How to get a Belgium visa from India

• The short-stay Schengen visa is issued to foreigners who intend to travel to any Schengen state for a short period.
• This visa is referred to as the Type-C Schengen visa.
• Belgium is a Schengen state and the rules for the Schengen visa apply to Belgium visas.
• Travelers on this visa go to Belgium for reasons such as business trips, holiday or to visit relatives.
• For the short-stay visa, the reasons or purposes for travelers' visits would be clearly stated on their visas. The purpose of your trip to Belgium must be plausible and comprehensible.
• Applicants' passports should be valid for at least 6 months beyond their stay in Belgium.
• Passports that contain illegible data cannot be accepted and your passport must not be damaged.
• The short-stay visa is valid for up to 90 days within a 180 day period in Belgium. Your date of entry starts your 180- day period.
• The Schengen visas can be issued for one, two or multiple entries. These entries depend on the visa holder’s reason for travel.
• If you will be leaving and re-entering the Schengen area during your visit, you will need to apply for a double or multiple-entry visa.
• The submission of a visa can be done by the applicant, the travel agent or a third party such as a family member.

• This visa is issued to foreigners who want to stay in Belgium for a period longer than 90 days.
• This visa is referred to as the Type-D Schengen visa or the National visa.
• This visa is issued to foreigners for purposes such as joining a spouse/family member, taking up a job, studying and conducting research.
• To be issued this visa, your reasons must be clearly stated and will be duly indicated on your visa.
• The national visa grants entry to Belgium on the basis that you will be applying for a residence permit.
• It allows you to enter Belgium as a potential resident and stay while you apply for residency.
• You are expected to convert your visa into a residence permit within three months of arriving in Belgium.
• Your visa can only be converted into the corresponding type of residence permit (a visa for work must be converted into a working residence permit).
• As a foreign national, you are not permitted to work in Belgium unless this was expressly stated when applying for a visa.
• Applicants applying for this visa must appear in person at the embassy for their biometrics registration. They would also be required to have a live digital photo.
• Applicants are required to submit a police report stating that they have no criminal record in India.
• Note that your passports must be valid for 12 months and applications should be made within 3 months of the proposed date of arrival into Belgium.

• Foreigners intending to make short stops in Belgium can do so with this visa.
• This visa allows foreigners to alight from an airplane in a Belgian airport and board another flight going to their destination.
• Flight tickets of your destination country should be presented during the visa application.
• The visa of your destination country must be provided.
• If you are under the age of 18, the unabridged original copy of your birth certificate should be provided.
• Previously convicted foreigners may be refused entry into the country.
• Receipt of payment of visa application fee is required.
• You are not allowed to study while you are in the country.
• Proof that you have the incentive to return to your country after your visa has expired is required.
• The visa is valid for 5 days.
• You are required to exit the country before the expiry of your visa.
• There is no extension to the transit visa.

Yes, it is highly important that applicants schedule an appointment with the Belgium embassy or consulate in India. It is only after this that they would be allowed to submit an application.

Belgium is probably one of the safest countries in Europe. However, petty crimes such as muggings, bag snatching, and pick-pocketing are common in tourist areas, so it's important to use common sense when outside.