Russian travelers considering a trip to Belgium need to know that this state is part of the Schengen area. This means that a visa to Belgium for Russians in 2021 must be obtained precisely according to the registration rules valid for Schengen visas. The document can be made at the recently opened Belgium visa centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as at foreign missions - Embassies and Consulates of this country in the Russian Federation.
According to statistics, every 10th Russian is refused entry into the Belgian Schengen.
Visa requirement
If a Russian wants to walk around Brussels, take a course, visit friends, find a permanent job in Belgium, or go to visit relatives, then in all these situations a visa will be required. Without this document you will not be able to enter the territory of the state. Any visa to Belgium must be obtained in advance in Russia and can only be obtained upon presentation of the appropriate set of documents.
Entering Belgium with a visa from another country
This is also possible if the Russian already has a valid Schengen or national visa from any of the 26 Schengen states. You can also enter Belgium with a valid EU residence permit.
There are some restrictions for entering with a Schengen visa from another country. According to current visa legislation, this visa must be used for its intended purpose. That is, the main country where the traveler will be must still be the state that issued this visa; most of the permitted days of stay must be spent there. And fewer days can be used to travel to Belgium or any other EU country.
Popular questions and answers
What types of visas to Russia are there?
- Tourist visa - for example: tourism, sightseeing;
- Business visa - for example: conferences, business meetings;
- Electronic visa - for example: short-term travel;
- Work visa - for example: work in a Russian company;
- Private visa - for example: meeting with friends in Russia (but it is more practical and cheaper to use a tourist visa).
How to get a visa to Russia?
To obtain a Russian Visa you need:
- Fill out our online form and receive an Invitation to Russia
- Use step-by-step instructions for obtaining a visa to Russia using your personal data and information from the Invitation to Russia
Do Belgian citizens need a visa to Russia?
Yes, in order to visit Russia, Belgian citizens are required to obtain a visa. They can do this at the embassy or consulate of the Russian Federation, which are located in Belgium.
Where to get a Russian visa in Belgium?
A visa can be obtained from Russian consulates in Belgium. A list of Belgian consulates, their telephone numbers and a map is at the bottom of this page.
How to get an invitation to Russia?
To do this, a Belgian citizen must contact a travel agency that is registered in the Russian Federation and has its own reference number.
Types of visas
The Belgian visa that Russians need comes in only two types: Schengen visa C and national visa D. The first is suitable for all types of relatively short-term trips, the second must be requested for more serious purposes of the visit and for longer periods. The difference between them will be described below.
Photo of Schengen C visa to Belgium
Schengen visa C
This document can be called a broad-spectrum visa. Indeed, if you refer to the information from the website of the visa center and the Embassy itself, you can find out that Schengen type C is issued for a very large list of purposes. Their range ranges from tourism to participation in international scientific conferences.
For all Russians who are going to Belgium as someone’s guests, for any events, on business trips, for short-term student courses, and so on, the Belgian Schengen type C is suitable.
Tourist visa
Many of our compatriots who want to travel around Belgium are interested in what kind of visa is needed there. The answer is very simple - exactly the same Schengen type C is approved for tourists as for other visitors.
For a tourist entry document you need to provide a very simple list of documents. Apparently, this is the simplified visa regime between Russia and the EU that is currently in effect.
National visa D
It is already much more difficult to obtain a national visa to Belgium, since it requires long-term residence in the state. The document is needed by all applicants for vacant jobs in Belgium, students who have entered a Belgian educational institution, as well as those Russians who have married or are in a relationship with the aim of starting a family with Belgian citizens.
Transit
Many Russians view Belgium as a transit state on their way to other EU countries. It must be remembered that no matter what transport a traveler uses, he cannot do without a visa.
If a citizen of the Russian Federation flies or travels through Belgium to another Schengen country, he will have to present a visa from that country at the Belgian border for further entry into the territory. If at the airport there is a transfer to a flight to a state outside the Schengen zone, then you need a Belgian Schengen category C for transit and a visa of the final country of destination, if it is mandatory for Russians.
Russian Consulates in Belgium
Citizens of Belgium can obtain a Russian visa at the following consular centers of the Russian Federation:
Current addresses of Russian embassies in Belgium
- Consular Section of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Kingdom of Belgium Address: Rue Roberts Jones 78, 1180 Uccle, Belgique.
- Telephone: (8-10-32-2) 374-35-69, (8-10-32-2) 375-91-21
- Fax machine: (8-10-32-2) 375-94-15
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: www.belgium.mid.ru/cons.html
- Reception hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday - from 09.00 to 12.30 (on Thursday the consular section works only in the mode of issuing ready documents to Russian citizens).
- Emergency telephone number in case of emergency: +32-2-375-39-18 - 24 hours a day.
- Address: Della Faillelaan 20, 2021 Antwerpen, Belgium.
Do Belgian citizens need a visa to Russia?
Yes. In order for a Belgian citizen to enter Russia, he must present a visa at the border, previously issued at the consulate or embassy of the Russian Federation in Belgium.
How to get a visa to Russia from Belgium?
To do this, you must submit an application form, a package of documents and pay the consular fee to the embassy or consulate in advance. When applying for a visa, you must present an invitation, which the inviting party must make in Russia and send to Belgium.
There are many types of visas to enter Russia. They differ in the main purpose of the visit. The main types of visas that foreign citizens apply for most often are:
- tourist visa - for example: tourism, sightseeing;
- private visa - for example: meeting with friends in Russia (but it is more practical and cheaper to use a tourist visa);
- business visa - for example: conferences, business meetings;
- work visa - for example: work in a Russian company.
Where to get a Russian visa in Belgium?
A visa can be obtained from Russian consulates in Belgium. A list of Belgian consulates, their telephone numbers and a map is at the bottom of this page.
Types of Russian visas for foreigners
| Visa | Validity | Purpose of entry |
| Tourist | 1-30 days | Tourism, visiting friends or relatives in Russia |
| Business (business) | 30-90 days (up to 5 years) | Conducting business meetings and negotiations, searching for business partners, attending conferences, long-term tourism, long-term visits to relatives in Russia |
| Private | 30-90 days | Official visit to friends living in Russia (Not recommended! Find out why) |
| Working | 1-3 years | Employment in Russia or permanent residence |
Documents required
The list of documents for a visa to Belgium for Russians consists of two parts: mandatory items and additional items for the purpose of the trip. Documents from the mandatory list must be submitted to all applicants, and additional ones will vary depending on these purposes.
Mandatory documents for all applicants:
- Visa application form filled out in English, Dutch, French or German, you can use an example of filling out the application form;
- A current passport with two or, if traveling with children, four blank pages;
- Old passports, if there were Schengen visas, plus copies of visas;
- Two new photographs 3.5 by 4.5 cm;
- Photocopies of all completed pages of the Russian passport;
- A detailed description of the travel plan in one of four languages or booking from the hotel (if there is no such booking from the hotel, then another place of accommodation will do), round-trip tickets;
- Confirmation of having a sufficient amount of money for the trip: a bank account statement or a certificate of purchase of currency, you must count on an amount of at least 50 euros per person per day;
- Health insurance, coverage of this health insurance must be from 30,000 euros;
- Confirmation of social status: for hired workers - a certificate from work, which indicates information about the salary and that leave has been granted with job preservation; for students/schoolchildren - a corresponding certificate from study with exemption from classes or information about vacations.
Additional documents for different categories of applicants:
- An invitation from an interested organization or individual - a friend or relative in Belgium;
- Guarantees of payment of expenses in case of travel by invitation;
- Identity card of the inviting party, proof of the inviting person's creditworthiness in case of a trip to visit relatives or friends, document on support of the invited party in Form 3 bis, if the inviting party bears the expenses.
Documents for a national Belgian visa
To obtain a national visa, you will need a more extensive list of papers, as well as justification for obtaining this document. These could be an invitation from an employer and a work contract, an intention to marry a Belgian citizen and evidence that the relationship is not fictitious, a certificate of enrollment in an educational institution, and so on.
More detailed lists of required documents for a national visa can be found on the website of the visa center or the Belgian Embassy.
Photo requirements
When applying for a visa to Belgium on your own, you need to pay attention to the rules that apply to photographs. They comply with the accepted ICAO standard:
- The photo must be 3.5 by 4.5 cm in size;
- White and light backgrounds are allowed;
- Only the applicant is present in the photograph;
- The photograph shows only the face, neck, and upper shoulders;
- The image is clear, without objects, accessories or other elements covering any part of the face;
- The face should express neutral emotions and be positioned from the front.
Private visit to friends or relatives in Belgium
© Victor BashkirTwo visa forms, completed in English and duly signed;
- Two photographs, size 50x50 mm, color, without corners and ovals on a white background;
- A valid foreign passport (valid for at least 3 months after the visa expires). Persons under the age of majority (18 years old) can be included in the passport of one of the parents who accompanies them on the trip;
- Medical insurance for the duration of the trip, valid in the Schengen countries, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros and covering possible medical expenses and repatriation;
- An invitation letter from the inviting person indicating the nature of your relationship, as well as the purpose of your trip to Belgium; in case of a trip to close relatives - documentary evidence of relationship (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.);
- An undertaking to support in form 3 bis (it is advisable to receive the invitation at your home address), signed by the inviting person in Belgium. The maintenance obligation form can be obtained from the municipality of your place of residence in Belgium. The commitment to support must be submitted in original (+ 1 photocopy) and accompanied by the following required documents: 1) Certificate of salary of the inviting person for the last three months or a document issued by a government agency certifying his/her monthly or annual income, net or gross, (certificate of pension, extract from the tax register). 2) A document confirming the Belgian nationality of the guarantor, or, in the case of a foreigner, a document giving the right to unlimited stay in Belgium.
- A certificate from your place of employment indicating your position, length of service in this company, your salary, as well as a certificate granting you leave for the period of your trip to Belgium; for students and schoolchildren - a certificate from the place of study;
Notes:
- If a tourist visa is requested by an unemployed person supported by a spouse or other family member, or a student/school student supported by parents traveling separately, then, in addition to evidence of personal creditworthiness, it is necessary to provide a letter of sponsorship from the spouse (parent) and confirmation of his/her income (wages). The letter can be written on a plain piece of paper and must be accompanied by the personal signature of the sponsor;
- Minors (under 18 years of age) traveling alone, unaccompanied, must provide notarized permission from both parents for the child to travel abroad (as well as a copy of the birth certificate).
Self-registration
At the moment, a visa to Belgium can be obtained independently in two ways: through visa centers in Moscow and St. Petersburg and through the consular section of the Embassy. Moreover, the Belgium visa center also takes care of issuing long-term visas, unlike visa centers in many other EU countries. If the applicant is not able to come himself, then he will be able to arrange courier delivery, but there are limitations, which are described below.
Since September 2015, all visa applicants must come in person and submit their biometric data: photo and fingerprints. This new procedure will be repeated once every five years. Using this data, the European Union will monitor the entry flows of foreigners. If the applicant has not yet submitted his data, he will not be able to simply issue documents by courier delivery; he must appear in person. Children under 12 years of age are exempt from the procedure.
Via Visa Application Center
Any visa to Belgium through a visa center is done according to a single algorithm:
- First, the type of visa required is determined;
- Afterwards the entire package of documents is collected;
- Next, you need to come to the visa center and submit an application; at the Moscow visa center, for these purposes, you first need to sign up through the website;
- Already on the spot you need to submit biometric data and pay the consular fee;
- After some time, wait for a decision.
In addition to applying for a Belgian visa yourself through a visa center, this can also be done through the consular section of the Embassy using a similar algorithm.
Belgium Visa Application Center in Moscow
Russian travelers planning to visit Belgium must obtain a Schengen visa, regardless of the purpose of the trip. To obtain a document, contact the Belgium visa center in Moscow.
This need is due to new regulations, according to which the Embassy does not have the right to receive applications of a personal nature from those wishing to visit the country. Direct application to the consulate is allowed for those persons who apply for a category D visa (long-term) or a residence permit.
Address
Belgium Vac is a visa center accredited by the Belgian Consulate in Russia
International name – Apply for Visa to Belgium in Moscow Belgium Vac
Zip code 119 049
Moscow
Krymsky Val, house 3, building 2
Business, 5th floor
How to get there
The Belgium visa center in Moscow is located near Gorky Park near the traffic circle interchange. Metro station – Oktyabrskaya Circle Line.
Bus routes to the Oktyabrskaya Metro stop:
- From the side of Krymsky Val street - B; t10.
- From the side of Bolshaya Yakimanka street - m1; n11 (night); t7; 111; 144; 144k; 196.
The VC can also be reached by trolleybuses on the M4 route; 4 along Bolshaya Yakimanka.
Operating mode
Monday - Friday from 08.30 to 19.00
Saturday – prime – time from 11.00 to 16.00
Sunday is a day off
The Belgium Visa Application Center is closed:
- January 1-4;
- Jan. 7;
- March 8;
- May 1-3;
- May 9-10;
- 12 June;
- November 4;
- December 25th.
Contacts
Phone for information
Official site
Offices of Belgium visa centers in Moscow and Russia
Price
Another important issue that worries travelers is the price of a visa to Belgium. Current prices can be seen in the table.
| Visa type | Amount of consular fee |
| Schengen, type C | 2625 rubles |
| National, type D | 13500 rubles |
The price of the service fee for visa center services is also added to the amount of the consular fee - this is another 2,025 rubles.
Belgium has established a very extensive list of preferential categories of Russian citizens who do not pay consular fees. These include children under six years of age, students/schoolchildren who travel to the state for educational purposes, and members of delegations. For them, the price of a Belgian visa consists only of the amount of the service fee for the services of the visa center. A detailed list of all preferential categories of applicants can be found on the visa center website.
Belgium visa refusal
According to reviews from travelers, Belgium is traditionally considered not the most loyal state when it comes to issuing entry permits to Russians. If you pay attention to the statistics, you can see that almost 10% of Russians are refused a visa to Belgium, which means that every tenth applicant leaves with a refusal stamp.
The reasons for refusals, judging by the same reviews, indicate standard “unsubscribes”. In fact, no one can guarantee a positive outcome, especially the agencies with the help of which some applicants still expect to receive a visa for an additional fee.
To increase your chances, you should try to adhere to the following rules:
- Fill out the form carefully and accurately;
- Provide documents strictly according to the list, do not skip anything;
- Try to collect a solid and convincing package of documents that can show that you have a good income and strong ties with Russia;
- If the Consulate requests additional information, provide it as quickly as possible.
Single young women with dubious social status - the unemployed, without a stable income or property, as well as financially unreliable people - have the greatest chance of being refused.
In any case, every person has a chance and in a situation of refusal, you can resubmit documents. If you really want it, you can get a visa.
