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Residency

Belgium — Residency: Processing Times

Belgian D-visa checklists list processing of about three weeks for private employees and three months for self-employed applicants.

VerifiedGovernment / official sourceBelgian diplomatic missions — D visa checklistsLast reviewed: 2026-10-23

Key facts

  • The D-visa checklist for private employees lists about 3 weeks of processing.
  • The checklist for self-employed workers lists about 3 months, and an embassy advises filing the professional card at least 4 months before departure.
  • Times run after the regional authority has approved the single permit or professional card.
  • Check your mission for current times.

Steps

  1. Application Submission — Applicants submit their residency application and supporting documents to the relevant Belgian embassy or consulate, or to the Federal Public Service 'Foreigners' in Belgium.
  2. Application Review — The Belgian authorities review the application and supporting documents for completeness and compliance with residency requirements.
  3. Decision and Visa Issuance — The Belgian authorities make a decision on the residency application and issue a visa to eligible applicants, if applicable.

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