■ Employees

Do you need a Temporary Residency Visa?

A citizen of Korea or of any country other than a Member State of the European Union who intends to reside in Belgium for a period longer than 90 days, or for a succession of periods totaling more than 90 days per 6 months, must first obtain a temporary residency visa.

When the applicant seeks to engage in a professional activity on a salaried basis (employee status), the required residency visa can only be issued upon the presentation of a work permit and supporting documents.

The work permit is applied for and must be obtained by the employer in Belgium at the appropriate regional government office before the prospective employee enters Belgium.

The employer mails the work permit to the employee, who then contacts the appropriate consular office in whose jurisdiction (s)he is a resident to apply for the temporary residency visa. Please request your visa at least three weeks prior to you intended departure date. The normal processing time for this type of visa is one week. For non Korean citizens, the processing time may be considerably longer.

How to apply:

Please submit in person:

1. A valid national passport (validity 12 months).

2. Two visa application forms(←click!) duly completed, dated and signed.

3. Three recent passport-size photographs.

4. A valid work permit (and a photocopy of the work permit)

5. A copy of medical certificate which has been used for work permit application.

6. A certificate of good conduct

a) if the applicant applies in his/her country of origin : a certificate issued by the authorities of his/her country of origin maximum 6 months validity prior to the date of application and covering the previous year.

b) if the applicant is residing in a third country : two certificates should be issued :

- One in the country of origin

- One in the country of residence

Both certificates should not have a validity exceeding 6 months on the date of application and should cover the previous year of his/her stay in the country of residence.

Coordination center employees:

all the above documents (except for the work permit) and in addition:

7. Employees of coordination centers are exempt from the work permit. Instead of the work permit they need to present an employment contract issued by the employer, i.e. the authorized coordination center in Belgium. A copy of the Belgian official paper ("het Belgisch Staatsblad/Le Moniteur Belge") showing the approval by the Belgian government of the coordination center should also be provided.

For your dependents:

The Korean spouse and dependent children (under 15 years) of an Korean citizen who has obtained a work permit and a temporary residency visa, do not need a visa prior to entering Belgium. But they do need to fill out 2 application forms (with 3 pictures) and the family members should have valid Korean passports and should submit the following upon their arrival in Belgium to the municipal authorities of their place of residence:

1. For your spouse : the birth certificate, the marriage certificate and a medical certificate dated no more than six months prior to the date of application.

2. For the children : the birth certificates and a medical certificate dated no more than six months prior to the date of application.

3. A criminal history record check for family members over 15.

4. Proof of Lodging for the whole family : Please make arrangements to obtain accommodations prior to your intended depature (the International student office of the University in Uqestion may be able to assist you.)

REMARK

A personal appearance is requested.

The documents listed above are merely the basic documents required in all cases. Additional documents may be requested by the embassy or consulate.

documents issued abroad must be legalised or bear an apostille, depending on the country whence they originated. For Korean documents, please make contact with Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade www.0404.go.kr(02-2100-7500) to obtain Apostille.

Visa application fee(as of 01/07/2009): 180 EUR(*) in KRW cash