Visa application
For attendees requiring a Schengen visa to travel to Belgium, we recommend following these guidelines:
VISA Information
- Review visa requirements: Ensure you are aware of the specific visa requirements for the Schengen Zone. More information can be found on the official website of the Belgian Embassy https://www.belgium.be/en/family/residence_documents_for_belgium or Consulate in your home country.
- Early application: Begin your visa application process well in advance to allow sufficient time for processing. Check the expected processing times on the official visa application portal.
- Provide accurate information: When filling out your visa application, make sure all information is accurate and matches the details provided during the congress registration.
- Supporting documents: Prepare all necessary supporting documents, including the invitation letter received during registration, proof of registration payment, accommodation details, and travel itinerary.
- Visit official resources: Refer to the official website of the Belgian Immigration Office https://dofi.ibz.be/en or the Schengen visa portal https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen-borders-and-visa/visa-policy/where-and-how-apply-schengen-visa_en for comprehensive information on the application process and required documentation.
For additional assistance or specific questions regarding the Schengen visa application process, please consult the official Belgian Embassy or Consulate in your country.
We want to ensure a smooth visa application process for all our participants, and we are here to assist you in any way we can.
Request Invitation Letter for Visa Purposes
During the registration process, participants may request an official Invitation Letter for visa purposes. You will be asked to provide your passport details (including passport number) as part of the request.
Please note that Invitation Letters will only be issued after your registration and full payment have been completed. These letters do not imply any financial support from the Organizing Committee.
There is no need to contact the Secretariat separately regarding your Invitation Letter request. Letters will be processed automatically after payment confirmation. For urgent visa applications only, please contact the Secretariat at contact@euchems2026.eu.
Your request will be reviewed and processed by the Organizers.
View official guidelines
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Do I have to apply for a visa for a short stay in Belgium?
Council Regulation (EC) No 539/2001 of 15 March 2001 lists the third countries whose nationals must be in possession of a visa when crossing the external borders of the Schengen States and those whose nationals are exempt from this requirement.
You can consult the regulation of the European Union at https://eur-lex.europa.eu
2. How do I obtain my visa application number?
If you have used “Visa on Web” to fill in the visa application form, return to the platform after submitting your application. The reference assigned to your application by the embassy or consulate will be registered there. If you submitted your application at a Visa Application Center (VAC), wait a few days because the VAC must first forward your application to the embassy or consulate.
If you have not used “Visa on Web”, you can contact the embassy or consulate, or send an e-mail to infovisa@diplobel.fed.be indicating the full identity of the applicant and the place where the application was submitted.
3. Where do I submit my visa application?
If you wish to travel to Belgium, you must apply for a visa at the Belgian embassy or consulate competent for your place of residence. If the embassy or consulate works with an external service provider (VFS Global or TLS Contact) for the reception of applications, you must contact this service provider.
The list of Belgian embassies and consulates is published on the website of the FPS Foreign Affairs www.diplomatie.belgium.be
In some countries, Belgium does not issue visas; it is represented by another Schengen visa State in connection with a planned guardianship or surrender of a child for adoption which processes visa applications for a short stay in Belgium on its behalf (maximum 90 days).
The list of countries in which Belgium is represented by another Schengen State is published on the FPS Foreign Affairs website www.diplomatie.belgium.be.
Applications for short-stay visas for one of the following reasons must always be submitted to the competent Belgian embassy or consulate:
- visa for medical reasons;
- visa on humanitarian grounds;
- visa in connection with a planned adoption;
- visa in connection with a planned guardianship or surrender of a child for adoption;
- return visa.
If there is no Belgian embassy or consulate in the country where you live, you must contact the Belgian embassy or consulate responsible for this country.
Applications for a long-stay visa are always processed by a Belgian embassy or consulate.
4. How can I track my visa application?
If the embassy/consulate has forwarded your application to the Immigration Office, you can follow its progress on the website of the Immigration Office via the app “Follow up a visa application”. You must enter the number of the application and the embassy/consulate where the application was submitted
5. Can I add additional documents to my visa application?
In general, you must submit a complete file when you submit an application for a visa. However, if you wish to attach additional documents, such as salary slips, a new contract (work/rental) or a school exemption, you can send them to infodesk@ibz.fgov.be
Always mention the number of your visa application and the embassy or consulate.
6. Who will inform me of the decision?
If you live abroad, you will be contacted by the embassy/consulate.
7. What does the B of BNL on my visa mean?
BNL entry
The BNL entry is affixed to a C visa granted by Belgium, the Netherlands or Luxembourg (Benelux) for a short stay on their territory.
The number following the letter B informs the border control authorities and the authorities responsible for following your stay in Belgium about the purpose of your stay.
The list of BNL entries is published on the European Union website.
B entry
The B entry is affixed to a D visa granted by Belgium for a long stay on its territory.
The number following the letter B informs the border control authorities and the authorities responsible for following your stay in Belgium about the purpose and duration of your stay.
The B code also provides information on the conditions of your stay in Belgium and the conditions for renewing your residence permit.
The list of B endorsements is published on this site: National entries (D visa)
8. What can I do if the decision is negative?
You can lodge an appeal against the negative decision with the Council for Alien Law Litigation or you can submit a new visa application taking into account the reason for the refusal. It is not enough to send the missing documents to the Immigration Office to have the decision reviewed. You can find more information about the appeal process on our website.