The Consulate-General of Belgium in Montréal updated its long-stay (type D) visa webpage on 28 July 2026, adding clarifications on processing times and reiterating the July fee increase to €250 (CA$ 370). The update matters because Montréal processes a growing share of Belgian study-abroad and work-permit applications for North America—over 6,500 in 2025. Key additions include a reminder that visa requests may be lodged no earlier than six months before travel and that incomplete files will be rejected without refund. The page now lists average processing times: 10–16 weeks for private-college students, 8–12 weeks for single-permit workers and 4–6 weeks for research visas. Applicants are told not to book flights before a visa is issued. The Consulate also stresses new payment rules: administrative “redevance” must be wired in euros to the Immigration Office in Brussels before the file is submitted, while consular fees must be paid by certified cheque or money order in Canadian dollars. Personal cheques and cash are no longer accepted. Failure to attach proof of both payments will render the application inadmissible. For mobility professionals moving staff from Canada to Belgium, the update means assignment timelines should be re-examined. The Canadian academic year starts in early September; students who have not yet filed risk missing orientation. Employers should begin single-permit sponsorship at least five months before the intended start date and budget for higher fees. Tip: build an internal checklist that mirrors the Consulate’s new document list, and use courier services with tracking to avoid postal delays. HR should also track the Belgian Immigration Office bank-reference codes to ensure payments are matched quickly, preventing administrative setbacks.
Source: Embassy of Belgium in Canada
