How to Get a Student Visa for Belgium in 2025

Belgium is an excellent place for studies which is rated by international studies. Belgium offers great academic opportunities and a wide multicultural environment, as Belgium has several top universities which include prestigious world rankings. Belgium is a multilingual country with different regions speaking Dutch, French, and German. English is also spoken in many cities in Belgium and many university courses are taught in the English language.

If you want to study in Belgium, you need to apply for a visa which depends on the length of your course and the country you belong. In this article, we will explain if you need a student visa then how you can get it.

If you’re an international student living outside the EU or EEA, you’ll need a visa in order to study in Belgium for longer than three months.

The visa, known as a visa Type D, costs around €200 to cover administrative and processing fees. This type of visa has the same effect as a residence card, and allows free movement within the Schengen Area.

Tips about the visa application in Belgium

• Check the opening hours for handing in a visa application.

• At some embassies/consulates, you can make an appointment online by sending an e-mail at the embassy and upload the required documents. You will receive an answer within the next 2 working days with a confirmation of your appointment.

• Inform the embassy in case you want to cancel or change your appointment.

• The processing of your visa application can take anywhere from a few weeks to over 3 months depending on your nationality, the length of your studies, and how many people apply for a visa. The sooner you start your application, the better.

Required documents for the visa application in Belgium

• Passport (valid for three months longer than the visa)

• Two original visa application forms

• Acceptance letter from a Belgian university (usually the original document plus two copies)

• Copies of educational certificates

• Cover/motivational letter

• Proof of sufficient financial means to cover all your expenses during an academic year (670 EUR/month)

• A medical certificate

• A certificate of good conduct (or the local equivalent) if you are over 21 (including fingerprinting)

Additional documents may be requested by the embassy or consulate.
Belgium student visa requirements
A completed and signed visa application form.

• Your passport, valid for at least 12 months when you arrive in Belgium.

Proof you have sufficient funds to support yourself - this must cover healthcare, living costs, study and repatriation costs. It is currently set at a minimum of €803 per month for the 2024/2025 academic year,, although most universities will ask around €850 per month.

• A medical certificate.

Proof you do not hold any criminal convictions (over 21 only).

• Proof of your registration at a university in Belgium.

The original and a certified copy of your higher secondary education diploma or equivalent.

• A supporting letter explaining your choice of studies.

• Proof of language proficiency.

All documents supplied in a language other than French, German, English, or Dutch must be translated by a sworn translator and then legalized as a separate document.
Apply for a work permit in Belgium

• Visa application fee (70 EUR for short stay visa and 210 EUR for long stay visa

Conditions to apply for a residence permit
What to do if your application is rejected

• To appeal, you must write a convincing letter. The letter should include:

• Your personal information, including name, passport number, and contact details

• The date of your application rejection

• The reason behind the refusal

• Explanation and evidence for why you think the decision was incorrect

• Your signature

When you apply for a Type D Belgian student visa, you will need to provide a number of documents as part of your application. These need to be supplied to your local Belgian embassy, and include:

You can apply for a work permit (Belgian work permit C – for students) at the regional employment agencies in Belgium.

Any foreign student enrolled at a Belgian university that has a valid residence permit can work up to 20 hours a week outside of school holidays as long as working hours don’t overlap with their classes.

You will need to get a written fixed term contract from your employer, known as a ‘student employment contract’. During holidays, you can work without the need for a permit.

Learn more about Belgian work permits for non-EU/EEA citizens

Within 8 working days after your arrival in Belgium, reach the local municipal administration offices/ town hall (maison communale/gemeentehuis) to register for a residence permit. This residence permit allows you to open a bank account, apply for a work permit and you could also get insurance in Belgium.

In some cases, you can apply for the residence permit at your university and they will help you with the application.

Find other information about visas and permits in Belgium on the official Immigration Office website.

The decision whether or not to grant you a type D visa is made by the Aliens Office. If your application has been rejected you will be notified by the embassy or consulate you applied through.

Having your application rejected can be disheartening, but it doesn’t have to derail your international plans.

If you made some mistakes in your first application, you can fix them and re-apply. But if you think your application was wrongly denied, you’ll need to appeal against the decision.