BELGIUM. Issuing Authorities

Transcription

1 BELGIUM Issuing Authorities a) Belgian Embassy 625 Leyds St, Muckleneuk 0002 Tel: Fax: The visa section at the Embassy in Pretoria has been closed. b) Belgian Consulate of Johannesburg 3rd Floor, 158 Jan Smuts Bld, 9 Walters Ave, West Core, Rosebank, JNB 2196 PO Box 3431 Parklands 2121 Tel: (011) Fax: Visa applications and collections: Visa telephonic enquiries: enquiries: visa.johannesburg@diplobel.fed.be Web: c) Belgian Consulate of Cape Town 1 Thibault Square, 19th floor, Corner Long Street & Hans Strijdom Avenue, Long Street, Cape Town Tel: (021) /1 Telephone enquiries 13h00-15h00 O/hours: Mon, Tue, Thur, Fri 09h00-12h00. capetown@diplobel.fed.be Page 1 of 10

2 Visa Requirements Visas are required by SA passport holders, but not British P/port holders. Visas are required by other passport holders. Passengers in transit from Belgium to another country that requires a visa, MUST obtain that visa in advance. PLEASE NOTE All visa applicants will have to apply in person when lodging their application, in order to provide their fingerprints. Children under the age of 12 years old are exempted of fingerprints. However, an appointment still needs to be made to allow for intake time. Deliveries by courier or postal services ARE NOT ACCEPTED. REQUIREMENTS: See General Schengen Requirements. NOTES: Letter from company in SA & Belgium (stating all costs and medical insurance will be paid for) COMPULSORY. NB Please specify if visa is for one or multiple entries. Specify reason & proof for multiple entry. ALL VISA APPLICATIONS TO BE APPLIED FOR THROUGH TLSCONTACT IN CAPE TOWN OR JNB: TLScontact Visa Application Centre Media Quarter Upper Ground Floor 2 de Smit Street, De Waterkant Application hours: Mon-Fri Collections : Mon-Fri Tel: contact.cpt2be@tlscontact.com Web: TLScontact Visa Application Centre JHB: 2nd - 3rd Floor 24 Central Building Gwen Lane and Fredman Drive Sandton Johannesburg contact.jnb2be@tlscontact.com Opening hours (Except public holiday) Page 2 of 10

3 Application hours / 9:00 am - 3:00pm / Monday to Friday Passport retrieval hours/ 10:00 am to 4:00 pm / Monday to Friday APPLYING FOR YOUR VISA Submit your application at the TLS Visa Application Centre Step 1: Create your account on the Visa On Web website. Create an account on website and complete the application form. Ensure that this form is printed before you visit the TLSContact Centre. Step 2: Create your account on the TLScontact website. Please create your account. Step 3: Complete your online registration After creating your account, you will be required to log in and fill the online application forms for all members travelling with you. Every online application form must be correctly filled and completed prior being able to book an appointment. Advice: Prior to making your appointment, please ensure that all required supporting documents for the applied visa are prepared to prevent unnecessary change or cancellation of appointment Step 4: Make an appointment Make an appointment to submit your application at the Visa Application Centre. Important Notice: 1. Please print out your appointment confirmation letter, as you will be requested this document when you attend your appointment. 2. For group of more than 5 applicants, you will have to contact our customer representatives to make an appointment after completing your online registration. Step 5: Attend your appointment and submit your application at the Visa Application Centre 1. Please arrive on time for your scheduled appointment with the appointment confirmation letter. 2. An extensive range of Added Value Services is available to facilitate your application. To purchase them please contact our representatives in the Visa application centre. 3. Your application and supporting documents will be checked for completeness and transferred to the consular authority upon your approval. Page 3 of 10

4 4. Payment of application fees. 5. Enrol you biometric data. Important Notice: In case of any lateness, no show, you will be required to make a new appointment thus lead to delay of your application. Step 6: Visa Processing Your application will be considered by consular authority. TLScontact does not make any decisions relating to your visa applications. The consular authority may ask for more information, additional document or attendance of an interview. If this happens, you will be contacted by with detailed instructions. Important notice: You can track your application at any time by visiting your personal account on our website. Step 7: Collect your passport Once your passport is returned to the Visa application centre from the consular authority, you will be notified by . You can then collect your passport from the Visa Application Centre. If you have chosen Express Delivery Service, your passport will be sent to you directly. REQUIREMENTS: TOURISM VISA (VISA C) 1. Original PLUS copy of passport, foreign passport holders must have a residence permit, both valid at least three months longer than the intended stay. The passport needs to have at least 2 consecutive blank pages. 2. One Schengen visa application form (typewritten or written clearly, duly completed and signed). 3. Two recent photographs passport size 4. Return flight reservation. 5. Schengen travel medical insurance for the whole period of stay. 6. Hotel and tour reservation for the whole duration of stay. 7. A. Letter from employer and /or sponsor stating designation, date of employment, salary, period of stay, purpose of visit, financial arrangement. B. Recent original company trade license/cipro copy (if applicant is the owner or the partner). 8. Bank statements for the last three months. 9. Proof of payment visa fee. 10. For minors, an unabridged birth certificate + affidavit legalized by the parents is required. If traveling for BUSINESS (VISA C) THE ABOVE PLUS : * Invitation letter sent by business partner in Schengen state, mentioning duration, purpose and financial arrangement of stay. * Hotel reservation for whole duration of stay. VISA FEES: Page 4 of 10

5 See Page 5 of 10

6 Visa Processing Time 10 working days. Please ensure that visa applications reach the issuing authorities at least 15 days before departure date. Incomplete applications will only be processed after all outstanding documents are received. No on-the-spot Schengen visa will be issued. Page 6 of 10

7 SA Representative South African Embassy Web: Page 7 of 10

8 Travel Health Compulsory: Recommended Travel Vaccines: None Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Polio Belgium is a country whose specialities include ubiquitous beers, delicate chocolates, moules frites and Belgian waffles. Enjoy the many Brussels museums such as the Museum of Ancient Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Comic Strip Museum and the Museum of the City of Brussels - Maison du Roi. Pay homage to chocolate, which is one of Belgium's best known products, with a visit to the Museum of Chocolate and Cocoa off Brussels' Grand Place, or Choco-Story in Bruges. Don't miss the highlight of Brussels - the spectacular Gothic Grand Place. Pose for a photograph in front of the famous Manneken Pis nearby, and his less heralded sister the Janneken Pis; both statues hint at the exuberance and irreverence of the Bruxellois'. Explore Brussels further, with St Michael and St Gudule's Cathedral and the Mont des Arts park, which links the upper and lower parts of the city. And don't forget the elegant Place Royale. Capital: Currency: Language: Brussels (BRU) Euro (EUR) Dutch, French and German. English may be spoken. Dialling code from SA: + 32 Time Zones: Daylight Savings Time: Public Holidays 2017: UTC / GMT +1 (1 hour behind South Africa) From last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October: UTC / GMT +2 (same time as South Africa) Jan 1, Apr 16, 17; May 1, 25; Jun 4, 5, 21; Aug 15; Nov 1, 11; Dec 25 Side of the Road: Right. For non-eu nationals an international driving licence is recommended. Page 8 of 10

9 Best Time to Go: Best for: Plugs: Drinking Water: Health: Customs: Local Offences / Laws: Travel Tips / Warnings: March May and September - October Castles, The Original Spa, War Sites 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the round twopin type Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink, but bottled water is very popular with the locals. There are adequate and well-equipped medical facilities, however they are expensive and visitors are required to pay for these services. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended. Speaking the wrong language can cause offence make sure that you know which language should be spoken. If in doubt, English should be spoken. All individuals are required by law to carry identification at all times. Smoking is prohibited in certain public areas. Although credit cards are widely accepted, if visiting a smaller village, be sure to carry cash. Page 9 of 10

10 Duty Free: Belgium is within the European Union. If you are travelling from the UK, you are entitled to buy fragrance, skincare, cosmetics, Champagne, wine, selected spirits, fashion accessories, gifts and souvenirs - all at tax-free equivalent prices. If you are travelling from within the EU, there is no limit on the amount or value of goods you may import, providing your goods are for personal consumption. Goods imported for commercial purposes are subject to duty and the following guideline amounts are in place to determine whether this is the case: 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco. 10L of spirits over 22%, 20L of alcoholic beverages less than 22%, 90L of wine (no more than 60L of sparkling wine) and 110L of beer. If you are arriving from a non-eu country, the following goods may be imported into Belgium by travellers over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco. 4L of wine and 16L of beer and 1L of spirits over 22% or 2L of alcoholic beverages less than 22%. Other goods up to the value of 430 for air and sea travellers and 300 for other travellers (reduced to 175 for children under 15). Prohibited Imports: Restricted imports include firearms, narcotics, plants, animals and their products. Endangered species must be accompanied by a CITES permit. Page 10 of 10