Student visa for Belgium: documents, fees and steps

Documents requested

Visa D application form, completed online on Visa-On-Web, or according to the procedure of the competent postConditions and details
The Immigration Office states that the procedure for submitting a D visa application is explained on the website of the competent post and on that of the external service provider (VFS Global, TLS Contact) which receives applications for the post. The Consulate General of Belgium in Paris specifies that the form is completed online on the Visa-On-Web service of the Belgian State; the system then offers to make an appointment, and the application is submitted in person.
Copy of a valid passport, or of a travel document serving in its steadThe Immigration Office asks that a copy of a valid passport or of a travel document serving in place of a passport be attached to the application.
Certificate from a recognised higher education institution, drawn up according to the standard model, proving enrolment or admission to studiesConditions and details
The certificate is drawn up by the institution in accordance with the standard form model laid down by the Ministerial Decree of 28 March 2022. It proves that the student is enrolled to follow higher education studies or a full-time preparatory year, or that he or she is admitted to studies, or that he or she is registered for an examination or an admission test. The type of certificate determines the duration of the visa (see the recommendations).
Proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of the stay: at least 1 062 euros net per month for the 2026-2027 academic yearConditions and details
The minimum amount of means of subsistence is fixed by royal decree and indexed each year: 1 062 euros net per month for the 2026-2027 academic year. The proof is provided by one or more of these documents: the deposit of twelve times this monthly amount (12 × 1 062 euros) in a blocked account opened by the institution in the name of the student, or in an account opened in the name of the student by a specialised financial services company (the Immigration Office currently accepts only the irrevocable transfer certificates drawn up by Studely and Ready Study Go International); a certificate of scholarship or loan from an international organisation, a national authority, a community, a region, a province, a municipality or a higher education institution; a commitment to take charge in accordance with Annex 32 of the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981. The examination is individual: it takes into account in particular subsidies, scholarships, allowances or the legal and regular gainful activity carried out outside the time devoted to studies.
Proof of health insurance covering all risks in Belgium for the duration of the stayConditions and details
The Immigration Office asks for proof that the student has or will have health insurance covering all risks in Belgium for the duration of his or her stay. Without this proof at the time of submitting the application, the stay is authorised only for 4 months: proof of insurance must then be presented to the municipal administration at the latest 15 days before the expiry of this authorisation.
Medical certificate attesting that the student is not suffering from any of the diseases listed in the annex to the Law of 15 December 1980Conditions and details
The Immigration Office requires a medical certificate attesting that the student is not suffering from one of the diseases listed in the annex to the law of 15 December 1980 on access to the territory, residence, establishment and removal of foreigners.
Criminal record extract or equivalent document less than six months old, issued by the country of origin or of last residenceConditions and details
For a person over 18 years of age, the Immigration Office requires an extract from the criminal record or an equivalent document, issued by the country of origin or by the country of last residence, dating from less than 6 months, attesting to the absence of a conviction for crimes or offences under ordinary law.

Depending on your situation

Proof of payment of the fee to the Immigration Office (251 euros since 1 January 2026), except exemptionConditions and details
The fee covers the administrative costs of processing the D visa application. It is paid in euros, by the applicant or by a third party, into the Immigration Office account indicated on its "Redevance" page, with the surname, first name, nationality and date of birth of the applicant as the payment reference. The proof (transfer, bank statement or other document indicating the amount, the date, the identity of the applicant and the definitive nature of the transfer) is presented at the time of submission. Without proof of full payment, the application is declared inadmissible. The fee is not refunded in the event of refusal or withdrawal. It is free of charge for persons under 18 years of age and for the holder of a scholarship granted by a body or authority covered by the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981.
Equivalence of the diploma or baccalaureate giving access to higher education (first cycle in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation)Conditions and details
A non-EU foreigner who wishes to enrol in the first cycle of higher education in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation must obtain an equivalence of his or her diploma or baccalaureate giving access to higher education.
Sworn translation of documents drawn up in a language other than German, English, French or DutchDocuments drawn up in a language other than German, English, French or Dutch must be accompanied by a sworn translation into one of these four languages.
An identity photograph, if the competent post requests itConditions and details
The list of documents of the Consulate General of Belgium in Paris for studies in public higher education includes an identity photograph, a Visa-On-Web form and, where applicable, a questionnaire to be completed on the day of the appointment. The competent post for the country of residence indicates its own requirements.

Official fees

Fee to the Immigration Office — D visa for studies at a public higher education institution (since 1 January 2026) 251 €

Steps

Obtain enrolment or admission to a recognised higher education institution and the certificate drawn up according to the standard model; for a first cycle in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, obtain the equivalence of the diploma.
Gather the documents: passport, medical certificate, criminal record extract less than six months old, health insurance and proof of means of subsistence; have documents written in another language translated under oath.
Pay the fee of 251 euros to the Immigration Office by bank transfer, with the surname, first name, nationality and date of birth in the reference, and keep proof of payment.
Fill in the D visa application form, make an appointment with the office competent for the place of residence or its external service provider, and submit the application in person.
On submission: give fingerprints and answer a questionnaire on the consistency of the study plan; receive an acknowledgement of receipt if the file is complete, otherwise complete the file within 30 days.
Wait for the decision of the Immigration Office, taken within a period of 90 days from the date of the acknowledgement of receipt; submit the application at least 90 days before the start of the academic year.
After arriving in Belgium, report to the municipal administration of the place of residence within 8 days to register in the registers and apply for the residence permit (card A).

Where to apply

Belgian embassy or consulate competent for the country of residence: personal appearance as a general rule, with a possible exceptional waiver; a long-stay application cannot be processed through representation by another Schengen State
External service provider (VFS Global, TLS Contact) that receives visa applications on behalf of certain offices
Visa-On-Web online service of the Belgian State for filling in the visa application form, before the appointment at the office
Municipal administration of the place of residence, for the foreign national already legally residing in Belgium, before the end of their authorised stay and if they are already enrolled in full-time studies

Good to know

What "full-time" studies coverConditions and details
Higher education means any programme leading to a title, grade, diploma or certificate at level 5, 6, 7 or 8 of the qualifications framework of one of the three Communities. Full-time studies means enrolment in a programme of at least 54 credits (or fewer in the final academic year, or if the student cannot accumulate more credits independently of his or her will), or a preparatory year of at least 12 hours of classes per week during one academic year. The "7th special year", organised by secondary education, does not meet this definition.
Duration of the visa according to the attestation presentedConditions and details
With a certificate of enrolment in a recognised institution for full-time studies or a preparatory year, residence is authorised for at least one year, unless proof of health insurance has not been presented. With a certificate of admission to studies or of registration for an examination or an admissions test, residence is authorised for 4 months; no later than 15 days before the end of this authorisation, a certificate of enrolment in a recognised institution must be presented to the municipal administration. Without proof of health insurance, whatever the type of certificate, residence is authorised for 4 months, and the proof of insurance is presented to the municipal administration no later than 15 days before expiry.
Residence permit after arrivalConditions and details
In the event of effective residence in the municipality (positive residence enquiry), the municipal administration issues a card A bearing the words “Labour market: limited” and “Student” to the student who has presented a certificate of enrolment and health insurance. This card is valid for one year and may be renewed under certain conditions. For the student who has presented only a certificate of admission or of registration for a test, or no health insurance, the municipality issues a registration certificate valid for 4 months; if the certificate of enrolment or the insurance is not presented in time, the student receives an order to leave the territory.
Incomplete file and inadmissibilityConditions and details
If all the required documents are not attached to the application, the post invites the applicant to present the missing documents within a period of 30 days from the communication. If the applicant does not present them within this period, the Office for Foreigners may declare the application inadmissible; an inadmissible application is not examined.
Refusal and appealConditions and details
The decision to refuse an application is always taken by the Office for Foreigners. The grounds for refusal include non-compliance with the conditions of article 60, a threat to public order, national security or public health, the use of forgeries or falsified documents, serious evidence of residence pursuing purposes other than studies, as well as failings of the educational institution. The foreign national whose application is refused may lodge an appeal, or submit a new application with the documents demonstrating that they are not in one of these situations.
Non-recognised institution (private): another procedureConditions and details
Training in a non-recognised higher education institution falls under another procedure: the Office for Foreigners examines the application thoroughly, in the exercise of its discretionary power (article 9 of the law of 15 December 1980), strictly assessing the documents, in particular the description of the academic career and of the academic and professional project. The fee is then 242 euros.
Work during studiesConditions and details
Foreign students holding a valid residence permit do not have to apply for a work authorisation for a student job. Their electronic card A bears the words “labour market – limited”. They may work up to 20 hours per week in Belgium without a work authorisation, if their work is compatible with their studies and if card A is valid; the 20-hour limit does not apply during school holidays.
Example of a post: Consulate General of Belgium in ParisConditions and details
The Consulate General in Paris receives, by appointment, applications from persons who reside permanently and on a lasting basis in France or Luxembourg and hold a French or Luxembourgish residence permit; those who reside there only temporarily should apply to the Belgian embassy of the country of their habitual residence. The application is submitted no more than six months before the planned travel date. The consular fees are 180 euros before 1 July 2026 and 250 euros from that date, to be paid by bank card on site. The documents must be dated less than six months ago and be in French, Dutch or German, translated, legalised or apostilled as needed. On site, a photograph and fingerprints are taken.

Nationalities covered

This procedure applies to 218 nationalities.

Afghanistan
Åland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Caribbean Netherlands
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Cuba
Curaçao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
French Guiana
French Polynesia
French Southern Territories
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Honduras
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Isle of Man
Israel
Jamaica
Japan
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macao
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Marshall Islands
Martinique
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Réunion
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Sint Maarten
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Korea
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
U.S. Outlying Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Official links

Visa long séjour (plus de 90 jours) | SPF Affaires étrangères - Commerce extérieur et Coopération au Développement (new tab) france.diplomatie.belgium.be
Visa D application submitted abroad — IBZintroduite à l’étranger (visa D) | IBZ (new tab) dofi.ibz.be
Redevance | IBZ (new tab) dofi.ibz.be
Moyens de subsistance suffisants | IBZ (new tab) dofi.ibz.be
Demande de visa D – Études dans l’enseignement supérieur public (new tab) france.diplomatie.belgium.be
Enseignement supérieur reconnu (public) | IBZ (new tab) dofi.ibz.be
Études supérieures | IBZ (new tab) dofi.ibz.be
Employer un ressortissant étranger en Flandre : catégories | Flandre.be (new tab) www.vlaanderen.be
SPF Affaires étrangères, Commerce extérieur et Coopération au Développement (Belgique) (new tab) diplomatie.belgium.be
1ère autorisation de séjour | IBZ (new tab) dofi.ibz.be
Ressortissants d’un pays tiers | IBZ (new tab) dofi.ibz.be

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