INVESTMENT

A national from any country other than a Member State of the European Union who intends to reside in Belgium for a period longer than 90 days must first obtain a temporary resident visa from a consular post abroad. Note: only ROC nationals or foreigners with ARC in Taiwan can apply for a visa through our office.

Remarks:

• The consular fee for a resident visa is 90 EURO, at the moment equal to 3960 NTD. This fee can vary according to the exchange rate. Consular taxes for legalizing documents are calculated seperately for each case.
• The applicant has to apply in person.
• Visa applications for this type of visa are received from Monday through Friday 9.00 to 11.30 on working days.
• Visa application forms and medical certificate are available at this office or can be downloaded.
• Medical check should be performed by a doctor appointed by this office (list available).

1. 3 visa application forms, signed by the applicant + 4 recent photos within 6 months with white background
2. Passport (validity at least one year) and copy of passport.
3. The household registration (partial if applicant will leave alone, complete if family accompanies the applicant) in Chinese, with a certified translation in French, Dutch or German (depending on the region in Belgium where the applicant will live). (legalised by a Notary Public)
4. Police record for every person older than 18 (legalised by a Notary Public)
5. A medical certificate certifying that the applicant has not contracted a contagious or transmittable disease and that his physical condition allows him to engage in the professional activity he applies for.
6. The approval of the Ministry of Economic Affairs sent directly to BTA.

Procedure :
The following documents have to be submitted to the Foreign Investment Offices of the Region where the company will be established: investment planning, information on the mother company and essential information of the expatriates (documents to be submitted can vary according to the region). The Regional Foreign Investment Offices will check the feasability of the application and in case of a positive result, will transfer the application to the foreign investment service of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. In case of acceptance of the investment, the consular post will issue a resident visa. The resident visa is valid for 8 months and allows the alien to go to Belgium and establish his company, engage in professional activities and start the procedure for applying a professional card (if he is a shareholder) or a working permit (if he is working on a salaried basis). If the procedure for establishing a company is not finished or if the expatriate can not obtain a professional licence or working permit within these 8 months, the alien will have to leave Belgium at the expiry date of his 8 month visa.

For more information on investment in Belgium, please contact our office (27151215 ext.206 or 204) or the investment authorities in Belgium.

Formalities after arriving in Belgium:

The Alien has to register with the city hall within 8 days of arrival (of the place of residence, not the place of work) and submit his passport, the documents concerning his activities in Belgium and household registration if applicable (translated and certified). .After the usual verifications, the ciy hall will issue a resident permit (Certificat d'inscription au registre des étrangers –C.I.R.E.), valid from 5 months to 1 year, depending on the case, and extendable. This permit allows the alien to travel within the Schengen States and to apply for a visa with the foreign diplomatic representative offices in Belgium. The delay between registering at the city hall and issuing the residence permit can take 3 to 6 weeks depending on the city. Since the visa issued by BOT is only valid for a single entry, the applicant should refrain from leaving Belgium as long as the administrative procedures are not finished.