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Schengen visa, applied for from the UK

Belgium visa from the UK for non-UK passport holders

If you live in the UK on a non-UK passport, you apply for a Belgium Schengen visa through TLScontact in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. The visa fee is £81 (€90), plus a £34.70 TLScontact service fee. TLScontact says the embassy aims to decide within 10 working days.

Checked against official sourcesLast reviewed · sources at the foot of the page
Consulate fee, adult. €45 for ages 6 to 11, free under 6.
€90
TLScontact service charge, paid at the centre.
£34.70
Standard processing after the appointment.
15 days
The earliest you can apply before you travel.
6 months

Who can apply from the UK

You can apply in the UK if you live here, for example on an eVisa. Bring a printout of your share code for the Home Office status check or right-to-work check. TLScontact checks the code itself, so a printout of your own status page is not enough.

You need at least one month of UK residence left when you leave the Schengen area. One TLScontact answer says that with less than 90 days left, the decision goes to Belgium's Ministry and can take up to 85 days.

Belgium must be your main destination: the only Schengen country you visit, the one where you stay longest, or your first point of entry if your stays are equal.

You can use any of the three centres. TLScontact says UK residents, including those in Scotland and Northern Ireland, can apply in London, Manchester or Edinburgh.

If you are only visiting the UK, apply in your country of residence. TLScontact accepts non-residents only in motivated humanitarian cases, and Belgium's Immigration Office then decides within up to 85 days.

Documents for a Belgium visit visa

You provide

  • Passport Signed, issued less than 10 years ago, valid more than 3 months beyond the visa, with two blank pages side by side and no damage. Add a copy of the photo page.
  • UK immigration status A printout of your share code for the Home Office status or right-to-work check, showing at least one month of residence left after your trip.
  • Photos Two ICAO-standard colour photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, on a white background, less than 3 months old, attached with a paper clip.
  • Bank statements Your own UK statements for at least the last 3 months, showing the balance, plus credit card statements showing the monthly limit. If your bank only sends quarterly statements, add a mini-statement or online printout and your payslips.
  • Job or study evidence Employees: a recent signed letter with the employer's UK registration number, your position and salary, plus 3 months of payslips. Self-employed: an accountant's, banker's or solicitor's letter stating your annual salary, plus your self-assessment. Students: a letter with your weekly hours and attendance record.
  • Host documents Family or friend visits: Belgium's official sponsorship form (annex 3bis) from your host, or a copy of your host's passport or residence permit plus proof of your relationship.
  • Children's documents A birth certificate. If a child travels alone or with one parent: both parents' passports or certified copies, proof of parental consent and a British school certificate.

We provide

  • Visa On Web application form Completed on Belgium's Visa On Web system, printed with its barcode and signed in both places. It is the only form accepted.
  • Cover letter Sets out your dates, plans, who pays and your ties to the UK.
  • Return flight reservation A reserved return ticket to the UK, or proof of onward travel.
  • Hotel booking A confirmed hotel booking for your full stay, or a tour booking.
  • Travel medical insurance At least €30,000 of cover for the whole Schengen area and your whole stay, from an insurer in the UK or an EU state. The certificate itself must show the cover: one that refers to a separate policy booklet is refused, and an EHIC is not accepted.
  • TLScontact appointment We book your slot through Visa On Web and pay the TLScontact service fee online, which confirms it. Unpaid slots are cancelled.

Where and when to apply

Belgium takes UK short-stay applications through TLScontact in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. Apply no earlier than 6 months and no later than 15 days before you travel.

TLScontact runs the Belgian visa centres in London, Manchester and Edinburgh for the Embassy of Belgium in London, which decides every application. The embassy does not take applications itself.

Appointments in London →Appointments in Manchester →Appointments in Edinburgh →

Worth knowing about this consulate

  • TLScontact charges the visa fee in pounds only: £81 for adults and £40.50 for children aged 6 to 12. The £34.70 service fee is paid online when you book. Both are paid by debit or credit card (not American Express) and neither is refunded.
  • The centres are at 18 Ryeland Boulevard (Ram Quarter), Wandsworth, London SW18 1UN; 1 Portland Street, Manchester M1 3BE; and Argyle House, 3 Lady Lawson Street, Edinburgh EH3 9DR.
  • Your passport stays at the embassy while it decides. If you need it urgently, ask TLScontact in writing for a temporary withdrawal, which takes at least 3 working days.
  • Documents must be in English, French, Dutch or German. Foreign official documents need legalisation or an apostille unless a treaty exempts them.
  • Optional TLScontact extras in London include a Prime Time appointment (£79.74), form-filling help (£15), courier return (£30) and SMS updates (£1.80).
  • Since 10 April 2026 you can declare your arrival in Belgium online, within three days of arriving, instead of at a town hall.

Notes by passport

Pakistani passport holders

  • TLScontact's processing guidance says Belgium's Immigration Office must authorise visas for Pakistani nationals. TLScontact says referred applications can take up to 85 calendar days, so apply as early as you can.
  • Pakistan is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Belgian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Pakistani national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The Belgian Embassy says the exemption for UK residents covers valid BRP holders only.

Bangladeshi passport holders

  • TLScontact's processing guidance says Belgium's Immigration Office must authorise visas for Bangladeshi nationals. TLScontact says referred applications can take up to 85 calendar days, so apply as early as you can.
  • Bangladesh is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Belgian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Bangladeshi national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The Belgian Embassy says the exemption for UK residents covers valid BRP holders only.

Nigerian passport holders

  • TLScontact's processing guidance says Belgium's Immigration Office must authorise visas for Nigerian nationals. TLScontact says referred applications can take up to 85 calendar days, so apply as early as you can.
  • Nigeria is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Belgian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Nigerian national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The Belgian Embassy says the exemption for UK residents covers valid BRP holders only.

Sri Lankan passport holders

  • TLScontact's processing guidance says Belgium's Immigration Office must authorise visas for Sri Lankan nationals. TLScontact says referred applications can take up to 85 calendar days, so apply as early as you can.
  • Sri Lanka is on the EU's prior-consultation list (version of 1 November 2024), so your application may be checked with other Schengen states before a decision. This can add time, so apply early.
  • Only changing planes at a Belgian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Sri Lankan national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The Belgian Embassy says the exemption for UK residents covers valid BRP holders only.

Ghanaian passport holders

  • Only changing planes at a Belgian airport on the way somewhere else? As a Ghanaian national you need an airport transit visa unless an exemption applies. The Belgian Embassy says the exemption for UK residents covers valid BRP holders only.

Turkish passport holders

  • Belgium requires Turkish nationals to hold an airport transit visa when changing planes at its airports. Holders of service or special passports are exempt. The Belgian Embassy says the exemption for UK residents covers valid BRP holders only.

Gambian passport holders

  • EU restrictions on The Gambia (Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1781) mean only single-entry visas and a standard processing time of 45 days instead of 15. Apply well ahead.

Somali passport holders

  • EU restrictions on Somalia (a Council decision of 25 June 2026) mean only single-entry visas and a standard processing time of 45 days instead of 15. Apply well ahead.

Guinean passport holders

  • EU restrictions on Guinea (a Council decision of 10 July 2026) mean only single-entry visas and a standard processing time of 45 days instead of 15. Apply well ahead.

How a Belgium application runs, day by day

  1. Day 0Eligibility and checklistA yes, a no or a “not yet, because”.
  2. Days 1–5File builtYou send documents on WhatsApp; we do the rest.
  3. VariesAppointment waitWe watch releases daily and book the first that fits.
  4. 15 daysConsulate decisionFingerprints at TLScontact, then we track the file.
  5. DonePassport backThen we confirm your real flights and hotel.

What it costs, and who you pay

Separate payments to separate people. Only ours is set by us, quoted in writing before you commit.

Consulate visa feePaid to the consulate. €45 for children aged 6 to 11. Not refundable if refused.
€90
TLScontact service chargePaid at the centre. Extras are optional.
£34.70
Fast Travellers, file and appointmentEverything from eligibility to decision, quoted in writing before you commit.
Fast Travellers, urgent or after a refusalAdds a daily slot search and a refusal review, quoted in writing before you commit.

Belgium visa questions from UK residents

Can I apply for a Belgium visa on a BRP?

BRPs have been replaced by eVisas. Belgium asks for a printout of your share code for the Home Office status check, not a printout of your own status page. You need at least one month of UK residence left after your trip.

Where do I apply for a Belgium visa in the UK?

At TLScontact in London (Wandsworth), Manchester or Edinburgh. The Belgian Embassy does not take applications itself.

How long does a Belgium visa take from the UK?

TLScontact says the embassy aims to decide within 10 working days. It can take up to 85 calendar days if more documents are needed or your file goes to Belgium's Immigration Office.

How much is a Belgium Schengen visa from the UK?

TLScontact charges £81 for adults and £40.50 for children aged 6 to 12, in pounds only. Children under 6 pay no visa fee. The TLScontact service fee is £34.70.

Do I need the 3bis sponsorship form to stay with family in Belgium?

No. Without it, bring a copy of your host's passport or residence permit and proof of your relationship, plus proof that you can pay for your stay.

Can I get my passport back while my Belgium visa is processed?

Yes. Ask TLScontact in writing for a temporary withdrawal. It takes at least 3 working days, and you collect it from the centre or pay for a courier.

Will my passport be stamped when I enter Belgium?

No. Since 10 April 2026 the EU's Entry/Exit System records your entries and exits digitally instead of stamping your passport. As a visa holder, the system stores a photo of your face taken at the border; your fingerprints are already on file from your visa application.

Can I visit other Schengen countries on a Belgium visa?

Yes. A Schengen visa covers all 29 Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180, as long as Belgium is your main destination.

Where these facts come from

Fees and rules are checked against official and visa-centre pages. Last reviewed . Rules change: we confirm everything again before you pay.

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