Belgium visa requirements for Ethiopians

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Ethiopians visiting Belgium

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Belgian Visa.

  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • 2 recently taken passport-size photographs, taken with a light background and conforming fully to the Belgium visa photo requirements specifications.
  • An original passport with at least two blank pages, valid for at least three months beyond your intended return date, is required. 
  • A round-trip reservation or itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry into and exit from Belgium.
  • Travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 within Belgium and the entire Schengen Area to cover for expenses for personal accident, urgent medical treatment or any other medical emergencies.
  • A cover letter, including your itinerary, stating the purpose of your visit to Belgium.
  • Proof of accommodation for the entire duration of your stay in Belgium.
  • Proof of financial sufficiency for your travel expenses.
  • Proof of paid visa fee. €60 for adults and €35 for children from 6 to 12 years old.

Belgium Visa for Ethiopians

Facts about Belgium

Belgium is a prime tourist site due to its historical landmark, modern architecture and rural idylls. Also, the country is visited by a lot of business tourists. The country is also famous for its long traditions in arts, fashion, and its cuisine. Tourists in the country can be guaranteed of a very good time as there are a lot of things to see all over the city and activities like hiking, biking and camping to engage in. While in the country, there are various festivals to attend at different periods throughout the year. Mussels, Balletjes, Stoemp, Waffles, and other special Belgian delicacies will leave you asking for more, be sure to try these cuisines out.
 
Tourism in Belgium has been on the up since 2009. The number of visitors who visited Belgium in 2009 was just over 12 million which increased to 16 million in 2017. It has been estimated that these numbers will continue to increase in the years to come. The tourism industry generates about 2.8% of Belgium’s gross domestic product and employs about 3.3% of the working population.
 
Foreigners are not allowed to enter or leave the country with more €10,000 or its equivalent in any currency. Avoid wearing expensive jewellery and watches as this may attract petty criminals to you.

Types of Belgium Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Tourist visa 15 working days 90 days
Business visa 15 working days 90 days
Student visa 15 working days More than 90 days

General Requirements for Belgium Visa

  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • 2 recently taken passport-size photographs, taken with a light background and conforming fully to the Belgium visa photo requirements specifications.
  • An original passport with at least two blank pages, valid for at least three months beyond your intended return date, is required. 
  • A round-trip reservation or itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry into and exit from Belgium.
  • Travel medical insurance with a minimum coverage of €30,000 within Belgium and the entire Schengen Area to cover for expenses for personal accident, urgent medical treatment or any other medical emergencies.
  • A cover letter, including your itinerary, stating the purpose of your visit to Belgium.
  • Proof of accommodation for the entire duration of your stay in Belgium.
  • Proof of financial sufficiency for your travel expenses.
  • Proof of paid visa fee. €60 for adults and €35 for children from 6 to 12 years old.
Belgium Tourist visa Belgium Business visa Belgium Student visa

Belgium Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians who intend to visit Belgium for vacation, sightseeing, tourism or other leisure activities are eligible to apply for a short-stay tourist visa. The tourist visa also permits you to visit friends and relatives residing in Belgium.
  • If you are visiting friends or relatives in Belgium, you need to obtain a letter of invitation from them showing their home address and telephone number, and the relationship between you and your host.
  • Without a host in Belgium, you should submit a cover letter stating the purpose of your visit, places you intend to visit while in Belgium and how long you intend to stay in the country.
  • A visa application form must be fully completed and signed before submission. You are advised to crosscheck for any errors and adhere strictly to the submission guideline so as not to delay the processing of your visa application.
  • The tourist visa also allows its holder to attend social and cultural events, as well as festivals, in Belgium.
  • As proof that you intend to return to your country of origin, you are required to present your confirmed travel itinerary showing entry and exit dates to/from Belgium as well as the flight numbers.
  • If you are employed, you must provide proof of your employment by submitting your employment contract (signed by both you and your employer), your bank account statements of the last six months and your income tax return.
  • You must also provide a leave letter from your employer excusing you from work for the entire duration you intend to stay in Belgium.
  • You must provide proof that you can cater to your financial needs for the entire duration of your stay in Belgium [that means comfortably spending at least €106 ( about $118) per day] by sending copies of your bank account statements from the last six months. You can also submit a sponsorship letter if someone else intends to sponsor your trip.
  • The tourist visa does not permit its holder to work in Belgium or to receive payment for any services rendered.
  • Minors should provide the original copy of their birth certificate. If they are travelling with one parent, a document of consent allowing the child to travel to Belgium with one parent, signed by the other parent, must be presented.

Belgium Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians who intend to travel to Belgium for business purposes are eligible to apply for the Belgian business visa. This is a short-stay visa that permits a stay of no longer than 90 days within a 180-day period in the Schengen Area.
  • The business visa permits you to attend business meetings, trade fairs and to take part in conferences and sign contracts with partner companies in Belgium.
  • 2 passport-size photographs should be submitted with your duly completed and signed visa application form. The passport photos should be taken with a white background and must be at least six months old.
  • Your Ethiopian passport or other travel documents used for your visa application must be valid. Your passport must contain at least two blank pages and have a validity of not less than three months from the date you intend to leave Belgium.
  • You are required to provide proof of a hotel reservation for the entire duration of your stay in Belgium.
  • A copy of your return flight ticket to your country of origin should also be submitted as proof that you intend to return to your country of origin once your visa expires.
  • You are also required to obtain a letter of invitation from the partner company/organisation in Belgium. This letter must state the purpose of your visit and who will take care of your expenses (your company or the partner company) while in the Netherlands.
  • If there exist previous trade relations between your company and the partner company in Belgium, you are required to provide proof of this. This could be bills of lading, customs clearance, receipts of payment or any similar documents.
  • You are required to submit a letter of introduction from your company explaining its commercial activities, your position in the company,  the purpose of your travel to Belgium and who is financing it.
  • Please note that as a business traveller, you are not allowed to seek public funds while in the country nor can they receive payment for any services rendered while they are in Belgium.
  • You should submit your visa application in person as your biometric data will be collected at the point of submission.

Belgium Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Ethiopians who intend to travel to Belgium to study for a period longer than 3 months require a Belgium long-stay visa.
  • You are required to fill two visa application forms.
  • 2 passport photos (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm) should also be submitted. The photos must be taken with a bright background and clearly show your face.
  • A valid passport or other valid travel documents, as well as a photocopy of the first page, should be submitted. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the end of your trip.
  • The passport must have at least two blank consecutive pages and not be older than 10 years.
  • You have to show that you have sufficient financial means to support yourself for the duration of your stay in Belgium. This must cover your healthcare, living, studying and accommodation costs as well as your return ticket to your country of origin after your study ends.
  • You are required to submit a medical certificate stating that you have no disease (such as tuberculosis or other infectious diseases) that may be a danger to public health.
  • For applicants over 21 years of age, you are required to submit a police certificate of good conducts showing that you have no prior convictions.
  • You are also required to show proof that you have been accepted to study in a Belgian educational institution. You must have this before you can apply for a student visa for Belgium.
  • The proof of acceptance must state the full-time course you will be studying.
  • Your Ethiopian school leaving certificate and school reports of the last 4 years of schooling must also be submitted.
  • You are required to go to the local municipal administration within 8 days of your arrival in Belgium. You will be issued a residence permit which will allow you to stay in Belgium for the duration of your study.

Belgium Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Tourist visa

60.00 (EUR)

Business visa

60.00 (EUR)

Student visa

210.00 (EUR)

Belgium Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Ethiopia

Location

Address

Addis Ababa

Comoros Street, Yeka Kifle-Ketema, Kebele 08, P.O. Box 1239, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

www.diplomatie.be/addisababa

addisababa@diplobel.fed.be

(+251) 11 662 34 20; (+251) 11 661 18 13

Frequently Asked Questions

How many times can I use my Belgium tourist visa?

The Belgian short-stay visa is a single-entry visa that allows you to enter the Schengen Area once. This means that you are allowed to travel to any country within the Schengen Area while your visa is still valid but once you leave the Schengen Area, you will need to reapply for a visa to enter Belgium again. You may, however, apply for a multiple-entry visa if you intend to travel to the Schengen Territory more than once within 6 months.

What language is spoken in Belgium?

The official language in Belgium is Dutch and it is spoken by more than half of the population. You may also find French speakers in the country and an even smaller number of the population that speak German.

What currency can I spend in Belgium?

As a member of the Schengen Area, the euro is the official currency in Belgium. You are advised to exchange your local currency for the euro before leaving your home country. You may also use private exchange bureaus in the city centres in Belgium. Major credit/debit cards are also widely accepted for payment in Belgian shops.

Can I work in Belgium with a tourist visa?

Visitors in Belgium are not allowed to take up paid employment without a work permit. If you are a student with a valid residence permit, you may work for up to 20 hours per week during school session or full-time when school is on break.