Student visa & permits in Belgium
Student visa, residence permit, registration, fees, deadlines and document guidance for studying in Belgium.
Read the complete Belgium study abroad guide.
Visa & Immigration
Third-country students coming for full-time higher studies generally apply for a Belgian long-stay visa (type D) and must meet the study-residence requirements, including admission, health coverage, the required medical and character documents where applicable, and sufficient means. A federal administrative contribution can apply; check the Immigration Office for the current category and amount before paying.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, the federal minimum means amount is EUR 1,062 net per month. The standard blocked-account route therefore uses twelve times the monthly amount, EUR 12,744 for a full year. The Immigration Office also accepts specified scholarships or loans and an accepted formal obligation (Annex 32), subject to the relevant conditions.
For Annex 32, the Immigration Office currently states that a guarantor taking responsibility for one student must prove at least EUR 3,235.88 net per month: EUR 2,173.88 for the guarantor’s own required means plus the student amount of EUR 1,062. A new Annex 32 version was released on 31 May 2026, so use the current form rather than a saved older copy.
The minimum is indexed and can change by academic year. Recheck the Immigration Office figure for the year in which you apply, even if your university guide still shows the previous amount.
Source: https://dofi.ibz.be/en/themes/ressortissants-dun-pays-tiers/etudes/favoris/sufficient-means-subsistence
Residence Permit
Within eight days of arrival, register at the commune (gemeente/commune) of your residence; a residence-check visit by the local police follows, and the A card, your renewable student residence permit, is issued after it.
Renew at the commune at least fifteen days before the card expires, with fresh enrolment and means evidence for the new academic year. The commune is your administrative home for everything from address changes to the eventual departure.
Source: https://dofi.ibz.be/en/themes/ressortissants-dun-pays-tiers/etudes
Common questions
What should international students know about visa in Belgium?
EUR 1,062 net/month for 2026–2027: blocked account, qualifying scholarship/loan or accepted Annex 32 support.
What should international students know about residence in Belgium?
Register at the commune within eight days; renew the A card 15 days early.