Visa on the basis of a Professional Card

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More detailed information can be found on the following two links: 

Foreigners wishing to become established in Belgium on a self-employed basis must be in possession of a professional card, authorizing the exercise of a self-employed activity, issued by one of the three Regions. After obtaining a professional card, a visa application (Visa D) can be submitted.


Application for a professional card

The applicant should obtain a professional card before applying for a Type D visa. The form to apply for a professional card can be downloaded from the site of one of the three Regions (see below). The Embassy will send the application for a professional card and the supporting documents to the administration of the competent Region in Belgium. After examination of the file, the regional administration (Regional Employment Ministry in Flanders, Brussels or Wallonia) will decide whether to issue the Professional card or not.

Further information about this matter may be obtained from the Region where the economic activity will take place:

Before contacting the Embassy in order to submit your application for a professional card:

  • Please prepare 3 complete files (paper versions, original documents + 2 copies, of all documents). 
  • One electronic version, with ALL DOCUMENTS IN ONE PDF, needs to be sent to the Embassy in advance, meaning before booking the appointment.
  • Please contact the Embassy again ONLY when all the above has been done in order to book an appointment; please add the electronic file as mentioned above. 

On the day of the appointment at the Embassy, the applicant should:

  • Bring the 3 paper files to the Embassy on the day of the appointment. They will be analysed on the spot. This can take 1 to 2 hours. 
  • Need to pay the applicable amount at the Embassy in euro, the exact amount in cash. For the amount: please see the website of the region. 


Application for a visa D on the basis of a professional card

Once the applicant has obtained a professional card from one of the regions, he can introduce his visa application (Visa D) via VFS/Gerry’s.

Authorisation to stay for more than 3 months in Belgium = visa D

The following documents are required in order to apply for a visa D on the basis of a professional card. All documents must be introduced in 1 single file of original documents.

 

  1. a visa application form, per applicant, dated and signed;
  2. proof of payment of the administrative fee;
  3. recent passport photo in colour;
  4. a valid international passport (still valid 1 year);
  5. a photocopy of the national identity card;
  6. a valid professional card (to be obtained before the visa application is submitted – cf. Supra).
  7. if this document has not been produced with the application for a professional card : Medical certificate, from a doctor accredited by the Embassy, attesting that applicant is not suffering from any disease putting public health at risk. The medical certificate will be handed over by the doctor to the visa applicant in a sealed envelope, and should be submitted along with the other supporting documents at the Visa Application Centre.
  8. an extract from criminal record.
     

1. Language of documents submitted as part of a visa application

Official documents must be in English, French, Dutch or German. If your document is established in Urdu or any other foreign language, you must have it translated by a certified translator in Belgium. Certified translators can be found on the website of the Federal Public Service Justice.


2. Requirements for official Pakistani documents 

Apostille as part of visa applications. All official Pakistani documents as part of a visa application file for long stay have to get an apostille from the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs first (however, for diplomas, degrees and transcripts, please see below). More information can be found on the Apostille website created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan. Once the visa applicant has all the necessary apostilles, he/she can submit a complete visa file with the application form and all the supporting documents.


3. Requirements for official Afghan documents

We do not currently legalize any Afghan documents. Documents submitted as part of a visa application will be accepted in the state in which they are presented to us.


4. Procedure regarding fingerprints

Fingerprints will be collected for all visa applications (short stay (type C) and long stay (type D)). This concerns all applicants from the age of 12 (C visa) or 6 (D visa). Applicants will have to come in person to the Visa Application Center of VFS/Gerry’s International for the collection of their fingerprints.

Exceptions are foreseen for the following applicants:

  • Persons for whom the collection of fingerprints is physically impossible (e.g. because of a physical impairment).
  • Diplomatic and consular personnel accredited to an Embassy or Consulate of their country in Belgium, as well as their family members, in possession of a  diplomatic or official passport.


5. All fees (handling fees or consular fees) are to be paid to VFS/Gerry's International. 

Nobody (staff, lawyers, private consultants or travel agencies) is entitled to charge any amount of money directly to the applicant except for VFS/Gerry's international offices or the Embassy.


6. The Embassy strongly advises caution when using the services of agents or consultants to prepare a visa application.

Our website contains all official and necessary information to help you prepare a correct and complete file.

By preparing your file yourself, you maintain full control on the quality of the documents you will be presenting. You also assure yourself that no false information or documentation is given.

The Embassy also wishes to emphasize they are not working together with any travel agent or consultant.

Foto van een Belgische vlag, een pen en een blad papier waarop de woorden Visa application staan

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