Introduced abroad (Visa D)

Non-EU nationals who wish to undertake full-time higher studies at a higher education institution in Belgium, or a preparatory year for this education, must submit an application for authorisation to stay in Belgium for more than 90 days.

The general rule is that this request will be submitted to the Belgian diplomatic or consular post competent for the place where they usually reside abroad, in the form of an application for a

national long-stay visa (more than 90 days).

(national

an authorisation issued by a Member State or a decision taken by such State which is required with a view to entry for an intended stay in that Member State or in several Member States, or for transit through the territory of that Member State or several Member States.

for a

A long stay in the Schengen Area is longer than 90 days.

).

The list of Belgian embassies and consulates is published on the FPS Foreign Affairs site (www.diplomatie.belgium.be).

The procedure for submitting a visa application is explained on the website of the relevant post and on the website of the external service provider with which the post works to receive visa applications (VFS Global, TLS Contact).

As a general rule, applicants must submit their visa application in person, as they will be asked to provide fingerprints and answer a questionnaire designed to assess the coherence of their academic background and study plans in Belgium.

_{[Articles 60 and 61/1 of the Act of 15 December 1980]}

Complete file

Non-EU nationals who wish to undertake full-time higher studies at a higher education institution in Belgium, or a preparatory year for this education, must include the following documents in their application:

• a copy of their valid passport or a copy of an equivalent travel document;
• proof of payment of the fee, if this obligation applies to them;
• a certificate drawn up [in accordance with the model of the standard form established per the ministerial decree of 28 March 2022] by a higher education institution, proving that they are enrolled at that institution to pursue full-time higher studies or to take a preparatory year, or that they have been admitted for the studies, or that they are enrolled for an entrance examination or test;
• if they are under eighteen years of age, proof of consent from their parents or, where applicable, the person exercising guardianship;
• proof that, during their stay, they will have sufficient means of subsistence to avoid becoming a burden on the Belgian social assistance system during their stay;
• proof that they have or will have health insurance covering all risks in Belgium during their stay;
• a medical certificate proving that they are not suffering from any of the diseases listed in the annex to the Act of 15 December 1980;
• if they are over eighteen years of age, an extract from the criminal record or an equivalent document issued by the country of origin or the country of their last residence, which is not older than six months and confirms that they have not been convicted of any crimes or malpractices, under common law.

_{ATTENTION : If you wish to enrol in undergraduate studies, equivalence of a foreign degree giving access to higher education is required. You must have a qualification equivalent to our Certificate of Higher Secondary Education (CESS) in order to be able to register in the regular manner. You can find all the useful information on these equivalences on this website  Studying - Diplômes de l'Enseignement Supérieur (cfwb.be).}

_{If drawn up in a language other than German, English, French or Dutch, the documents submitted must be accompanied by a sworn translation into one of these four languages.}

If all the documents are included with the application, the post will issue a receipt to the applicant. [

Certificate of receipt of an application for a residence permit. You can find the annexes on our website (they are only available in French or Dutch). Go to the following section: Documentation>Legislation.

to the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981]

Uncomplete file

If all the documents have not been included in the application, the post will inform the applicant of the missing documents that need to be presented in writing. The applicant has 30 days from the date in the letter from the post to submit the missing documents. 

If the applicant submits the missing documents within the 30-day period,  they will receive a receipt. In the opposite case, the Immigration Office may declare their application inadmissible. [

inadmissibility decision. You can find the annexes on our website (they are only available in French or Dutch). Go to the following section: Documentation>Legislation.

to the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981]

An application that has been declared inadmissible will not be examined.

_{[Article 61/1/1 of the Act of 15 December 1980]}

The Belgian authorities responsible for processing

an authorisation issued by a Member State or a decision taken by such State which is required with a view to entry for an intended stay in that Member State or in several Member States, or for transit through the territory of that Member State or several Member States.

applications for higher studies at a higher education institution must make a decision within 90 days of the date on which the Belgian embassy or consulate issued a receipt for the application (

Certificate of receipt of an application for a residence permit. You can find the annexes on our website (they are only available in French or Dutch). Go to the following section: Documentation>Legislation.

) to the student who submitted a complete file.

Note: The capacity of the Belgian authorities has been constantly expanding, but it is not unlimited. Every year, the Immigration Office denies a significant number of applications for study visas that could not be examined in time. Thus, a

anyone who does not provide proof of Belgian nationality.

who applies for a visa too late should be aware that, due to the large number of study visa applications to be examined in a short period of time, the Belgian authorities may not be able to make a decision before the date he/she is expected in Belgium.

_{[Article 61/1/1 of the Act of 15 December 1980]}

Non-EU nationals whose application is accepted will receive a

national long-stay visa (more than 90 days).

, the period of validity for which will depend upon the type of certificate issued by the educational institution.

Certificate of enrolment

Non-EU nationals who have presented a certificate of enrolment at a higher education institution, in order to pursue full-time higher studies or a preparatory year, will be authorised to reside in Belgium for at least one year.  

Admission or registration for an entrance examination or an entrance test

Non-EU nationals who have presented a proof of admission to studies or proof of registration for an entrance examination or an entrance test will be authorised to reside in Belgium for four months. At the latest 15 days before the expiration of this authorisation to stay, they will need to submit to the municipal administration for their place of residence a certificate of enrolment at a higher education institution, in order to pursue full-time higher studies or a preparatory year.

No health insurance

Non-EU nationals who were unable to attach to their application proof that they were or will have health insurance covering all risks in Belgium for the duration of his stay will be authorised to stay in Belgium for four months, regardless of the type of certificate presented. At the latest 15 days before the expiration of this authorisation to stay, they will need to submit proof of having health insurance to the municipal administration for their place of residence.

_{[Article 61/1/3 of the Act of 15 December 1980]}

The authorisation to stay in Belgium for more than 90 days to pursue full-time higher studies at a higher education institution in Belgium, or a preparatory year for this education, will be denied to the third-country national in one of the following cases:

• the conditions for granting an authorisation to stay in Article 60 of the Act of 15 December 1980, have not been met;
• the third-country national is deemed to pose a threat to public order, national security or public health;
• the third-country national has used false or misleading information or false or forged documents or has committed fraud or used other unlawful means that contribute to obtaining residency;
• there is evidence or serious and objective reasons to establish that the stay would serve purposes other than the studies;
• the higher education institution where the third-country national is enrolled has not fulfilled its legal obligations regarding social security, taxes, workers' rights or working conditions;
• the higher education institution where the third-country national is enrolled has been penalised for undeclared work or illegal employment;
• the higher education institution in which the third-country national is enrolled is established or operates with the main purpose of allowing third-country nationals to enter the Kingdom;
• the higher education institution in which the third-country national is enrolled is subject or has been subject to liquidation or bankruptcy or no economic activity is taking place.

The decision will be made by the Immigration Office.

Non-EU nationals whose application is refused may file an appeal or submit a new application. They must attach the documents proving that they are not in any of the above cases to the application.

Visa D-holders must present themselves to the municipal administration for their place of residence within 8 days of their arrival in Belgium.

_{[Article 102 of the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981]}

A card

If they actually reside on the territory of the municipality (positive residence test), the municipal administration will issue an A card to non-EU nationals who have submitted along with their application a certificate of enrolment and health insurance.

The card will be marked "Student" and "Labour market: limited".

This card is valid for one year and may be renewed under certain conditions. (See Extension of Stay)

Certificate of immatriculation

If they actually reside on the territory of the municipality (positive residence test), the municipal administration will issue a certificate of immatriculation to non-EU nationals who have submitted proof of admission to the studies, or proof of enrolment for an entrance exam or an entrance test, and to the student who has submitted no health insurance along with their application.

From entry into Belgium, this certificate of immatriculation is valid for four months.

At the latest 15 days before the expiration of the certificate of immatriculation, non-EU nationals will need to submit to the municipal administration proof of enrolment and/or health insurance. Failure to produce such document(s) in a timely manner will result in an

As a general rule, an order to leave the territory (OLT) is issued to foreign nationals whose application for residence has been rejected.

In addition, this order is also issued to foreign nationals :

• who are found to have expired the period during which they are authorised to reside in the country and who are, therefore, living illegally.
• who are found to have resided in the Kingdom without the required residence documents and/or means of subsistence. If the person concerned has already received an OLT, they will not receive a new one, but the OLT already issued will be confirmed.

.[Annex 12 to the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981]