Report a stay in Belgium of less than 3 months

You are in 1 of the following situations:

  • You are not a Belgian and you are coming to Belgium for no more than 90 days. You are staying at a private address.
  • You do not have the nationality of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland. Your residence card is due to expire soon and you do not want to renew it. However, you do wish to remain in the Schengen area for no more than 90 days immediately after the expiry date. You do not require a visa type C for a short stay or you still have a valid residence card of another Schengen country.

What do you need to do?

Step 1: Apply for a visa if you need one

What is a visa?

A visa is a sticker which the consulate of a Schengen country places in your passport. It grants permission to stay in the Schengen area for a specific period.

More information on the visa type C for the Schengen area

When do you not require a visa?

A visa is not required in these cases:

  • You have the nationality of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland
  • Your nationality appears on this list.
  • You have a valid residence card of another Schengen country.

Visa required: apply for one

Apply for a visa at the Belgian embassy or consulate. They will provide you with more information about the visa and the conditions.

No Belgian embassy or consulate?
Then you apply at the embassy of the Schengen country which represents Belgium in the country where you live.

Step 2: Report your short stay

When to report?

  • You are not a Belgian and you are coming to Belgium for no more than 90 days
    Report your short stay as soon as possible after you arrive in Belgium.
    Attention: you must stay at a private address. You cannot report your stay if, for instance, you are staying in a hotel or hospital.
  • You do not have the nationality of an EU or EEA country or Switzerland and your stay of more than 90 days in Belgium is coming to an end
    It is best to apply for your stay of up to 90 days in the Schengen area 1 month in advance.

Where to report?

This depends on your situation.

Are you a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland? *
What is your situation? *
Registering your stay with the federal authorities suffices. You will not receive a residence document, since you do not need one. Would you nevertheless like an official document which proves that you are legally staying in the Schengen area?  *

Report your short stay to the city

You will receive a residence document valid for no more than 90 days (‘declaration of arrival’).

  1. Gather the documents

You must add your national identity card or national passport to your application.

  • ID card: front and back
  • Passport: biodata page
  • Pay attention to the requirements.

What you need to know before you start

  • Attach the documents in colour.
  • Preferably attach the documents in pdf (not applicable for photos).
  • Make a single file of documents consisting of several pages or belonging together, e.g. all passport pages.
  • A document may not exceed 10 MB in size.

  1. Report your stay

Are you coming with your family? Complete the form for each family member separately.

Report your stay

  1. We process your application

We process your application. Next, you will receive an email inviting you to collect your residence document. 

  1. Make an appointment to collect your residence document

How to make an appointment?

You can do so online or by phone. If you are not in Belgium, you can only make an appointment by phone.

What do you need to bring?
  • National passport or identity card
  • Invitation from the city
  • The documents mentioned in your invitation
Did you come to Belgium without a visa type C (short stay), because you have a valid residence card of or a valid visa type D (long stay) for another Schengen country? *
Do you need a residence document?  *
This is an official document which proves that you are legally staying in the Schengen area. 

Where to report your short stay?

Report your stay in Belgium to the federal authorities
 

Are you coming to Belgium to work? *
Are you coming to Belgium to join a family member who legally resides in Belgium? And do they have the nationality of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland? *

Report your short stay with the city

You will receive a residence document valid for no more than 90 days (‘declaration of arrival’).

  1. Gather the documents

You must add them to your application.

  • National passport 
    • All pages, including the blank ones
    • Pay attention to the requirements
  • 1 passport photo
    No more than 6 months old

What you need to know before you start

  • Attach the documents in colour.
  • Preferably attach the documents in pdf (not applicable for photos).
  • Make a single file of documents consisting of several pages or belonging together, e.g. all passport pages.
  • A document may not exceed 10 MB in size.

  1. Apply for your residence document

Are you coming with your family? Request a residence document for each family member separately.

Apply for residence document

  1. We process your application

We have to wait for a decision from the Immigration Office of the federal authorities. We will invite you as soon as we have received it. This may take a while. 

  1. Make an appointment to collect your residence document

You will receive an invitation by email to collect your residence document, by appointment.

How to make an appointment?

You can do so online or by phone. If you are not in Belgium, you can only make an appointment by phone.

What do you need to bring?
  • National passport 
  • Invitation from the city
  • The documents mentioned in your invitation

Report your short stay with the city

You will receive a residence document valid for no more than 90 days (‘declaration of arrival’).

  1. Gather the documents

You must add them to your application.

  • National passport 
    All pages, including the blank ones.
    Pay attention to the requirements
  • Work permit
  • 1 passport photo
    No more than 6 months old

What you need to know before you start

  • Attach the documents in colour.
  • Preferably attach the documents in pdf (not applicable for photos).
  • Make a single file of documents consisting of several pages or belonging together, e.g. all passport pages.
  • A document may not exceed 10 MB in size.

  1. Apply for your residence document

Are you coming with your family? Request a residence document for each family member separately.

Apply for residence document

  1. We process your application

We have to wait for a decision from the Immigration Office of the federal authorities. We will invite you as soon as we have received it. This may take a while.  

  1. Make an appointment to collect your residence document

You will receive an invitation by email to collect your residence document, by appointment.

How to make an appointment?

You can do so online or by phone. If you are not in Belgium, you can only make an appointment by phone.

What do you need to bring?
  • National passport 
  • Invitation from the city
  • The documents mentioned in your invitation

Report your short stay with the city

You will receive a residence document valid for no more than 90 days (‘declaration of arrival’).

  1. Gather the documents

You must add them to your application.

What you need to know before you start

  • Attach the documents in colour.
  • Preferably attach the documents in pdf (not applicable for photos).
  • Make a single file of documents consisting of several pages or belonging together, e.g. all passport pages.
  • A document may not exceed 10 MB in size.

  1. Report your stay

Are you coming with your family? Complete the form for each family member separately.

Report short stay

  1. We process your application

We process your application. Next, you will receive an email inviting you to collect your residence document. 

  1. Make an appointment to collect your residence document

How to make an appointment?

You can do so online or by phone. If you are not in Belgium, you can only make an appointment by phone.

What do you need to bring?
  • National passport 
  • Invitation from the city
  • The documents mentioned in your invitation

Report your short stay with the city

You will receive a residence document valid for no more than 90 days (‘declaration of arrival’).

  1. Gather the documents

You must add them to your application.

  • National passport 
  • Valid residence card or valid visa type D for another Schengen country
    Pay attention to the requirements.
  • Declaration on honour
    In this document you declare if and when you have been in Belgium in the past 180 days. 
    Download this document, and add it to your application, duly completed and signed. You must complete, date and sign the Dutch form. An English translation is attached on the second page.
  • 1 passport photo
    No more than 6 months old

What you need to know before you start

  • Attach the documents in colour.
  • Preferably attach the documents in pdf (not applicable for photos).
  • Make a single file of documents consisting of several pages or belonging together, e.g. all passport pages.
  • A document may not exceed 10 MB in size.

  1. Report your stay

Are you coming with your family? Complete the form for each family member separately.

Report short stay

  1. We process your application

We process your application. Next, you will receive an email inviting you to collect your residence document. 

  1. Make an appointment to collect your residence document

How to make an appointment?

You can do so online or by phone. If you are not in Belgium, you can only make an appointment by phone.

What do you need to bring?
  • National passport 
  • Invitation from the city
  • The documents mentioned in your invitation

Apply for a short stay with the city

You will receive a residence document valid for no more than 90 days (‘declaration of arrival’).

  1. Gather the documents

You must add them to your application.

  • National passport 
    All pages, including the blank ones.
    Pay attention to the requirements
  • Valid residence card or valid visa type D for another Schengen country
    Pay attention to the requirements.
  • Declaration on honour
    In this document you declare if and when you have been in Belgium in the past 180 days. 
    Download this document, and add it to your application, duly completed and signed. You must complete, date and sign the Dutch form. An English translation is attached on the second page.
  • Work permit
  • 1 passport photo
    No more than 6 months old

What you need to know before you start

  • Attach the documents in colour.
  • Preferably attach the documents in pdf (not applicable for photos).
  • Make a single file of documents consisting of several pages or belonging together, e.g. all passport pages.
  • A document may not exceed 10 MB in size.

  1. Report your stay

Are you coming with your family? Complete the form for each family member separately.

Report short stay

  1. We process your application

We process your application. Next, you will receive an email inviting you to collect your residence document. 

  1. Make an appointment to collect your residence document

How to make an appointment?

You can do so online or by phone. If you are not in Belgium, you can only make an appointment by phone.

What do you need to bring?
  • National passport
  • Invitation from the city
  • The documents mentioned in your invitation

Apply for a short stay with the city

You will receive a residence document valid for no more than 90 days (‘declaration of arrival’).

  1. Gather the documents

You must add them to your application.

  • National passport 
    All pages, including the blank ones.
    Pay attention to the requirements
  • Valid residence card or valid visa type D for another Schengen country
    Pay attention to the requirements.
  • Declaration on honour
    In this document you declare if and when you have been in Belgium in the past 180 days. 
    Download this document, and add it to your application, duly completed and signed. You must complete, date and sign the Dutch form. An English translation is attached on the second page.
  • 1 passport photo
    No more than 6 months old
  • Proof of the kinship with your relative 
    E.g. marriage or birth certificate
    Read the rules on translation and legalisation of documents
  • Belgian residence card or Belgian identity card of your family member
    Pay attention to the requirements.

What you need to know before you start

  • Attach the documents in colour.
  • Preferably attach the documents in pdf (not applicable for photos).
  • Make a single file of documents consisting of several pages or belonging together, e.g. all passport pages.
  • A document may not exceed 10 MB in size.

  1. Report your stay

Are you coming with your family? Complete the form for each family member separately.

Report short stay

  1. We process your application

We process your application. Next, you will receive an email inviting you to collect your residence document. 

  1. Make an appointment to collect your residence document

How to make an appointment?

You can do so online or by phone. If you are not in Belgium, you can only make an appointment by phone.

What do you need to bring?
  • National passport 
  • Invitation from the city
  • The documents mentioned in your invitation

Apply for a short stay with the city

  1. Gather the documents

You must add them to your application.

  • National passport 
    Biodata page.
    Pay attention to the requirements.
  • Residence card
  • 1 passport photo
    No more than 6 months old

What you need to know before you start

  • Attach the documents in colour.
  • Preferably attach the documents in pdf (not applicable for photos).
  • Make a single file of documents consisting of several pages or belonging together, e.g. all passport pages.
  • A document may not exceed 10 MB in size.

  1. Apply for short stay

Are you coming with your family? Apply for each family member separately.

Apply for short stay

  1. We wait for a decision from the Immigration Office of the federal authorities

We forward your application to the Immigration Office of the federal authorities. They must approve your application. This may take a while. 

  1. Invitation from the federal authorities

Have the federal authorities approved your application for a short stay? If so, you will receive an invitation to go to the office of the Immigration Office in Brussels so as to open a file in the European entry and exit system (EES).

Extension of short stay

Do you not have the nationality of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland? And are you unable to leave Belgium at the end of your short stay due to exceptional circumstances, e.g. for medical reasons? In that case, you can extend your short stay.

More information

Do you have a question? 

Contact us, we are happy to help you.

Call us

016 27 21 94

Mail us

nietbelgen@leuven.be
We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Something wrong or unclear on this page? Let us know.