Government | Thursday 29 December, 2016 10:37 am |

Travellers to Belgium and Luxembourg from Saudi Arabia can now apply for their visas at a modern and streamlined visa application centre

Residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia can now apply for visas to Belgium and Luxembourg at a Visa Application Centre launched for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium for the first-time in the Middle East. Services at the centre commence on 12 December 2016.

Visa applicants can visit the centrally located VFS Global centre located on the First Floor at Dove Plaza, Umm Al Hamam Street, Umm Al Hamam, Riyadh, to submit their visa applications and enrol for biometrics.

The well-appointed centre caters to the growing needs of outbound travellers from the country. With Belgium and Luxembourg emerging as popular travel destinations, the new centre will offer applicants greater convenience and enhanced quality of services when applying for their visas.

Since commencing visa processing operations for the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium in 2006, VFS Global serves the client government in 10 countries from 51 visa application centres across the globe. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the company currently serves 21 client governments, from 67 visa application centres located across the country.

Speaking at the launch of the centre, HE Mr. Geert Criel, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in Riyadh said, “We are very happy to work with VFS Global in Saudi Arabia. Travelers to Belgium will not be required to come to the Embassy for their visa application anymore, but will be able to introduce their applications in the VFS centre, initially only in Riyadh, but later also in other parts of the country. This will ensure a client-friendly and efficient service. We are looking forward to an increase of business and tourism travelers from Saudi Arabia to Belgium!”

Also commenting on the launch, Mr. Srinarayan Sankaran, COO – Middle East, VFS Global, said, “It is an honour for us to extend visa services for the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium to applicants in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The centre will help make the visa procedure faster, smoother, and more convenient, significantly contributing to the advancement of travel to

Belgium and Luxembourg from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We are confident that our centre will be successful in providing accessible and world-class services to our applicants.”

The key features of the centre include:

•  Convenient and centrally-accessed location
•  Professional staff with local language capability to handle queries and applications
•  Well-appointed centre for enhanced comfort of applicants
•  Automated queue governance for smooth flow of applicants
•  Dedicated website for easy access to information including visa categories, requirements, check-list and applicable fees
•  100% secure handling of passports, documents and personal information
•  Door-step delivery of passports
•  Premium Lounge for personalised and comfortable service

Belgium Visa Application Centre  

Address: First Floor, Dove Plaza, Umm Al Hamam Street, Umm Al Hamam, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 

Helpline: 920006041 Email: info.belgiumksa@vfshelpline.com

Website: www.vfsglobal.com/belgium/saudiarabia/

Business hours: 0900hrs to 1700hrs (Sunday to Thursday) 

Submission Timings: 0900hrs – 1500hrs | Sunday - Thursday (except holidays as declared by the Embassy)

Passport Collection: 0900hrs – 1700hrs | Sunday - Thursday (except holidays as declared by the Embassy)

*VFS Global will be responsible only for accepting applications for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium. All applications submitted will continue to be assessed and processed by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium. Timelines for turnaround of visas are as per the discretion of the authorities. 

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About VFS Global

VFS Global is the world's largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. With 2309 Application Centres, operations in 127 countries across five continents and over 130 million applications processed as on 31 October 2016, VFS Global serves the interests of 51 client governments. VFS Global’s worldwide operations are certified ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management System, ISO 27001:2013 for Information Security Management System and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management System. For more information, please visit www.vfsglobal.com 

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