News and Notices

BELGIUM VISA APPLICATION CENTRE CLOSURE NOTICE

This is to inform our customers of the permanent closure of our Belgium Visa Application Centres in Nigeria from 9 September 2021 located at the following addresses:

Lagos: Manor Hall, Plot 110 Admiral Ayinla Way, Opp Treasure Garden Estate, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria)

Abuja: 3rd Floor Sterling Bank Plaza, Plot 1083 Mohammedu Buhari way, Central Business District, Abuja -Nigeria

We advise customers to reach out to the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja for any visa application processing requests or queries from Thursday, 9 September 2021, by visiting the following website: [https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/nigeria]

Starting from 27 July 2021, The Belgian Embassy in Abuja represents The Netherlands for all visa applications.

Modification of consular jurisdiction

On 1 July 2021, the consular jurisdiction for Togo and Benin will be transferred from the Embassy in Abuja to the Embassy in Abidjan, this in order to better assist people residing in Togo and Benin with regard to consular matters.

This includes, inter alia, assistance to Belgians in distress, passport applications and visa applications.

Visa applications submitted by residents of Togo and Benin before 1 July 2021 will be processed entirely (including interview, DNA test, etc.) by the Embassy in Abuja.

Visa applications submitted by residents of Togo and Benin on and after 1 July 2021 will be processed by the Embassy in Abidjan.

The Belgium Visa Application Centers in Nigeria will resume operations on 13 July 2020. The Centre will however only accept applications for long term Visas (Students, Family reunion, Family members of nationals of an EU Member State or Schengen Member State, Visa to get married in Belgium, Cohabitation visa, Sports, Work permits, Friends & Family visit – only long term relationships (couples), Medical, Humanitarian, Transit Visa, Returnees (customers with an expired Belgian residence card)). The office shall be open only on Monday and Wednesday between 09:00 hrs to 14:00 hrs in Abuja and Lagos until further notice. The Embassy is not representing Estonia, Lithuania and the Netherlands till further notice.The Belgian Embassy in Abuja represents Luxembourg for long stay visa applications (more than 90 days).

IMPORTANT NOTICE/BELGIUM CLOSURE OF VISA SECTION

The heads of state and government of the European Union decided last night (17.03.2020) to temporarily close the external borders to third-country nationals on non-essential travel.

This means that, until further notice, no visa application can be received nor any visa issued. Certain limited categories of exceptions (listed below) may be accepted.

These requests must contact the Embassy via e-mail on abuja.visa@diplobel.fed.be; the management of VFS has been instructed to no longer to accept any applications on behalf of Belgium till further notice.

Please note that this measure applies also for applications we take on behalf of the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Estonia and Lithuania.

We thank you for your understanding and collaboration.

Exemption for travelers with an essential function who could be taken into consideration:

• Healthcare professionals, health researchers, and elderly care professionals;
• Frontier workers;
• Transport personnel engaged in haulage of goods and other transport staff to the extent necessary;
• Diplomats, staff of international organizations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their functions;
• Passengers in transit; Including those having been repatriated through consular assistance.
• Passengers travelling for imperative family reasons;
• Persons in need of international protection or for other humanitarian reasons.

The visa application in these categories will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the Embassy.

Applicants applying for a Belgium visa would receive an automated email response indicating the status of the application, this is a complimentary service and a part of the service fee.

Applicants choosing to avail SMS as optional value addition services would additionally receive SMS alerts on phone indicating the status of the application. Kindly read SMS service disclaimer

Applicants who have not received such automated SMS from VFS are entitled to a compensation and are requested to contact the visa application center manager.

Applicants above 18 have to pay an additional fee to Home Office for the processing of their visa D.

As per our instructions of 24 February 15, most applicants above 18 have to pay an additional fee to Home Office for the processing of their visa D.

The additional fee will not be reimbursed if the visa has been refused and this fee is valid for the file only. Hence applicants, who have been refused, will have to pay the fee Again.

Please note that in general short stay visas for Togolese nationals residing in Togo

Please note that in general short stay visas for Togolese nationals residing in Togo have to be submitted with the French Embassy in Lome and short stay visas for Beninese nationals residing in Benin have to be submitted with the French Embassy in Cotonou.

There are some exceptions in the representation agreements.

These are:

1. visa for marriage;
2. visa for cohabitation;
3. visa for medical purposes;
4. visa for adoption ;
5. visa for remittance of a child  ;
6. Return visa ;
7. visa for diplomats and administrative staff that will be posted in an embassy or international organization in Belgium

Those applications should be introduced with VFS Lagos or VFS Abuja.

The list of States that fall under the jurisdiction of Abuja.

Dear Applicants, kindly be informed that only those living in the Northern part of Nigeria can apply for Netherland Visa in Abuja

Please find below the list of States that fall under the jurisdiction of Abuja

Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kastina, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, FCT Abuja, Yobe, Zamafara

This is to inform all Belgium visa applicants from Republic of Benin and Togo.

This is to inform all Belgium visa applicants from Republic of Benin and Togo that Only Family Reunification applications should be submitted at VFS centres(Lagos and Abuja).

While student applications are to be submitted directly at Belgium Embassy, Abuja Nigeria.

Contact Belgium embassy - details here

This is to inform all Belgium applicants that the Belgium Embassy can only be contacted via visa.abuja@diplobel.fed.be. Applicants who intend to contact the Embassy should kindly indicate the following details: Last name/First name/Date of Birth/Passport number and date of application.

Biometrics Data Collection:

With effect from 14 March 2013, all visa applicants, irrespective of nationality, will have to apply in person to a Visa Application Centre (VAC) and have their facial image and finger-scans taken. 

Short term visa applicant,

Please be informed that all applicants are advised to make a complete sets of clear legible photocopies of all their original documents and two ( 2) passport photographs 

Long term visa applicants,

Please be informed that all applicants are advised to make 2 complete sets of clear legible photocopies of all their original documents and three (3) passport photographs

Applicants are hereby informed that no Visa applications will be accepted 3 months prior the travel date.

1. Submission And Collection Timings

Lagos Abuja

Application Submission 08:00 - 14:00  08:00 - 14:00
Enquiry  08:00 - 14:00 08:00 - 14:00
Passport Pass back 11:00 - 16:00  08:00 - 15:00

Important notice on - Short Stay Visas - Processing time...

The visa processing time will be at least 12 full working days. In case the visa application has to be submitted to the Federal Department of the Interior in Brussels, the processing time will be approximately 4 working weeks.

The verification of the submitted documents can delay or impede the issuance of the requested visa. These delays depend exclusively upon the instance that issued the documents.

According to the Passport (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act Chapter 343 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990

“It shall be an offence for any person- to have, hold or be in unauthorized possession of more than one valid standard Nigerian passport.”

Therefore when submitting a new passport, you should cancel the previous passport.

All valid visas in that passport will remain valid.

When you decide not to submit your previous passports your travel history will not be taken into consideration.

Dear applicant,

Please be informed that with effect from 1 August 2009,those who are willing to apply for Belgium Visa in Abuja, have to visit VFS Global Services Nigeria Limited centre in Abuja for the submission

No direct application will be accepted at Belgium Embassy Abuja.

The passport collection will also take place at VFS Global Services Nigeria Ltd centre. From 1 August 2009, applicants need not to take any appointment date to visit VFS Global centre, Abuja and within given stipulated submission time, any applicant can go and submit his or her application himself or herself only provided having minimum required documents for submission.

This will be the second centre besides Lagos at Lekki.

The address and timing of submission of application and collection of passports are as follows:

Lagos Centre

Belgium Visa Application Centre.

VFS Global,
Manor House, Plot 110,
Admiral Ayinla Way,
(Opposite Treasure Garden Estate, 3rd Roundabout, Lekki-Epe Expressway)
Lekki Phase I, Lagos.

Submission timing:
08:00 - 14:00 Monday - Friday (except holidays observed by the Belgium Embassy)

Passport collection timing :
11:00 - 16:00 Monday - Friday (except holidays observed by the Embassy of Belgium)

Abuja Centre

Belgium Visa Application Centre.
38, Lobito Crescent,Wuse II, Abuja, Nigeria

We are relocating to below new location in Abuja from 15 October 2018

Belgium Visa Application Centre

Sterling Bank Plaza, 3rd Floor, Plot 1083 Mohammadu Buhari Way,

Central Business District, Abuja

Submission timing:
08:00 - 14:00 Monday - Friday (except holidays observed by the Belgium Embassy)

Passport collection timing :
08:00 - 15:00 Monday - Friday (except holidays observed by the Embassy of Belgium)
For any queries, kindly contact us on our call centre numbers +234(0)8150188800 We shall respond to phone calls from 0900 to 1600 from Monday to Friday except the holidays observed by the Belgium Embassy

"VF Global Services Nigeria Ltd will not be responsible for any decision/passport delays from the Belgium Embassy

Also if the applicant does not collect the processed passports from VFS Global visa application centers within 90days from the date they are received from the Embassy, the passports would be returned back to the Embassy.

Kindly note that VF global would not be held responsible for applicant not picking up their passports after they are processed by the Embassy and ready for collection at VFS Global."

Dear Applicant please call up VFS Global on 0 +234(0)8150188800 for any general enquiries...

Kindly be advised that for any general enquiries or to know the passport status, please call up VFS Global on +234(0)8150188800. If you need to contact the Embassy directly for any visa enquiries, please send an e-mail to this email address visa.abuja@diplobel.fed.be. Please be informed that phone calls will not be entertained at the Embassy and requested to send queries through e-mail only.

Please note that for technical reasons the Embassy of Belgium is requiring all applicants...

to submit the new style E-passport with immediate effect. From now henceforth the Belgium Visa Application Centre will no longer accept applications from all travelers with the old style MRZ passport.