The Belgian ambassador to Kenya, Peter Maddens, said that the visa application process will not be as chaotic in 2023, suggesting that the country will process Schengen visa applications faster as the embassies clear the backlog.
During a visit to Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, ambassador Maddens said that ‘a storm’ was created after the borders opened again for travellers due to visa and passport issues, and pointed out that other countries faced similar challenges too, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
In addition, ambassador Maddens said that he believes that Belgium as well as the other countries have learned their lesson from the experiences of this year, indicating that the visa application and its processing will resume as per usual.
Citizens of Kenya as well as citizens of all the other third countries that have not reached a visa-liberalisation agreement with the member states, must obtain a visa before reaching Belgium or any other country in Europe.
>> EU/Schengen Entry Requirements for Kenyan Citizens
A Schengen visa is a short-term visa which permits its holder to enter any member state of the Schengen Area for stays up to 90 days within a 180-day period for tourism and business purposes.
Those planning to apply for a Belgian Schengen visa must keep in mind that visa applications can be submitted three months before taking a trip at the earliest. In addition, all applicants must make sure to attach to their application all the required documents.
When applying for the Belgium tourist visa, all persons are required to submit a fully completed, printed, and signed Belgium visa application form, two identical photos, and their passport, which must contain at least two blank pages.
In addition to the above-mentioned, all Kenyan applicants must submit copies of their previous visas, a cover letter, a round-trip flight itinerary containing the flight numbers, proof of accommodation, proof of sufficient financial means, proof of civil status, as well as Schengen travel medical insurance.
Regarding the proof of sufficient financial means, Belgian Immigration emphasises that travellers must attest to possessing €95 per day if staying in a hotel in Belgium and €45 per day if staying in other types of accommodation.
Following the completion of the application procedure, the authorities will start processing the visa application. In general, it takes up to 15 days for the Belgian authorities to prove a Schengen visa. However, depending on the situation, the processing times may be extended up to 30 days.