Do you need a visa?
Two levels to keep apart: the federal state decides your stay; the French or the Flemish Community governs your studies and your fees.
| Your passport | To enter and study |
|---|---|
| Passport of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland | No visa. You report to the commune within 3 months (annex 19). Being late can cost a €200 fine.Immigration Office — EU citizens: entry and stay |
| Any other passport | A D visa for studies before you travel, filed in person at VFS Global or TLScontact, with fingerprints. The United Kingdom is treated as a country outside the European Economic Area.Immigration Office — Public higher education: first application; Study in Flanders — Visa requirements |
| Already lawfully in Belgium | You can apply from Belgium if you are already enrolled full time and your application goes in before your stay ends.Immigration Office — Public higher education: application from Belgium |
Apply for the visa in time: the application is made before you travel, and the fees stay due even if it is refused.
Immigration Office — Visa fees; Immigration Office — Public higher education: first application
Not verified
Study in Flanders says six to eight weeks for the visa, the law 90 days: we keep the legal ceiling. No page read gives a list of exempt countries. The approved doctor depends on the Belgian post that covers you.
The residence permit
The visa lets you enter. The commune where you live then gives you the A card, after checking your residence.
- Report to the commune
- within 8 days
- Immigration Office — Public higher education: first application
- of arriving
- A card
- 1 year
- Immigration Office — Public higher education: first application
- after a positive check of your residence
A rule on excessive extension of studies applies from 2026-2027: read it before you repeat a year or change course.
Not verified
Each commune sets the cost of the A card: no national amount is published.
Getting a place
Each Community has its rules. You first choose the French-speaking or the Flemish side, then the institution decides.
- French Community, bachelor
- from February, before 31 March
- Study in Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels Campus) — Bachelor admission and enrolment
- recommended date; each institution has its calendar
- French Community, qualification
- equivalence to request
- French Community — Recognition of foreign diplomas
- from the equivalence service
Not verified
Application dates in Flanders are set by each institution: we give none.
From place to card
- Choose the Community and the programme
- Get your qualification recognised
- Get your certificate
- Gather your means
- Prepare the documents
- Pay the office fee
- File the visa application
- Report to the commune
- Join a health fund
- Renew the A card
Not verified
No official page read gives the total time from enrolment to the A card in hand.
Costs
Fees change with the Community and your passport. On top come the visa fee and the office fee.
Not verified
The cost of the medical certificate, translations and the A card is not published on an official page read. No amount is shown for them.
Health
| Your situation | Insurance |
|---|---|
| Visa application | Insurance covering all risks in Belgium is part of the file.Immigration Office — Public higher education: first application |
Not verified
The funds’ complementary insurance has not been read: each fund sets its own rates.
Working while you study
- During school holidays
- no limit on hours
- Royal Decree of 2 September 2018, art. 10 — Work by students (Justel)
- Outside the holidays
- 20 hours a week
- Royal Decree of 2 September 2018, art. 10 — Work by students (Justel)
- compatible with your studies
Not verified
Self-employment and internships a programme requires are not covered by the text read.
Bringing family
The law provides for a residence application for the family of a foreigner allowed to stay as a student.
Not verified
The figures this application requires have not been read: ask the Belgian post that covers you.
The companies and registers for your file
For each need of your file: the official rule, the register that lists the approved providers, and the companies that serve students.
After the degree
A higher-education graduate can stay to look for work or start a business.
| Your situation | What comes next |
|---|---|
| You have finished your degree | Up to 12 months to look for work or start a business, with health insurance and sufficient means. You apply at the commune.Immigration Office — Year to look for work after higher education |
| Your application comes too late | The Office can declare it inadmissible.Immigration Office — Year to look for work after higher education |
Not verified
The rules of the work permit that follows are not covered in this guide.