How to Apply for a Belgium Visa in Oklahoma City

Belgium attracted more than 9.7 million foreign travelers in 2023 and recorded 44.7 million overnight stays – a new national record.  Almost half a million U.S. citizens visited that year, including travelers from Oklahoma City and other cities across the Southwest, placing the United States as the top overseas country for travelers to the “Crossroads of Europe.”

“Travelers often overlook Belgium in favor of neighbors like France and the Netherlands, but it’s one of Europe’s best kept secrets,” according to Lonely Planet. “While its history means Belgium is linguistically and culturally diverse, it’s also small and compact, making it easy to hop between destinations.  From perfect fries and chocolate to accessible nature breaks, picturesque medieval towns, and vibrant art and fashion scenes, there's plenty to experience in Belgium.” (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-places-to-visit-in-belgium)

The Kingdom of Belgium, located in the Low Countries region of northwestern Europe, borders France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and the North Sea.  Its government and major institutions are structured around three autonomous regions: Fleming, Walloon, and the Brussels-Capital regions.  The 11.2 million residents primarily speak one of the three official languages: Dutch (60%), French (less than 40%), and German.  Brussels is Belgium’s capital and largest metropolitan area; other major cities include Antwerp, Ghent, Liege, and Bruges.

Centrally-located Belgium is sometimes called the “Battlefield of Europe,” due to the numerous regional military conflicts that have occurred within its borders through the two World Wars.  The area was part of the Roman Empire, the Carolingian Empire, and the United Kingdom of the Netherlands before obtaining independence from the Netherlands following the Belgian Revolution of 1830.  Brussels is also referred to as “the capital of Europe,” as it is home to the headquarters of the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), plus hundreds of global institutions and multinational corporations.

However, its central geographic location has also helped Belgium build one of the continent’s highest per capita GDPs.  Its $624.2 billion GDP contributes 3.5% of the European Union’s economy.  Belgium was the first European country to embrace the Industrial Revolution in the early 19th Century, building a highly developed transportation infrastructure connecting the industrial regions of Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels with a network of ports, canals, railways, and highways.  Bilateral trade with the United States reached $74.2 billion in 2021, according to the U.S. Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration (ITA). “Belgium continues to attract significant levels of investment in chemicals, petrochemicals, transport equipment, machinery, plastics, mineral products, base metals, precious metals and stones; environmental technologies; food processing and packaging; health technologies; information and communication; and textiles,” ITA stated.  Top sectors offering existing or developing opportunities for Oklahoma City-based companies include biopharmaceuticals, defense, electric vehicles, medical devices, natural gas and LNG, and nuclear energy. (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/belgium-market-opportunities)

Tourism is another important sector of the economy, contributing 6.4% of Belgium’s economic output in 2023 at €40.5 billion (US $42.2 billion) and supporting more than 421,000 jobs, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.  The Brussels region attracts the most visitors from the Oklahoma City area, due to its political institutions, historic landmarks, and vibrant cultural scene.  It contains more than 80 museums, several performing arts venues, diverse architectural styles, and world-class shopping that ranges from flea markets to upscale malls to the pedestrian-only Rue Neuve/Nieuwstraat.  The coastal city of Ostend, the second-most visited, is known for its beaches, seafood, and maritime attractions.  Third-ranked Bruges is famous for mediaeval architecture and picturesque canals.  The “diamond capital of the world,” Antwerp, also offers museums, nightclubs, fashion designers, and thrift shops.

Belgium also boasts 16 UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the historic center of Bruges, the 12th Century Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai, La Grand-Place in Brussels, the funerary and memory sites of the First World War, and the Neolithic flint mines at Spiennes, the oldest and largest concentration of ancient mines in Europe.  Another UNESCO site is the city of Spa, a center of thermal springs and mineral water that gave its name to wellness centers around the world.  Namur Province, known as the “Land of Valleys”, features river cruises, limestone cliffs, rolling farmland, and a cable car ride to an Ardennes Mountains fortress.  Ghent offers winding canals, medieval architecture, notable museums, and cobblestone alleyways lined with cafes and shops.  Belgium’s only national park, Hoge Kempen, is a former coal-mining site converted into a 22-square-mile nature reserve filled with evergreen trees and more than 6,000 species of flora and fauna.  Beach lovers from the Oklahoma City area can visit one of the many towns along the 40-mile Belgian coast stretches on the North Sea.  A coastal tram (de Kusttram) that runs from near the French to near the Dutch border makes 67 stops that allow visitors to experience the small-village charm of De Haan, the shrimp fishermen on horseback at Oostduinkerke, and dozens of other seaside destinations.

How to Make a Short-Term Visit to Belgium

United States citizens and those of most other countries living in the Oklahoma City area are not required to obtain a visa to visit Belgium for up to 90 days.  Belgium is among the almost 30 European countries that are parties to the Schengen Agreement, which allows visa-free movement between their borders.  The visa exemption covers those visiting as tourists, businesspeople, and exchange students.  However, if your passport is not issued by one of the Schengen Zone’s more than 60 visa-free countries, you will need to obtain a short-stay Schengen visa (see next section).

To enter Belgium, your passport must be valid for at least three months beyond your planned departure date and contain at least two blank pages, according to the U.S. State Department.  You will also need a return plane ticket and proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay.

You can also travel to other Schengen countries during your stay in Belgium.  The Schengen Zone includes all but two members of the European Union (Ireland and Cyprus), plus four non-EU nations: Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. {Countries within the United Kingdom are not part of the Schengen Zone.}

However, an additional set of rules being implemented in mid-2025 will affect travelers, including Schengen non-visa visitors.  Citizens of the United States and other visa-exempt countries will need to obtain a new travel authorization {issued through the European Travel Information and Authorization System, or ETIAS} before arriving in any participating European Union country.  Nations that will require ETIAS are listed at https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/who-should-apply_en#ETIAS-countries.  To check the current implementation schedule, and to apply once the program goes live, visit https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias_en.

Obtaining a National Visa for Belgium

Travelers who want to spend more than 90 days in Belgium or visit for reasons outside the Schengen purposes need to obtain a long-stay national visa through the Belgian embassy in Washington, D.C., or one of its U.S. consulates.  Residents of the Oklahoma City area and state of Oklahoma should apply through the consulate in New York.  For other states, see https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/embassy-and-consulates/who-should-i-contact to determine which consular office serves your area.

The Belgian government offers several national long-stay visas (also known as D-visas) for such reasons as tourism, retirement, business, study/education, and family reunification.  While a Belgian national visa is not a Schengen visa, it does allow you to visit other Schengen Zone nations.

You can apply for a long-stay visa either in person or by mail by contacting the consular post with jurisdiction over your state.  For example, the consulate in New York at One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, 885 Second Ave, 41st Floor is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm.  You can schedule an appointment, obtain contact details, find links to applications, or get more information at https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/embassy-and-consulates/consulate-general-new-york/contact-and-opening-hours-new-york.  

Processing time for most types of visas ranges from two to three weeks to as much as nine months.  The section “What to Submit” at https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/travel-belgium/visa-belgium/national-visa-d-visa lists the types of national visas, average processing time, and documentation requirements per visa type.

Requirements vary by each type of long-stay visa.  However, common requirements include:

  • Completed application form. (Create an account and fill out the form at https://visaonweb.diplomatie.be/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Fen, then print it.)
  • Passport with at least two blank pages, issued within the past 10 years and valid for at least 15 months beyond your expected departure date from Belgium, with at least two blank facing pages.  Also include two copies of the passport photo page.
  • Two recent color photographs.
  • Cover letter describing your planned trip.
  • FBI criminal history record for any applicant over the age of 18.
  • Medical certificate verifying your health.
  • Proof of travel arrangements and accommodations.
  • Proof of financial means to support yourself in Belgium (or, if invited by a Belgian resident, an original affidavit of support and related documentation).
  • Proof of medical insurance totaling 30,000 Euros (about US $32,000) valid throughout the Schengen Zone.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒ Order Now.
  • Prepaid and pre-addressed envelope if you want the embassy to return your passport rather than picking it up yourself.  Shipments with a tracking number are recommended.
  • Visa and administrative fees, which are available through the consulate.

Within eight days of arrival in Belgium, you must register at the communal administration of your local city hall in Belgium.  There, you can apply for a Residence Permit which will allow entry into Belgium while it remains valid.

Additional information about visas procedures is available at the Belgian embassy and consulates website for the United States at https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/travel-belgium/visa-belgium/national-visa-d-visa; from the Belgian Immigration Office at https://dofi.ibz.be/en; and at each consular office’s website.

Obtaining a Schengen Visa for Foreign Nationals

Residents of the Oklahoma City area who hold passports from countries that do not have a visa-free travel agreement for the Schengen Zone will need to obtain a Schengen visa to visit Belgium and other countries in the Schengen Zone.  Also known as a C-type visa, the Schengen visa allows you to stay up to 90 days over a six-month period.

The visa is available for single entry, multiple entries, and airport transit within an international airport.  Citizens of certain countries may need to obtain a Schengen airport transit visa if they are changing planes within the Schengen Zone.  Those countries whose citizens need a Schengen visa, exceptions to transit visa rules, and other details can be found at this European Union site: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy_en. General details about the visa and an online application are available at https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en.  

You should apply for the Schengen visa through the country where so will spend the most time.  If Belgium is your primary destination (or your port of entry if you plan to spend equal amounts of time in multiple countries), you need to apply through the Belgian embassy or consulate that serves the state where they live.  Residents of Oklahoma City and the state of Oklahoma should apply through the consulate in New York.  Details on Belgium’s Schengen Tourist/Transit Visas and Schengen Business Visas (plus links to applications) can be found at https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/travel-belgium/visa-belgium/schengen-visa-c-visa.  

Apply at least 15 days before your trip, but no more than six months in advance.  Processing time for Belgium’s Schengen visa applications is about three weeks.  If you have had your biometric information (fingerprints and photo) collected within the last 59 months by any Schengen country, you can mail your application to the consular office that serves your state. (NOTE: Mail-in applications must have their signatures notarized.) First-time visitors to the Schengen zone must make an appointment and visit the appropriate consulate/embassy for biometric data collection. Check the map at https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/embassy-and-consulates/who-should-i-contact to see what embassy or consulate serves your region.

Travelers ages 12 and up will need to create an account and complete an online application by visiting https://visaonweb.diplomatie.be/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2Fen before scheduling your appointment.  As noted previously, the consulate in New York at One Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza, 885 Second Ave, 41st Floor is open Monday through Friday from 9 am to 1 pm and 2 pm to 5 p.m.  To make an appointment, ask a question, or obtain contact information, visit https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/embassy-and-consulates/consulate-general-new-york/contact-and-opening-hours-new-york.

For your appointment, you will need to bring originals and copies of various documents, depending on which type of Schengen visa you are requesting.  Required documents are listed under “What to Submit” at https://unitedstates.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/travel-belgium/visa-belgium/schengen-visa-c-visa.  For example, for a tourist visa, you will need to bring:

  • Completed application form, found at link above.
  • Passport with at least two blank pages, issued within the past 10 years and valid for at least three months beyond your expected departure date (or final departure, if making multiple entries), with at least two blank facing pages.
  • Proof of U.S. residence (such as driver’s license or state ID).
  • A copy of your permanent residence card (“green card) or valid U.S. visa.
  • One recent color photograph.
  • Proof of travel arrangements and accommodations.
  • Proof of financial means to support yourself in Belgium (or, if invited by a Belgian resident, an original affidavit of support and related documentation).
  • Proof of medical insurance totaling 30,000 Euros (about US $32,000) valid throughout the Schengen Zone. International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒ Order Now.
  • Proof of ties to the United States, such as pay stub, latest tax return, or pension benefits.
  • Visa fees, which are set by each embassy or consulate.

The Schengen Visa allows you to move freely between the countries in the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.  If your application is accepted, you will receive a sticker (called a vignette) to add to your passport.  The vignette includes the type of visa issued, start and end dates, and any conditions attached to the visa.

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

If you live in Oklahoma City or anywhere in the state of Oklahoma and have difficulty applying for a visa for Belgium, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, you can call our office at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment online at the link on this page.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Belgium visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Belgium.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans.  We provide the following Belgium visa services for our customers in Oklahoma City:

  • Schengen Visa
  • Belgium Student Visa
  • Belgium Work Visa
  • Belgium Retirement Visa
  • Belgium Residence Visa
  • Belgium Medical Insurance
  • Belgium Hotel Accommodations
  • Belgium Flight Tickets
  • Belgium Tour Packages