Do you live in Belgium and would like to travel to the United States soon for a business trip or a holiday?
In this case, you will need to apply for ESTA in order to obtain permission to stay, which exempts you from applying for a visa.
To find out more about the steps to be taken and the documents to be provided for your application, we suggest you find out more about applying for an ESTA in Belgium for the United States.
ESTA Belgium: Key points
- Belgium is a member of the ESTA system for the United States.
- You can therefore access the ESTA Belgium form online and obtain authorisation within 24 hours.
- The ESTA Belgium form for the USA is available in French and Flemish
- ESTA Belgium is a form of visa exemption for the United States.
To benefit from the ESTA visa waiver programme, one of the conditions to be met is to be a national of one of the 38 member countries of this scheme set up in 2009 by the American authorities. As Belgium is a member of this scheme, you can, if you are a Belgian national (i.e. you live in Belgium), benefit from this simplification of your procedures for obtaining a residence permit.
Of course, being a Belgian national is not the only condition for obtaining your ESTA quickly. In addition, you must have a valid biometric or electronic passport that is valid for the entire duration of your trip.
The ESTA programme is also reserved for stays of less than 90 days. If you plan to stay longer in the United States, you will need to apply for a visa on the website of the American consulate in Belgium.
The good news about your ESTA application is that, compared to a visa application, it will only take a few minutes of your time and you will not need to travel at all. In fact, the entire process is done online. All you need to do is to be in front of a computer connected to the internet, and go to the official website or to a website such as that of our partner, where you will find an application form.
There is no need to go to a particular Belgian site.
By accessing this online form, you will be able to enter information about yourself such as your identity, passport number, and reasons for travel. You will be asked other questions to determine whether you represent a danger to American society, and you must answer them truthfully.
Once you have completed the questionnaire and paid the application fee by credit card, your application will be reviewed by the US immigration authorities who will send you their decision within 72 hours. You will not have to print your application, but it is advisable to keep your file number in order to be able to modify your file if necessary.
Finally, you should be aware that it is possible that your application may be rejected for any reason. In this case, you can reapply 10 days later, or apply for a traditional visa.
Of course, as we have quickly seen above, ESTA authorisation is not available to all travellers who wish to visit the United States. Indeed, even if Belgium is a member of this scheme and its citizens theoretically benefit from the visa waiver programme, it is also necessary to meet several other conditions to benefit from it.
First of all, it is essential to have a valid Belgian biometric or electronic passport.
Several conditions must also be met with regard to the purpose of the trip to the USA, which must only be for tourism, medical or business purposes, or even a stopover or transit. Finally, it is also essential to fill in the online security form carefully and honestly. After examining the document, the border officials will decide whether or not to grant the Belgian citizen who applies for an ESTA.
Remember that in this form, you will have to answer several questions concerning your identity, your passport number, but also questions concerning your recent travels, your judicial situation or your health situation.
A simple error in the answer to one of these questions can therefore lead to a refusal by the American authorities. It is therefore essential to be very careful to answer all the items correctly without trying to modify or change the reality.
For Belgian citizens wishing to travel to the United States, it is important to choose the right solution for your trip: the classic visa or the ESTA, which is a quick and practical option for short stays. The duration and validity depend on the solution chosen:
The ESTA is a recommended option for Belgian citizens entering under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), allowing simplified access to the United States without a visa for short stays.
The ESTA is therefore an excellent solution for frequent short trips.
The ESTA is perfectly suited to short stays, while a visa is required for longer stays or specific reasons.
In addition to a visa or ESTA, Belgian citizens must present certain essential documents:
Belgian citizens using ESTA must ensure that all documents and information are accurate and complete before travelling.
A visa or ESTA application may be rejected for several reasons:
If your application is rejected, you can apply for a new ESTA or submit a new visa application after rectifying the problems identified.
To renew a US visa, Belgian citizens must follow a similar procedure to that for an initial application. In some cases, they may be able to renew without an interview if :
There is no renewal process forESTA users. A new application must be submitted online once the initial authorization has expired or if your passport has changed.
It is advisable to start the process early to avoid delays in your travel plans.
Adeline HARMANT
As a web writer and globetrotter with a passion for travel and tourism, I have acquired in-depth knowledge of the procedures that are essential for travellers. I help travellers to complete all the formalities required for a successful trip, particularly when it comes to obtaining a visa online. With several years' experience in this field, I'd like to offer you some valuable advice to help you discover the world with complete peace of mind.
Yes, Belgian children must have their own ESTA authorization or visa to enter the United States.
The processing time for ESTA applications is the same, regardless of the applicant's country. You will need to allow a maximum of 72 hours to obtain this travel authorisation. Remember that the reply to your ESTA application will be sent to you by email and usually within a few hours, i.e. well before the announced deadline. In some rare cases, this timeframe may be a little longer.
Although a passport is of course an essential document if you wish to apply for ESTA, the Belgian passport is not the only one accepted by this system. In fact, all passports issued by countries that are members of this system are eligible for ESTA applications. This is the case for the majority of European Union countries. However, dual nationality can sometimes cause problems.
