Belgium Visa from Serbia - Step by Step Guide

# Visa to Belgium from Serbia: A Complete Guide

## Where to Apply

**Belgian Embassy in Belgrade**
- Address: [Omladinskih brigada 88, Beograd](/detail/places/28272) - map card, you can build a route
- Working days and hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00-13:00
- Appointment booking: **only by phone** +381 11 3230 016
- Email: belgrade@diplobel.fed.be (appointment booking is still by phone)

**Current situation with slots**
- They book 2-4 months in advance; in 2025-2026, the nearest slots are March-August, if you call in December-January.
- When calling, they clarify the dates of the planned trip; sometimes they call back if someone cancels.
- In case of technical failures, they ask you to write an email.

**Important:** the consulate also represents the interests of Luxembourg and serves Montenegro and Bosnia.

## Required Documents

### Basic Package
1. Foreign passport - original (taken until the visa is ready).
2. Application form - filled out on the website <https://dofi.ibz.be/en/>, printed and signed.
3. Photo - color 35×45 mm (can be made at the embassy).
4. Residence permit of Serbia - copy of both sides.
5. Extract from APR (Agency for Property Registers) - original + court translation into English.
6. Health insurance - minimum 30,000 EUR coverage.

### For Self-Employed Individuals (documents on income)
- Bank statement for 6 months (accept statements from applications without wet seals).
- Certificate of no tax debts + court translation.
- If necessary - contracts with clients, invoices.

### Travel Documents
- Air tickets (accept bookings from Euroavia and other sites).
- Hotel booking (can be with free cancellation).
- Detailed travel plan by day with indication of places to visit.

### For Married Couples
- Marriage certificate + court translation.
- Documents are submitted in one copy per couple (do not duplicate).
- Sponsorship letter in free form in English.

### Translations (court)
- Extract from APR, tax certificate, marriage certificate.
- Translators in Belgrade: +381 64 9117 752, upit@translationhouse.rs, Gundulicev venac 12.

## Financial Documents

### Bank Statements
- Accept statements from any banks, including Poštanska štedionica.
- Statements from applications without seals are considered normal.
- Recommended to show 120-130 EUR per person per day of the trip.
- For self-employed individuals: movement on the business account is mandatory, personal account - desirable.

### Minimum Amount
- There is no exact threshold, benchmark - 120 EUR/day per person.
- The main thing is the regularity of receipts, not a one-time large sum.
- Attempting to "stuff" money before submission often leads to refusal.

### Sponsorship Letter
Needed if a non-working spouse or student applies. Written in free form in English, indicating the degree of kinship (for civil marriages - "vanbračna zajednica").

## Cost and Terms

### Visa Fees
- Standard visa fee (exact amount not specified in messages).
- Payment in cash upon submission, better without change.
- No embassy service fee.

### Processing Terms
- **Standard:** 10-15 working days.
- **By applicants' experience:** 2-3 weeks.
- **In peak season:** up to 4 weeks.
- They call about readiness, do not report status by phone.
- Passports are issued from 12:00 to 13:00 on working days.

### Possible Delays
- December-January - up to a month delay.
- Technical failures in the work of the consulate.
- Leaves and illnesses of employees.

## Types of Visas

### Tourist Visa (C)
- Most often single-entry, for the dates of the trip.
- The visa is usually issued exactly for the declared dates or with a corridor of 2-4 weeks.
- About 80% of visas are issued strictly for the dates of the first trip.

### Multiple-Entry Visa
- Issued very rarely - single cases for 3-6 months or 2 years.
- Chances are low even with a good visa history.
- To obtain a multiple-entry visa, they show two fully completed packages of documents (for one trip).

### National Visa D
- Designed for long-term stay/work in Luxembourg.
- Requires a separate procedure and special documents.

## Life Hacks and Tips

- **Travel plan** - a table by day, details of each city, increases chances.
- **Self-employed income** - stable from 2023, not a new registration.
- **Visa history** - the presence of Schengen visas from Serbia helps.
- **Paid tickets and hotels** - preferable, but accept bookings with free cancellation.
- **Business account** - regular operations are better than one large deposit.

### Submission Features
- You can fly not directly to Belgium (through Budapest, Munich, etc.).
- When traveling to several Schengen countries, Belgium should have more days than in any separate country.
- At the border with the Netherlands, they may ask to show a residence permit of Serbia.

### Additional Requests from the Consulate
- Sometimes they call 1-2 weeks later and ask to send missing documents.
- May require bank statements in English.
- After issuing a visa, sometimes they ask for receipts for hotel payments.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Can I submit documents six months before the trip?**
Yes, but no earlier than 6 months before the planned date of entry.

**Do I need an internal passport?**
No, an internal passport is not required for visas.

**What if the visa is issued for fewer days?**
Write to the consulate with an explanation - sometimes they correct it within 1-2 days.

**Can I pick up my passport without a visa if I need it urgently?**
Yes, but warn them about it in advance.

**How many people can pick up passports?**
One person can pick up all passports of the family.

**Do visas obtained in Russia affect?**
No, only the visa history issued in Serbia is taken into account.

**Can I submit with unpaid bookings?**
Yes, they accept bookings with free cancellation.

**What if I forgot to call?**
Don't call often - it annoys employees. Better write an email or just wait.