The purpose of this visa is to complete higher education in Belgium. International students who have been accepted to a Belgian university need to apply for a Belgian student visa. Belgium, where great minds grow. Belgium has an excellent education system and reasonable tuition fees. I have recently published a list of Bachelor, Master and PhD scholarships in Belgium. High quality education at a lower price. Top universities include KU Leuven, Ghent University, and Catholic University of Louvain.

For a Belgium student visa, non-EU citizens will apply for a Belgium long-stay visa category (D visa) and will be required to appear in person at the visa application centre to enrol their biometrics which includes a scan of all fingerprints and a live digital photograph. Let’s check the requirements, documents required and how to book an appointment.

Who does not need a Belgium student visa?

You do not need to apply for a Belgian student visa if:

• You are from the European Union or European Economic Area.
• You live in a Schengen country.
• You are from the United States, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Monaco and the Republic of Andorra. If you are from one of these countries, you can apply for a residence permit directly after entering Belgium.

Belgium Student Visa Requirements

1. Student Visa Application Form. (You can fill this form from the VFS Global website or contact the Belgian Embassy in your country of residence and inquire about this process.
2. passport
3. Acceptance letter (proof of acceptance)
4. Cover letter (a cover letter describing why you want to study)
5. Proof of English language proficiency.
6. clean criminal record
7. Proof of all previous educational documents.
8. Two pictures of you.
9. Health insurance.
10. Proof of your financial means (unless you are on a scholarship, you do not need to provide proof of bank statement).

Note: The list of documents may change and vary, as it depends on the requirements set by the Belgian authorities for your nationality. So always check with the embassy.

From here you can check the list of Belgian embassies and consulates in your country.

How to apply for a Belgium student visa?

The application process for a Belgium student visa is as follows:

1. Be accepted into a university in Belgium: After you are accepted into a university, you can apply for a student visa.
2. Fill out your visa application form.
3. Collect all required documents
4. Make an appointment for your visa: If you have completed the application form and have all the documents, you can make an appointment.
5. For appointments, you can book through VFS, if they handle Belgium visa applications in your country. The visa application form is also available on VFS.
6. Attend the interview: You must appear in person with documents, biometrics and photos.

Visa cost

• The Belgium student visa application fee for all international applicants is 180 Euros. It is advisable to always check the official website . because the visa process and fees change.

Who is exempt from student visa fees?

• Spouse/partner and children (under 21 years of age) of EU and Swiss nationals
• Citizen of: Israel, San Marino, Japan, Morocco, Turkey
• Students with scholarships from the Belgian state
• Students in Erasmus Mundus, Lotus and Tempus programmes.
• Applying for a residence permit: After arriving in Belgium
• After arriving in Belgium, you have eight days to register at your local administration office and obtain your residence card. This card will allow you to stay in Belgium for the duration of your studies.

EU students do not need a residence permit, but they must register their residence if they intend to stay longer than three months.

Working in Belgium while studying

As an international student, you can work 20 hours a week during the semester. I hope it helps. Share it with others and good luck on your journey.

Conclusion: This is a general guide for students who wish to apply for a Belgium student visa. It is advisable to check the official website or the Belgian embassy in your country. Find a list of all Belgium embassies .