How to get a Belgium visa from Nigeria

• Belgium visa requirements are similar to other Schengen countries since Belgium is also a part of the Schengen region of Europe.
• This means that you can travel to Belgium with same Schengen visa that you would use for the 25 other countries of the region.
• The Schengen visa allows barrier-free travel between all its member states, however, if you want to apply for a visa through the Belgium embassy, you need to be sure whether you are either going to spend most of your travel time in Belgium or you intend to enter other Schengen regions through a Belgian city. This information will be asked of you during your visa interview.
• Apart from the general Schengen visa requirements, there are several other visa requirements that are unique to just Belgium. The requirements vary from one category of visitor to another.
• The tourist visa is meant for travelers looking to visit Belgium for less than 90 days for the sole purpose of tourism.
• Applicants of this visa need to submit an invitation letter (with address and phone numbers) of the family member or host in Belgium.
• A bank statement from the last 6 months is also needed. This is to prove that you have enough financial means to support yourself throughout your stay in Belgium.
• The Belgian tourist visa does not serve study purposes. You cannot be enrolled in any of the institutions of learning in the country.

• Nigerians traveling to Belgium for business will need to secure a business visa first.
• You will need to provide a letter from the Belgian company you will be visiting. This letter will also contain their detailed address, accompanied with the date and actual purpose of your trip.
• If the intention is to attend a meeting or seminar, confirmation/invitation from the conference organizer/institution is required.
• The invitation letter must also mention how the expenses of the applicant is going to be covered during his/her travel. It must be made clear whether it will be sponsored by the employer or the local company.
• In most cases, you will also need to submit a ‘no-objection’ letter. This letter is required to validate your current status and assure the embassy that your have permission to travel. A no objection letter is typically obtained from your employer or school authorities.
• If you are employed, you will have to present a certificate from your employer stating or allowing your business travel.
• Your bank statement from the last 6 months is needed. Self-employed people will submit proof of business registration.
• You cannot be gainfully employed while you are in the country with this visa.
• Having a visa does not necessarily mean you will be allowed to enter Belgium. Upon checking your documents, the Belgian border officer will give the final decision whether you should be permitted to enter Belgium or not.
• If everything looks okay, you will be allowed to enter Belgium, and thus the Schengen Area. Make sure the Belgian border officer gives you an entry stamp in your passport when you enter Belgium. Without a stamp, you could be fined or detained in Belgium.

• Applicants intending to study in a Belgian institution, conduct research or even undergo some kind of educational training and internship are eligible for a student visa.
• All the information concerning Belgian visa applications can be found on the website of the Foreigners Department of the Federal Public Service (FPS) for Home Affairs, available to read in French, Dutch and English.
• As an international student, you’ll need to apply for a national long-stay visa (D visa), which allows you to stay longer than 90 days in Belgium.
• The Belgium student visa is granted to only students who have already been accepted for admission by a recognized higher educational institute in Belgium.
• Citizens of certain countries are exempted from the visa requirement provided that the duration of their stay in Belgium is not more than three months.
• The student visa must be obtained before entry into the country. To be eligible for a Belgium student visa, you must provide proof of being enrolled as a full-time student in one of Belgium’s institutions for higher education.
• You must also provide proof of full payment of tuition fee for the course. Your medical insurance must cover the total number of days you will be staying in Belgium as a student.
• The insurance must be valid for all Schengen countries for a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000.
• As a student, you must be able to provide proof that you have sufficient income to live in Belgium without needing income support. You should provide proof you have enough money to cover your healthcare, living, study and accommodation costs as well as the cost of your return ticket. This can be in the form of a certificate stating you have received a grant or scholarship, an agreement of financial responsibility from your sponsor, or your personal bank statement showing sufficient funds.
• A medical certificate stating you don’t carry any diseases that may endanger public health (such as TB, diseases that require quarantine and other infectious diseases) is also required.

• If you’re planning on taking a job in Belgium, you need to get a work permit first.
• Non-EU nationals must have a work permit, usually applied for by their potential employer, in order to be legally entitled to work in the country.
• Generally, you need to have a work permit before you can apply for a long-stay visa in Belgium.
• There are three types of work permit in Belgium:
• A C permit is valid for all professions and all employers. It is valid for a limited time, and must be renewed each year.
• A 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 your home country and re-apply for a residence visa before you can start your new job! Once you’ve renewed a B permit four or more times, i.e. have lived and worked in Belgium for four years on the same permit, you can receive 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 any foreigner who has lived and worked in Belgium for four years on a B permit and those with ten years’ uninterrupted (legal) residency in Belgium.
• The B permit is the standard form of work permit for most foreigners. Applying for a B permit is the responsibility of the employer wishing to hire a non-EU foreigner.
• You must give your potential employer a certificate of good health and three passport-size photos, which he then submits along with a copy of the proposed employment contract to the Ministry of Labour.
• Before issuing the work permit, the Ministry of Labour must determine that there’s no Belgian or other EU national who can fill the position and they may send the 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.
• Some categories of foreign employees and self-employed (EU citizens, too) must declare their activities in Belgium before starting to work in Belgium. This is called LIMOSA Declaration.

The Belgian franc was the currency of the Kingdom of Belgium from 1832 until 2002 when the Euro was introduced.

Yes. An embassy of Belgium is located in Abuja.

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.

Yes. Belgium is one of the 26 Schengen countries.

Yes. With the right visa and permit, you can easily get a job in Belgium.