Travel to Belgium

You can apply for your Schengen visa from 6 months to 15 calendar days before your planned travel date. For seafarers this is from 9 months before the planned travel date. The processing time for Schengen visa applications is usually 15 calendar days, but can be up to 45 calendar days in individual cases. Travelers are requested to take this processing time into account when submitting their visa application, as well as the waiting time for an appointment at TLS. Travelers who submit their visa application later than 15 calendar days before the planned departure date should take into account a possible postponement of their trip. The Embassy does not provide fast track visa services. The more complete your visa application is submitted, the greater the chance of a smooth processing of your file.

Every person entering Belgium for a short stay (90 days during any 180-day period) must declare their presence within the following three days. You can declare your arrival in Belgium online via the electronic form "My address in Belgium" (MAB). You no longer need to declare your arrival in Belgium to the municipal administration of your place of residence. You can find more information about the Entry Exit System, "My address in Belgium", and the obligation to declare your arrival in Belgium on the website of the Immigration Office and on social media:

My Address in Belgium: https://dofi.ibz.be/fr/my-file/mon-adresse-en-belgique-mab
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dofidvzoe/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dofidvzoe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dofidvzoe/

How much is the handling fee (cost for processing your visa application)?

The handling fee and the TLScontact service fee have to be paid at TLScontact.

The handling fee for a short stay visa (C) is: 90€
Children: 6 to less than 12 years old: 45€
Children: 0 to less than 6 years old: no handling fee
EU family members: no handling fee
Holder of diplomatic or service passport: no handling fee (if reciprocity is assured)

The handling fee for a long stay visa (D) is 180€.

The handling fee is always paid in Kenyan Shillings (see website TLScontact) and not refundable (except when the application has been declared inadmissible by the Embassy).

An additional contribution is required for the processing of certain visa D applications, in which case you will be requested to submit a proof of payment of this additional contribution as a part of your visa application. If you are unable to do so at the time of the submission of your application, the application will be considered inadmissible.

Please note that the handling fee is to be paid at the time of the application. In case the applicant is exempt from paying the handling fee, he or she is not automatically exempted from paying the additional contribution. For more information, we refer you to the Immigration Office website.

Biometrics / applying in person for Schengen visa applications

To apply for a short- or long-stay visa, fingerprints (10 fingers) and a digital photo are required for all visa applicants aged 6 and older. These are taken at the TLS visa application center. These data are stored for 5 years in the VIS. The fingerprint registration procedure only takes a few minutes and identifies you with certainty as the sole licensee of the visa. It protects you against falsification or abuse of your identity (for instance, if your passport is stolen) and optimizes the border crossing. For more extensive information, we refer you to the European Union website.

Holders of a diplomatic or service passport who are employed at a diplomatic or consular post in Belgium, or at an international organization with its headquarters or representation in Belgium, are exempt from the biometric information requirements for a long-stay visa; the same applies to their family (spouse and dependent children).

Did you provide biometric data within the last 59 months prior to your current application? Then you can choose to have someone else submit your application for you. Each case will be assessed individually. Please contact the visa section at nairobi.visa@diplobel.fed.be with a copy of your passport attached.

Attention, if, during the assessment of your application, it appears that your fingerprints are not in the system, you will have to come and submit them. Also, you can always be invited for an interview if your application gives reason to do so.

Validity of travel document

According to Article 12 (a) of the Regulation (EC) No. 810/2009, commonly known as "Visa Code", the validity of a travel document shall extend at least three months after the intended date of departure from the territory of the Schengen Member States.

The Schengen Member States wish to inform the Kenyan public that only the new east African Community biometric e-Passport can be accepted for Schengen visa applications.  

Checking the status of your visa application  

Belgian embassies and consulates general must submit certain visa applications to the Immigration Office of the Federal Public Service Home Affairs for a final decision. It is the only competent authority with regards to the admittance, stay, residence and removal of foreigners from Belgian territory.

In case your file has been submitted to the Immigration Office you can check its status with your file number - check My File or by sending a mail to infodesk@ibz.fgov.be.

Once a decision has been taken, the Belgian Embassy or the Visa Application Center will inform you personally.

Multiple entry Schengen visas for regular travelers

Do you regularly travel to Belgium / Schengen area? Then you may qualify for a multiple-entry visa with a longer period of validity. You must however, meet a number of conditions:

• multiple-entry visa for 1 year: if you have received a Schengen visa* 3 times in the past 2 years and used it correctly;
• multiple-entry visa for 2 years: if you have received a multiple-entry visa for 1 year in the past 2 years and used it correctly;
• multiple-entry visa for 5 years: if you have received a multiple-entry visa for 2 years in the past 3 years and used it correctly.

You cannot derive any rights from the above. It is always up to the issuing authority whether or not to issue a multiple-entry visa with a longer period of validity.

Important information

• The decision in a visa application is taken within 15 calendar days of the date of the lodging of an application which is admissible. That period may be extended up to a maximum of 45 calendar days in individual cases, notably when further scrutiny of the application is needed.
   
• Negative decisions on visa applications are notified to the applicant in law and in fact (see procedure to be followed in the event of an appeal on the visa refusal form).
   
• On their request and in accordance with the European Visa Code, some Schengen member States have to be informed a posteriori about visa issued to nationals of certain third countries, which are enumerated on this list (except for airport transit visa).
   
• Mere possession of a visa does not confer an automatic right of entry. Holders of visa are requested to present proof that they fulfil the entry conditions at the external border, as provided for in Article 5 of the Schengen Borders Code.

Contact

For information concerning your ongoing visa application you can also consult TLScontact.

Information on ongoing visa applications shall only be given if you mention your file and passport number.