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 United States.
SCHENGEN · VISA C✈ DOCUMENTS
🇧🇪 Belgium·····✈·····🇺🇸 from United States
To
Belgium
Type
D · LONG STAY
Apply at
USA
Centre
VAC
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Action neededLong stay — national (Type D) · applying from United States.
Documents ready00 / 09
Competent authority
By state of residence: Embassy of Belgium in Washington D.C. or Consulates General in New York, Atlanta or Los Angeles.
Application centre
None - apply directly to the competent Belgian post. Register on visaonweb.diplomatie.be; submit in person (appointment), by mail, or drop-off depending on the post, with notarised signature on mailed/dropped-off files.
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
$35
Est. total (adult)
$135
Long stay (Type D)
€180
The short-stay (Type C) consular fee is harmonised at €90 for adults across all Schengen states; collected in USD · centre: VFS Global.
Fee notes
VFS Global; direct mail-in possible if biometrics given within 59 months. D fee ~€180 (approximate).
Timeline
medium confidenceProcessing
15–45 days
End-to-end
3–8 weeks
Centre
VAC
Appointment wait
Generally better availability than France/Germany/Italy, but e-appointment slots released in limited batches and can fill within minutes at peak. Realistically 1-6 weeks; tighter in spring/summer and holidays.
Application centre
Consulate direct: Embassy Washington DC and Consulates General Atlanta, Los Angeles, New York via their own e-appointment systems (TLScontact does NOT operate US centres; VFS referenced as optional intermediary). Jurisdiction by US state across four posts.
Timeline notes
No single US-wide VAC operator; each Belgian post runs its own online appointment system. Belgium does not publish a US-specific average processing 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
- US citizens and all other nationalitiesA D visa is required for any stay over 90 days (US citizens are only exempt for short stays).
- Third-country nationals resident in the USAMust hold valid US residence and apply at the post covering their state of residence.