Belgium visa requirements for Malians

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Malians visiting Belgium

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

  • Completed and signed visa application form.
  • An original Malian passport valid for at least 3 months after exiting Belgium. It must have at least two blank pages for visa stamps.
  • Two identical passport-sized photographs that meet the Belgium visa photo specification.
  • Flight reservation for Belgium and return ticket to Mali.
  • Ticket to a third country if you're not returning to Mali is required.
  • Proof of accommodation which could be a hotel reservation or an invitation letter from your host in Belgium.
  • Valid medical insurance with a minimum cover of €30,000.
  • Proof of financial sustenance in Belgium.
  • All documents should either be in English, French, Dutch or German.
  • A cover letter detailing the purpose and duration of your trip.
  • You will be required to provide proof of civil status to show you have the incentive to return to Mali.
  • A letter of no objection from the appropriate authority is also needed. This could be a letter from your employer if employed or your school if you're a student.
  • Minors are required to submit their original birth certificate along with a consent form signed by both parents.

Belgium Visa for Malians

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 Duration of study
Work visa 15 working days More than 90 days

General Requirements for Belgium Visa

  • Completed and signed visa application form.
  • An original Malian passport valid for at least 3 months after exiting Belgium. It must have at least two blank pages for visa stamps.
  • Two identical passport-sized photographs that meet the Belgium visa photo specification.
  • Flight reservation for Belgium and return ticket to Mali.
  • Ticket to a third country if you're not returning to Mali is required.
  • Proof of accommodation which could be a hotel reservation or an invitation letter from your host in Belgium.
  • Valid medical insurance with a minimum cover of €30,000.
  • Proof of financial sustenance in Belgium.
  • All documents should either be in English, French, Dutch or German.
  • A cover letter detailing the purpose and duration of your trip.
  • You will be required to provide proof of civil status to show you have the incentive to return to Mali.
  • A letter of no objection from the appropriate authority is also needed. This could be a letter from your employer if employed or your school if you're a student.
  • Minors are required to submit their original birth certificate along with a consent form signed by both parents.
Belgium Tourist visa Belgium Business visa Belgium Student visa Belgium Work visa

Belgium Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is for people traveling from Mali to Belgium for recreation, sightseeing and relaxation purposes. 
  • You can also attend festivals and visit loved ones in Belgium with this visa.
  • If you have a valid Schengen visa, you can visit Belgium. 
  • You are to submit valid medical insurance which has a minimum coverage of €30,000 from an approved insurance company.
  • You are required to present proof of accommodation which could be an invitation letter from your host in Belgium or a hotel reservation. The invitation letter should have details of your trip, the home address and telephone number of your host in the country.
  • You cannot be a student in any of the schools in Belgium with this visa.
  • A letter from your current employer in Mali is required. This letter will serve as proof that your employer is aware of your leave of absence for the duration of your trip.
  • Documentation showing you have the incentive of returning to Mali is important.
  • Holders of the tourist visa are not paid for the services they render while they are in the country.
  • During your time in the country, you are not allowed to seek public funds.
  • If you are retired, proof of retirement funds should be presented.
  • You should apply no later than 15 working days before the intended trip date.
  • The visa is eligible for a stay of 90 days and is usually processed in about 15 working days.
  • This visa costs €60 for 12 years and above, €35 for children between 6-11 and is free for children under 6.

Belgium Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The business visa is for Malians traveling to Belgium for business-related activities.
  • With this visa, you can meet up with partners in Belgium to negotiate and sign business contracts.
  • You must provide a letter of introduction from your company in Mali explaining its commercial activities, your position, and the purpose of the trip.
  • You will also need to present an invitation letter from the company in Belgium detailing the purpose of your visit and whoever will be responsible for your expenses in the country. This letter must be in either French, Dutch, German or English and must be written on the company's letterhead.
  • If there's been any previous business relationship with the Belgian company, you are required to provide documentation validating this.
  • Photocopy of memorandum and article of association of the Belgian company should be submitted. A copy of the business registration and trade license should be submitted as well.
  • You cannot seek public funds with this visa while in the country.
  • You are expected to exit Belgium before the expiration of your visa.
  • This visa is usually processed in about 15 working days so you should apply no later than 15 working days before the intended trip date.
  • The visa is eligible for a stay of 90 days and it costs €60 for 12 years and above, €35 for children between 6-11 and is free for children under 6.

Belgium Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The student visa is for those traveling to Belgium to study in a Belgian learning institution.
  • All official documents are to be legalized consecutively by the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Belgium.
  • All documents submitted for this visa application must contain original and 2 clear photocopies for application.
  • Your passport should be valid for at least 15 months and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamps.
  • 3 recent passport-sized photographs are needed for the application.
  • You must have been offered admission into a learning institution and you are required to present relevant documentation to that effect.
  • You will also need to show proof that you satisfy the conditions for access to studying in Belgium. This proof could be academic results or previously obtained learning certificates.
  • As an international student, you will need to apply for a national long-stay visa which allows you to stay longer than 90 days in Belgium.
  • A recent medical certificate stating you do not carry any diseases that may endanger public health (such as TB, diseases that require quarantine and other infectious diseases) is also required.
  • Proof of financial sustenance for the entire stay in Belgium is needed. This proof could be a recent bank statement, letter attesting sponsorship and a valid ID of your sponsor.
  • For scholarships, you're required to provide to show documents that validate your scholarship offer.
  • An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses in Belgium is required.
  • You can work part-time when school is in session and full-time when the school is on a break as long as it does not affect your studies.
  • This visa can be extended to cover the duration of your study in the country.
  • A certificate of good conduct not more than 6 months to the date of the application is required to show you have not been convicted for any crimes. 
  • The visa costs €180.

Belgium Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is for travelers visiting Belgium to work there.
  • With this visa, you can take up paid employment.
  • You are required to provide a letter of invitation from your employer in Belgium stating that you have been employed.
  • You will also need to apply for a work permit while applying for this visa. This work permit could be applied for by your employer.
  • There are three types of work permit in Belgium: The C, B and A permits.
  • C permit is valid for all professions and all employers. It is valid for a limited time and must be renewed yearly.
  • B permit is valid for one employer and runs for one year, after which it can be renewed (by the same employer, usually for the same job or job classification). If you change employers, your new employer must apply for a new B permit. You may find that you have to return to Mali and re-apply for a residence visa before you can start your new job! Once you have renewed a B permit four or more times, i.e. you have lived and worked in Belgium for four years on the same permit, you will get an unlimited A permit.
  • An A permit allows you to work for any employer in Belgium for an unlimited period of time. These permits are issued only to foreigners that have lived and worked in Belgium for four years on a B permit and those with ten years of uninterrupted legal residence in the country.
  • The B permit is the standard form of work permit for most foreigners.
  • You are required to present a certificate of good health and three passport-size photos, along with a copy of the proposed employment contract to the Ministry of Labour in Belgium through your employer.
  • Before issuing the work permit, the Ministry of Labour must confirm that there is no Belgian or other EU national who can fill the position and they may send your employer candidates for the job from their lists of Belgians drawing unemployment benefit.
  • In the case of managerial positions, the permit is usually granted with little or no question. It can take up to 12 weeks for a B permit to be granted.
  • If you are traveling with your spouse, your original marriage certificate should be provided during the visa application process.
  • This visa does not allow you to study in the country.
  • You are required to obey all the rules of this visa during your time in the country.
  • The processing time for this visa is usually 15 working days.
  • The visa costs €180.

Belgium Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Tourist visa

60.00 (EUR)

Business visa

60.00 (EUR)

Student visa

180.00 (EUR)

Work visa

180.00 (EUR)

Belgium Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Mali

Location

Address

Bamako

Rue 247 Port e 209 - Quartier Hippodrome, BP E1633, Bamako, Mali.

Bamako.coop@diplbel.org

(+223) 2219622

Frequently Asked Questions

What currency is spent in Belgium?

Belgium has the euro (€) as its sole currency like most European countries and it is easy to exchange foreign currencies while in Belgium.


What Belgian dishes can I try while in the country?
Belgians love to eat and the country is known for its good cuisine. Some of the Belgian dishes you could try are Mussels, Balletjes, Frikadellen met krieken, Stoemp, Stoofvlees, Konijn met pruimen and Witloof met kaassaus.
Can I visit Belgium with only knowledge of English?
You can only get by in Belgium with just English if you are visiting Flanders or only interacting with the younger Belgian generation as they widely speak and understand the English language. The official languages of Belgium are Dutch, French, and German.
Is it safe to travel to Belgium?
Belgium is generally a safe country to visit and Belgians are very receptive to visitors. Certain neighborhoods in Brussels, as well as the port and docks on the outer edge of Antwerp, might not always be safe for a visit, especially at night. For travelers landing in Charleroi and Liège, it is worth noting that those regions boast the highest crime rates in Southern Belgium. Travelers are generally advised to observe general caution in the country. The emergency number in Belgium is 112.