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Belgium Student Visa Guide

Belgium is well-known as one of the world’s most advanced countries and its major cities such as the capital of Brussels, as well as Ghent, Antwerp, Bruges and Leuven offer world-leading standards of living, infrastructure and public safety levels. These reasons, combined with others, make Belgium an excellent choice for any international student.

The country was one of the founding members of the European Union and is home to multiple UN and other global organisational headquarters, most of them in the city known as The Hague.

It is located in north-western Europe with nearly 12 million residents and a centuries-old history as a European centre for trade, financial services, art and political organisations.

While most Belgian residents speak either Dutch or French, nearly 50 percent of the country can speak English and this allows for comfortable travel and exploration of the country. Despite its small size, Belgium offers as many as nine universities featuring in the latest QS World University Rankings.

Almost 13 percent of Belgians are foreign-born, and you are likely to find communities from all over the world settled across Belgium. The high living standards, immigrant-friendly cities and top-ranked research & faculty are some of the reasons why more than 40,000 international students choose one of Belgium’s universities every year.

The Belgium Student Visa

International students from the EU/EEA/Schengen region do not need to apply for student visas in order to study in Belgium. International students from the USA, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Monaco and the Republic of Andorra do not need to apply for a student visa if your planned stay is less than 90 days in Belgium. If your stay is longer than 90 days, you will need to apply for a student visa.

Regardless of the length of your stay and nationality, you need to apply for a residence permit when you arrive in Belgium.

Non EU/EEA/Schengen international students must apply for one of the two following visa types according to the length of your degree programme in Belgium:

  • Type C Short-Stay Visa: For academic programmes of less than 90 days
  • Type D Long-Stay Visa: For academic programmes of more than 90 days

Type D visas are usually valid for one or two years, and must be renewed as you move ahead with your degree programme. International students can apply for a Belgian student visa by going to their nearest Belgium consulate or embassy. The entire visa application process usually requires between six to eight weeks.

International students from China must note that they are required to submit an additional document known as an Academic Assessment Centre (APS) evaluation in order to apply for a student visa. This evaluation usually requires a technical exam and an interview.

Required Documents

  • Admission letter to a Belgian university or higher education institution
  • Valid passport (needs to have at least 12 months left on it)
  • Proof of sufficient funds
  • Certificate of good conduct
  • Medical certificate
  • Proof of payment of the administrative fee

Documents that are in a language other than German, French, English or Dutch will need to be translated by a recognised translator.

You must register at the nearest town hall or city hall once you arrive in Belgium in order to receive your residence permit. You will also need to submit the above documents in order to get the permit.

Belgium Student Visa Fees for International Students

Non EU/EEA/Schengen international students must pay 180 Euros in order to apply for and receive a type D Belgian student visa. This fee is non-refundable.

International students will also need to pay around 200 Euros for a residence permit upon arriving in Belgium. Your residence permit is usually valid for a year and you must apply for an extension according to the length of your degree programme in Belgium.

Belgium Student Visa Work Rules

Current Belgium student visa rules allow international students to work up to 20 hours every week during the academic semester and full-time during vacations and academic breaks.

Belgium allows you to stay in the country for up to nine months as you search for employment after graduation. Once you have secured a job, you can apply for a work visa and an employee residence permit.

We suggest that you conduct further research on specific student visa requirements from your country for Belgium’s universities. It is important to prepare your application documents carefully and give clear responses in your visa application interview at your nearest Belgian embassy or consulate.