuba, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Slovak Republic, Sudan, Surinam, Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen. | | | Application requirements | | (a) Passport or official travel documents valid for at least 3 months after proposed stay with blank pages to affix visa stamp. (b) 1 application form. (c) 1 passport-size photo. (d) Evidence of sufficient funds to cover stay. (e) Proof of purpose of stay such as a letter of invitation from a host in Belgium, a return ticket or hotel booking. (f) Letter from employer or from solicitor or bank manager if self-employed. If a student, letter from school or college confirming attendance. (g) Stamped, self-addressed registered envelope for postal applications. (h) Fee (payable by postal order only). (i) Return ticket(s) to country of residence for some nationalities. | | | Working days required | | 24 hours to 4 weeks, depending on nationality and resident status, and whether applying by post or in person. Certain nationals must apply in person (contact Consulate or Consular section at Embassy for further details). | | | Temporary residence | | Persons wishing to take up temporary residence should make a special application to the Belgian Embassy. | | | Addresses | | Office de Promotion du Tourisme Wallonie-Bruxelles | | (Belgian Tourist Office - Brussels & Ardennes)
63 rue du Marche-aux-Herbes, B-1000 Brussels
Tel: (2) 504 0390. Fax: (2) 504 0270. E-mail: info@opt.be
Website: http://belgique-tourisme.net/ | | | | Toerisme Vlaanderen | | (Tourism Flanders-Brussels)
Grasmarkt 61, B-1000, Brussels
Tel: (2) 504 0300 or 504 0390. Fax: (2) 513 8803.
E-mail: info@toerismevlaanderen.be
Website: http://visitflanders.com/ | | | | Brussels International - Tourism and Congress | | Hotel de Ville, Grand-Place, B-1000 Brussels
Tel: (2) 513 8940. Fax: (2) 513 8320. E-mail: tourism.brussels@tib.be
Website: http://tib.be/ | | |
| | | Help to Visa Application Forms.
How to find the right one(s)? Understand that we cannot provide forms, since this specific topic is too complex for a implementation in our websites.
Each country uses its own specific application formulars for tourists, residents and/or workers.
There are no general or multipurpose formulars for each country.
Anyway you may search the needed forms in the Internet by using the search engines like,
Altavista, Yahoo, Google, DMOZ, AOL, MSN, Lycos, Teoma.
Search examples:
Type your query and set - of course - for 'COUNTRY' the real country name you are looking for ...
... and good luck! Important remark: the [ + ] and [ " ] will reduce the number of the search results anyway.
Type exactly like examples below or you copy and paste the search strings: If your search was successful, visit the consulate's, governments' or embassies' websites first.
As per our investigation experiences most of the downloadable form sheets you'll find are built in PDF for Adobe's Acrobat™ Reader.
PASSPORT APPLICATIONS, RENEWALS Applying for a Passport You should apply for your passport several months in advance of your planned departure, making sure you fill in the dates of your upcoming trip in the appropriate place on the application. If you'll need visas from foreign embassies (find out by checking foreign entry requirements for the country you'll visit, allow more time. (It's very important to check those requirements. Imagine how disappointed you'd be if you were turned back on the day of your departure because your passport expires in three months and the country you're visiting requires it to be valid at least six months AFTER you return home! Also check on immunization requirements -- you may need to be inoculated before you can enter a country!) As a rule, it takes about 25 business days to process your passport application and get the document sent to you. Something to think about: Lines are longest at passport agencies from January to July, resulting in longer waiting times for applicants. You might want to avoid the crowds by applying through a nearby clerk of court or post office that accepts passport applications. Lost or Stolen Passport Losing your passport -- especially if you're in a foreign country -- can be scary. It's the most important item you carry with you, so it's best to keep it someplace secure (like in a money pouch you wear under your clothes). Another safety measure you can take is to make two photocopies of the photo ID page of your passport. Leave one at home with family or friends and keep the other in a different place from your passport, perhaps buried in the bottom of checked luggage. This could make all the difference in getting you on your flight home in the event that your passport is lost or stolen. It also makes getting it replaced much easier. Can I Have My Old Passport Back?
Yes! Most people view their passports as important memorabilia and are eager to get them back. That's why your previous passport, marked "canceled," will be returned to you with your new one.
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This is a forum which gives people the opportunity to exchange information about travelling, as well as discuss various topics of interest. | | Health | | Travel Health Care Plans - Travel safely to your favourite Destination. | | Driving Directions | | General Driving Rules - Driving Information, Restrictions and Safety. | | External Links | | Internet Cafe Directory | | Travel Resources - Provided by our visitors. | | Hotel Reservations | | Tour Bookings | | More useful Tips for Travellers | | Make sure you have a signed, valid passport and visa, if required. Also, before you go, fill in the emergency information page of your passport! Read the Consular Information Sheets (and Public Announcements or Travel Warnings, if applicable) for the countries you plan to visit. Leave copies of your itinerary, passport data page and visas with family or friends at home, so that you can be contacted in case of an emergency. Make sure you have insurance, which will cover your emergency medical needs, while you are overseas. Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs of the countries to which you are traveling. Remember, while in a foreign country, you are subject to its laws! Do not leave your luggage unattended in public areas and never accept packages from strangers. While abroad, avoid using illicit drugs or drinking excessive amounts of alcoholic beverages, and associating with people who do. Do not become a target for thieves by wearing conspicuous clothing and expensive jewelry and do not carry excessive amounts of cash or unnecessary credit cards. Deal only with authorized agents when you exchange money or purchase art or antiques in order to avoid violating local laws. When overseas, avoid demonstrations and other situations that may become unruly. |  | | Travel-Island.com 2004, 2008 . Weather Channel | | |
