How to Apply for Belgium Student Visa – Are you a prospective applicant who wants to have a broad multicultural environment and great academic opportunities? Belgium has many best universities that are part of the best universities in the world.
Belgium is part of the multilingual countries with several regions speaking French, Dutch and German. As highly rated courses are taught at various universities in Belgium, English is widely spoken in some of Belgium’s top cities.
Potential applicants should note that not all international students require a student visa to study in Belgium.
In this post, we will highlight some of the international students who do not require a student visa before entering Belgium for their studies and also the steps required to apply for a student visa for Belgium as well as other required documents.
Apply to a Belgian university and receive your letter of acceptance
Applicants must decide for themselves which university they wish to study at before engaging in the application process. After you have been accepted at a Belgian university, you will receive an acceptance letter that is required for the visa application. Without a letter of acceptance from a university in Belgium, applicants cannot apply for a student visa for Belgium.
Find out what type of visa you need to study in Belgium
International students who want to study in Belgium need a visa and a residence permit.
- Students from the EU/EFA and Switzerland NO visa or residence permit required.
- Need non-EU/EFA students to apply for a D visa if they plan to stay in Belgium for 90 days or less. If the duration of their studies is longer, they must apply for the D visa and then apply for a residence permit.
Analyze study opportunities in each Belgian Community
According to the Belgian system of admission of students through the student visa application, the federal state structure divided into 3 communities is applied.
- Flandersthe Flemish Community where Dutch is the official language
- Walloniathe French Community where French is the official language
- The German Communitywhich is a lot smaller and has German as its working language
When and where to apply for a student visa in Belgium?
A Belgian student visa can be obtained from a Belgian consulate in your country.
Follow the steps below;
- Apply for a visa at the local Belgian embassy or consulate in your home country.
- For a study visa/residence permit for a longer stay, it is advisable to make an appointment at the embassy at least two months before departure.
- Make an appointment for a short stay visa at least 3 weeks before departure.
Language requirements for studying in Belgium
Applicants must demonstrate adequate knowledge of the language in which their academic course is taught. If you are a native speaker, or if you have completed your previous studies in the same language used as the language of instruction for your chosen degree programme, you are exempt from the language requirement.
Below are the language requirements required for the Belgium student visa application;
- English: TOEFL or IELTS
- Dutch: Dutch NT2-II diploma
- French: DELF or DALF
- German: DSH or TestDaF
Documents required for the visa application in Belgium
The following are the required documents expected from prospective applicants;
- Passport (valid for three months longer than the visa)
- Two original visa application forms
- Letter of acceptance from a Belgian university (usually the original document plus two copies)
- Copies of education certificates
- Covering/motivating letter
- Proof of sufficient financial resources to cover all expenses during an academic year (670 EUR/month)
- A medical statement
- A certificate of good conduct (or the local equivalent) if you are over 21 (including fingerprints)
- Visa application fee (EUR 70 for a short stay visa and EUR 210 for a long stay visa)
Conditions for applying for a residence permit
Go to the town hall/town hall within 8 working days of arriving in Belgium to register for a residence permit. With this residence permit you can open a bank account, apply for a work permit and possibly take out insurance in Belgium.
Visit the official website of the Immigration Office here.
Frequently asked questions about applying for a student visa for Belgium (FAQ)
Can I work in Belgium with a student visa?
Yes, students can work up to 20 hours a week on a Belgian student visa.
Can I work in Belgium after my studies?
Students can apply for a search year residence permit after their studies. With this permit, students are free to work for any employer.
What is the processing time for a Belgian student visa?
Applicants can have their results within 15 days, but it can also take longer than 15 days to get your Belgium student visa approved.
Below are links on how to apply for a student visa for other countries;
In this position, applicants were guided through the steps involved in applying for a student visa for Belgium, linked to the required documents.