ESTA Application for Citizens of Belgium

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ENGLISH
NEDERLANDS
FRANÇAIS
Country:

Belgium

Capital: Brussels
ESTA Required: YES
Belgium (or the Kingdom of Belgium) is located in Western Europe. They joined the Visa Waiver Program of the United States of America in 1991. Citizens of Belgium can apply online for the Electronic System of Travel Authorization, which allows them to travel to the United States for up to 90-days. Although the ESTA does not provide visa access, some Belgians may still need to apply for the B-2 tourist visa. The ESTA is only available online. It is a travel document that can be used to enter the U.S. for 90 days to carry out business, tourism, medical, or other purposes. After two years, the ESTA expires, and a new application must be made. The streamlining of the immigration process for Belgian citizens made it much easier for travelers to travel to the U.S. and efficient and secure for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security when gathering information before granting access to anyone.

U.S. Immigration Statistics about Belgians

  • The total amount of visitors from Belgium: 325 897
  • Approved ESTA applications: 295 607
  • Students and exchange visitors: 5 934
  • Temporary workers and family-related applications: 13 164
  • Diplomats and other official representatives: 3 593
  • Other categories of visitors: 0
ESTA Application

How to get from Belgium to the United States

Brussels Airport (BRU) is an international airport. It is the biggest of all the Belgian airports. BRU is located in northeast Brussels and is the 24th busiest European airport. You should find it easy to get a flight to your desired destination in the United States from here.

Brussels Airlines, Belgium’s largest airline, is the country’s national carrier. They fly nonstop to the US East Coast and take approximately 7-9 hours. Lufthansa is another notable airline that offers nonstop flights. There are many options for flights with stopovers. TAP Portugal and Swiss are strong contenders for the best price.

Flying from Antwerp Airport (ANR) is an option if you are closer to Antwerp. Although it is smaller than BRU, airlines such as KLM fly to many cities across the U.S.

You can drive on narrow French roads in slow traffic to Toulouse, the most picturesque route. You can drive along the motorway, which is faster but will cost you a lot more. You should know the toll charges when you choose your route to Barcelona, mainly if it passes through the city.

When is the best time to apply for an ESTA?

It is mandatory to apply for an ESTA at least 72 hours before you board. This was implemented in December 2018. Travelers are advised to use ESTA approval weeks or months before departure to ensure they have the proper travel authorization. Non-approved applications will result in ESTA denial, and you would have to apply for a regular US visa. This can be very time-consuming and costly. Apply for ESTA now or early if you plan to visit the United States. Learn more about the ESTA application.

Travelers who have an approved ESTA may check their status or make changes. For more information, visit this page: verify/check esta status.

Below is an example of a travel authorization if the ESTA application is approved:

Interesting Facts

  • Belgian citizens can apply for ESTA online
  • The ESTA is valid for 2 years for visitors from Belgium
  • Belgians can stay in the U.S. for up to 90 days with an approved ESTA
  • Belgians overstay rate is only 0.31%