Belgium Student Visa: All You Need to Know 

International students (Non-EU) wanting to study in Belgium need to obtain a Belgium student visa. It is also known as a Schengen long-stay study visa. The Belgium student visa is given for 1-2 years. During this time, you can legally study in a Belgian educational institution. Before applying for a Belgium student visa, applicants must know the eligibility requirements, application process, documentation requirements, fees, and other details. In this blog, we have covered all these details. Keep reading to know more about them.

Who Needs a Belgium Student Visa?

A Belgium student visa is needed by non-EU students only. Those from the EU and EEA regions and Swizerland do not need a student visa or a residence permit. Non-EU students planning to stay in Belgium for 90 days or less need to apply for a D visa. Those wanting to stay longer need to apply for a long-stay visa or residence permit. With a Schengen long-stay visa, you can also travel to all the Schengen countries. 

Get the  Details of a Multiple Entry Schengen Visa

Requirements for a Beglim Student Visa

To apply for a Belgium student visa you must provide the documents. The documents need to be uploaded for a successful visa application.

• The visa application form and a valid passport 
• Photographs (2) taken within the last 6 months
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover the living and tuition expenses for the course duration. The minimum amount required is  €666 per month.
• Health insurance for the entire duration of studies 
• Offer letter from a Belgian educational institution 
• A supporting letter explaining the reason for Belgium as the choice of study, and the course you have been accepted into
• Provide proof of English language proficiency. For example, the IELTS/TOEFL score. Only Ghent University does not require English language proficiency scores for admission purposes.
• Meet the academic requirements, and provide documents supporting the same. For example, High school diploma certificate. 
• Police clearance certificate 
• Translate all documents that are not in English, Dutch, French or German to English by a certified translator

Financial Requirements for a Belgium Student Visa

Financial requirements are one of the most important Belgium student visa requirements. You must prove that you have sufficient funds to support tuition fees and living expenses. Generally, you must have a minimum of  €666 per month to cover medical expenses, accommodation, tuition fees, and living expenses. Depending on your circumstance, the following documents must be submitted.

Status	Documents
Self-financing	Bank statements
Funding by a family or sponsor	Statement of sponsorship
Scholarship funding	Proof that you are the scholarship beneficiary

Find out the Cost of Accommodation in Belgium

Language requirements for a Belgium Studnet Visa 

To obtain a Belgium student visa you must meet the language requirement. For this purpose, you need to clear an English eligibility test or a test for other acceptable languages. 

Language	Acceptable Language  Test
English	IELTS/TOEFL/PTE/DET
French	DELF/DALF
Dutch	Dutch NT2-II diploma
German	DSH/TestDaF

Application Process for a Belgium Student Visa 

The steps for a Belgium student visa are as follows. Non-EU students need to follow these steps for a successful visa application:

• You must be accepted to a university in Belgium 
• Next, fill out the visa application form and arrange the documents. Submit only accurate information while filling out the visa application
• Schedule a visa appointment with a consulate or an embassy 
• Lastly, appear for the visa application interview and clear it During the visa application process your goals and study plans will be asked
• Finally, wait for the visa application approval or rejection. Once, the visa application is accepted you can travel to Belgium to study.

Learn all about applying for a Europe Work visa 

Belgium Student Visa Fees & Validity 

The Belgium student visa fees and the visa validity period is provided below: 

Belgium Student Visa Fees	€200
Belgium student visa validity	1-2 years

Belgium Student Visa Extension 

A student visa for Belgium can be extended. However, you need to apply for the same. For the visa extension, it is important to make an appointment with the local administration office or town hall 14 days before the expiry of the long-stay visa. 

Apply for a work permit in Belgium

A Belgium work permit Belgian work permit C – for students can be obtained at a regional employment agency in the country. International students must get the same to work for the course duration. Generally, a non-EU student can work in the country for a maximum of  20 hours per week. A written fixed-term contract from the employer must be provided. Working while studying in Belgium is permitted as long as it doesn’t hamper the studies. However, during holidays a student can work without a work permit.  

Apply for a Belgium Residence Permit

After arriving in Belgium, the student on a long-stay visa must obtain a residence permit. A residence permit must be applied within 8 working days of arriving in the country. You can either visit the Town Hall or the local municipal administration for a residence permit registration. A residence permit is essential to applying for a work permit, opening a bank account or getting medical insurance in Belgium. In some circumstances, it is possible to apply for a residence permit at the university and the university will assist with the application process. 

Switching From Student to Work Visa in Belgium

 In Belgium, it is possible to switch from a student visa to a work visa. After completing education in Belgium 9 months is given to the international student. During this time, international students can seek employment opportunities in the country. However, to change the student visa to a work permit you must already have a student visa for Belgium. The visa application for the same can be submitted at the local town hall. 

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Tips for a Belgium Student Visa Application 

Want to apply for a Belgium student visa? Then you must know about these tips as it can help you while filling out the visa application form.

• Before applying find out the opening hours of a visa application 
• It is possible to get an appointment online by sending an email to an embassy. The documents can be uploaded and the visa application will be processed within 2 weeks. (only possible at a few embassies)
• It is important to inform the embassy in case of visa cancellation or changing the appointment date
• The visa processing can take from a few weeks to 3 months based on your nationality, duration of stay, and number of people applying for the visa. The Sooner a visa application is sent the better. 

FAQs

We hope you now understand the Belgium Student Visa. Want to apply for a Visa for your study abroad journey? Drop us a comment in the section below, or you can connect with a visa expert at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you on your dream journey!

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