Medical Visa to Belgium: Step-by-Step Procedure
The Schengen short-stay visa for medical reasons (Type C, medical) is a procedural instrument. It is not difficult to obtain. It is, however, easy to delay. This article describes the documentation and submission sequence we use.
Documentation overview
A complete file contains: a valid passport with at least six months' validity beyond the planned departure; the hospital invitation letter, dated and signed; medical correspondence justifying the indication for treatment; evidence of financial means (bank statements, proof of medical fund coverage); travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 evacuation cover; flight itinerary; accommodation booking; and a return undertaking.
For companion visas, the relationship to the patient is documented (marriage certificate, birth certificate). For minor children, both parents' authorisation is required if travelling with one parent.
The hospital invitation letter
This is the document around which the entire file turns. It must be on hospital letterhead, signed by a treating consultant, and contain: the patient's identification, the proposed treatment with International Classification of Diseases reference where appropriate, the estimated duration of stay, the financial arrangement, and confirmation that medical care will be provided.
We coordinate the letter directly with the Belgian centre. We do not draft it.
Submission and decision
Visa applications are submitted to the Belgian consulate of your country of residence — either directly or through the consulate's authorised external service provider. Biometrics are collected at submission. Decision is typically returned within fifteen working days, though it may be returned much faster for well-prepared files.
Where the consulate offers an express procedure for medical visas, we pursue it. The result is rarely automatic; it depends on the file being complete on first presentation.
Common reasons for delay
Missing or insufficient financial documentation. A hospital invitation letter that is too vague about the indication or duration. Travel insurance that does not specifically cover medical evacuation. A return undertaking that is informal rather than formal. We address each of these before submission.