Belgium long-stay (Type D) visa
Required documents, fees and processing time for a Belgium long-stay (Type D) Schengen visa when you apply from Ireland.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇧🇪 Belgium·····✈·····🇮🇪 from Ireland
To
Belgium
Type
D · LONG STAY
Apply at
IE
Centre
VAC
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Action neededLong stay — national (Type D) · applying from Ireland.
Documents ready00 / 09
Competent authority
Embassy of Belgium in Dublin (residents of Ireland). The Immigration Office (FPS Home Affairs, dofi.ibz.be) is the authority deciding on admission/residence in Belgium.
Application centre
None - apply directly to the Embassy in Dublin (register the D application on VisaOnWeb; in-person appointment).
Recommended — commonly expected even when not on the official list
Cover letterA letter of introduction stating who you are and why you are travelling.
Travel itineraryA day-by-day plan of your trip to attach to the application.
Fees
Consular (Type C)
€90
Service fee
—
Est. total (adult)
€90
Long stay (Type D)
€250
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in EUR · centre: direct_consulate.
Fee notes
Handled directly by Belgian Embassy Dublin (VisaOnWeb + in-person). No external VAC, no service fee. Type D rose to €250 on 1 July 2026 (was €180).
Timeline
medium confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
3–14 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
Embassy advises securing an appointment at least 3 months in advance due to very high demand; appointment days limited (Mon-Thu 09:00-12:30).
Application centre
Embassy-direct — no VAC. Register on VisaOnWeb, book via 'Make an Appointment', submit in person at the Belgian Embassy, Dublin.
Timeline notes
Belgium runs its own consular intake in Dublin (no outsourced VAC). Processing ~10 working days from in-person submission, but the ~3-month appointment advice drives the long lead time.
Funds to show
high confidenceThe figures below are the short-stay (Type C) means of subsistence. A long-stay (Type D) visa sets its funds requirement nationally by purpose (study, work, family reunification, income) — check the consulate for the amount that applies to your case.
Per day
Scale
Minimum
—
In EUR ≈
as shown
staying with a private individual (no financial credit)
€45 / day
staying at a hotel (no financial credit)
€95 / day
Notes
Approximately EUR 45/day (hosted by a private individual) or EUR 95/day (hotel), per person, plus a return travel ticket. A signed, municipally-authenticated letter of guarantee (declaration of liability) by a solvent host can substitute for personal funds. Per day of planned stay.
Consulates apply discretion and may expect a buffer above this figure — treat it as a floor, not a guarantee.
Funds source ↗⚠ Special cases & caveats
- All nationalities incl. Irish/EU citizens' third-country family membersA D visa is required for any stay over 90 days regardless of visa-exemption for short stays.
- Documents in foreign languagesMust be legalised/apostilled and translated into French, Dutch, German or English.