At a glance
Do you need a passport or a visa to travel to your destination? How and where do you apply for one?
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Everyone dreams of one day traveling to the other side of the world, discovering unfamiliar cities, and sampling exotic cultures. If that's the case, and provided no health crisis is restricting travel, it's important to check in good time that your travel documents are in order.
Is your passport still valid for long enough?
Do you need a visa, an ESTA, or an eTA for this destination?
Are there any mandatory vaccinations?
Do you need a few tips to travel with peace of mind?
Are a passport and visa mandatory?
If you're traveling outside Europe, it's recommended to check in advance whether your passport is valid for long enough, whether a vaccination is required for the destination in question, and whether other administrative matters need to be settled. For example, there's a good chance you'll need to apply for a visa or another travel authorization as soon as you travel outside Europe.
The time needed to obtain a passport from your local municipal administration is 8 to 10 days (85 EUR). An "urgent" request takes 24 to 48 hours and costs 250 EUR. It is sometimes possible to obtain a passport through a "super express" procedure. Check with your municipality.
Mandatory documents are listed by destination on the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
You can apply for the visa yourself (online or otherwise) at the consulate or embassy of the country you wish to visit. But you can also ask a specialized agency to handle it for you. You'll then be charged a processing fee, but you'll be free of any administrative hassle. Demandevisa is one example.
Besides the passport and visa, some destinations also require proof of travel assistance coverage. If you need such a document (travel assistance certificate), you can contact Redion's customer service.
How long must my passport remain valid?
For some destinations, your passport only needs to be valid for the duration of your stay (United States), sometimes one day more (Canada).
But for other destinations, requirements can differ. For India or Egypt, for example, the passport must be valid for at least 6 months upon arrival in the country. For a trip to Vietnam, your passport must be valid for at least 30 days longer than your visa.
Do I need a visa, ESTA, eTA, or another travel authorization?
Via the demandevisa website, and provided no travel restriction or ban has been put in place by the authorities, you can apply (online) for the visa or travel authorization for the destination of your choice.
A few examples:
- United States: for holidays, business trips, or transit through the USA, an ESTA is mandatory. This is a travel authorization that avoids an unnecessary trip to the embassy to get a visa. Travelers (children included) must have a valid ESTA, otherwise they cannot check in for their flight to the United States, or even their cruise.
- Canada: as with the United States, all you need for Canada is an eTA, an Electronic Travel Authorization. A Canadian eTA is valid for 5 years and can be used for an unlimited number of trips, whether for holidays, a business trip, studies, or visiting family. Please note: an eTA is also required to transit through Canada!
- United Kingdom: To enter British territory, you must have a valid passport. Indeed, following its exit from the European Union (Brexit), the United Kingdom no longer accepts the Belgian ID card as the sole travel document. From April 2, 2025, every EU traveler (adult and child alike) will need an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation). This can be requested via the following government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta. The ETA application costs £10 and remains valid for 2 years after approval. Approval is expected to take 3 days. It's best to apply via the app. You should have the following on hand: your passport, a payment card, access to your email, and the ability to take a photo. For a stay of more than 6 months, a visa is required. Visit the following website to find out more: https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.
- India: There are 3 types of electronic visas (e-visas) for India: the eTourist, eBusiness, and eMedical visas, which, like the ESTA and eTA, can easily be applied for online. They are valid for one year. As a tourist you can stay in India for 90 days, and as a business traveler for a maximum of 180 days.
- Vietnam: the former visa on arrival has been replaced by the Vietnam e-visa. The electronic visa is valid for 30 days and is a single-entry visa.
Submit your visa, ESTA, or eTA application in good time to avoid any unnecessary stress.
Check the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website well ahead of your departure and read all the applicable rules for your travel destination: type of passport required for your nationality, passport validity period (during or beyond the length of your trip), visa, other required formalities (e.g. ESTA), recommended or mandatory vaccinations... Also check the website of the embassy of the country concerned.
What else do I need?
Preparing a trip is often almost as enjoyable as the trip itself! What's more, good preparation is the best way to avoid unpleasant surprises. Besides passport and visa, ESTA, or eTA formalities, find out about other recommended or mandatory formalities such as vaccinations, don't forget to check the travel advisories on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, and register your trip on Travellers Online.
Don't forget to draw up a list of emergency numbers to take with you, and check whether you need an international driving licence.
Also make sure you have good travel insurance.
Once these simple checks and preparations are done, it's time to pack your bags for a worry-free trip!
What should I do if I lose my passport?
If you lose or have your passport stolen abroad, it's important to follow certain recommendations. We've covered this in detail in the article "Losing your ID card or passport abroad".
This article was co-written by demandevisa for the Redion Belgium blog.
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