TRAVELING TO BELGIUM

Visa for Exchange Students (High School)

NEW: Biometric visa at the Embassy of Belgium in Washington, D.C.

A picture and fingerprints will be taken of visa applicants at the Embassy of Belgium in Washington, D.C. These biometric data are sent electronically to Belgian border control for verification at entry in the Schengen area.

To determine the consular office where you should introduce your application and to check office hours, please , click here.

APPLICATION FOR A TEMPORARY RESIDENCY VISA FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT EXCHANGE:

This information is for students who participate in exchange programs with the following recognized organizations: JINT vzw, American Field Service (AFS), VIA (Vrijwillige Internationale Actie), International Youth Exchange (IYA), Youth for Understanding, Bouworde, International Association Agricultural Students (IAAS), Rotary Club International, World Exchange Program, Erasmus and Tempus Programs (if your program is not mentioned please contact appropriate consular office, please click here ).

HOW TO APPLY?

Please submit in person:

1. Passport, valid for 15 months.

2. Two original visa application forms, duly completed, dated and signed.

3. Language form : (in French, Dutch or German); Choose one of the forms and indicate your language preference (or no preference). The option you choose will be used by the Belgian Home Office to communicate its decision regarding your visa application. There is no English version of this document. Please retain a copy for your records.

Indicate your name: full name as it appears on your passport (nom du demandeur, naam visumaanvrager, name visumbewerber)
Number of the file will be indicated by this office (numéro du dossier – dossiernummer - aktenzeichen)
Indicate in what language you wish your file to be handled

have no preference (geen voorkeur, pas de preference, keiner sprache den vorzug)
prefer French (français, frans, französischer sprache)
prefer Dutch (néerlandais, nederlands, niederländischer sprache)
prefer German (allemand, duits, deutscher sprache)

Date the form (format : DAY MONTH YEAR (NOT: MONTH, DAY, YEAR)
Sign the form (no need to notarize it)

4. Three recent passport pictures, signed on the back.

Include three sets of the following documents (one original set of documents and two copies) collated and stapled:

The originals will be returned to you together with your passport and visa. You will need them to register at city hall in Belgium.

5. For students 21 and over: a nationwide criminal history record (FBI Identification Record) covering the last five years, obtained from the FBI CJIS Division (Record Request, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306), dated within six months of your date of application for the visa. For more information, please go to the FBI website.

Please note that a nationwide criminal history record is required for all students 18 years and over, if the student intends to study at a non accredited institution.

If you are attending a non accredited institution please submit legalized copies of your current degrees or letter of employment to prove that the studies you want to follow in Belgium complement your past education/career.

You will also need to include a motivation letter explaining why you chose this particular institution in Belgium to continue your studies.

6. A medical certificate (MS Word) - PDF) according to the model enclosed. For a list of doctors affiliated with the Embassy or the Consulate General, click here.

If you choose your family physician, the doctor's signature needs to be notarized. The medical document should be less than 3 months old from the date of your application.

7. A duly notarized financial support declaration, signed by head of the exchange organization, guaranteeing payment of travel, living, educational, medical and repatriation expenses.

The sponsor needs to sign the financial support declaration document in person (with valid ID) at the Embassy or the Consulate General. The signature legalization fee is 14.00 USD.

This financial support declaration may also be legalized by the exchange organization at the local city hall in Belgium.

For the sample form of a parent/guardian financial support form, please go to Dutch form - French form. Please note that in general the exchange organizations have their own standard form.

This form needs to be completed in the language of the school you will be attending (Dutch or French). For your convenience, you can find a bilingual copy of this document.

As a guideline, the amount of about 6,000 $ should be available to the student on an annual basis (excluding tuition).

For your convenience, you can find a bilingual copy of this document below.

- Dutch/English

- French/English

8. As proof of solvency, the following documents should be provided by the sponsor who is signing the affidavit of support:

- W2 form of the last fiscal year

- letter of employment stating type and length of contract

- pay slips of the last 3 months

- form 1040 'individual income tax return'

- a letter from your bank stating since when you have been an account holder and that you have always been in good standing (no amounts needed).

- US passport or green card.

9. In the case of a minor of age (under 18), a letter of parental authorization. Both parents need to sign this letter. The letter specifies the purpose and the duration of the stay in Belgium.

10. A pre-paid envelope if you wish to have your passport and visa sent back to your home address. The embassy or Consulate General is not responsible for lost items during shipping.

11. Visa application fee (this price includes consular taxes and handling fees): 252.00 USD in cash, certified check or money order. Personal checks are not accepted. Certified checks and money orders have to be paid to the order of:
• "the Embassy of Belgium" if you apply at the Embassy in Washington
• "the Consulate General of Belgium" if you apply at the Consulate General in Atlanta, Los Angeles or New York.

Incorrect money orders or certified checks will be rejected and returned to the applicant. Processing will only begin once the proper payment is received.

In the Embassy in Washington, you can now also pay with a credit card.

The visa application fee is non-refundable, whether your visa is actually issued or not.

A personal appearance is required and you must apply in person at the Embassy or Consulate General in whose jurisdiction you reside.

If you wish to make the application by mail (this is possible at the consulates in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, but not at the Embassy in Washington, DC), the following requirements apply:
(1) your signature on the application form must be notarized (certified) by a notary public of your place of residence in the U.S.

(2) do not send your application documents to an Honorary Consul. The application will be processed by the Embassy or by a Consulate General. Always make sure you mail your application to the competent Embassy or Consulate General. Only the Honorary Consuls in Nassau (Bahamas) and San Juan (Porto Rico) may accept visa-applications and they will send them to the Embassy..

After verification of your application, a personal appearance will still be necessary to collect your passport with the visa.

Please request your student visa at least three weeks prior to your intended departure date. The normal processing time for this type of visa is one week. For non US citizens, the processing time may be considerably longer.

IMPORTANT REMARKS

If you wish to apply for a student visa for academic year / your application will have to be processed before November 15, . For current and up-to-date instructions for the coming year, please contact the appropriate consular office in April or May of each year.

Please request your student visa at least three weeks prior to you intended departure date. The normal processing time for this type of visa is one week. For non US citizens, the processing time may be considerably longer.

We strongly advise to apply 6 to 8 weeks prior to departure if you will attend a non-accredited institution.

UPON ARRIVAL IN BELGIUM

It is important that you register at the local City Hall within 8 days of your arrival. The local authorities will provide you with an identity document for a foreign student temporarily living in Belgium. This document will allow you to enter and leave the country. This document will also show the exact duration of stay.

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