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Student Visa for Belgium: Type D Visa, Proof of Means and the A Card

Fee figures: catalogue of 6 October 2026.

Immigration is a federal matter in Belgium, so the visa rules are the same in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels. Student files are handled by the federal Immigration Office (Office des étrangers). This guide covers the rules for degree students as of October 2026.

Who needs a visa

Where and when to apply

You apply at the Belgian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you live. There is no fixed closing date, but timing matters. If the embassy is satisfied, a decision usually comes within about 15 days. If it sends the file to the Immigration Office, the Office has 90 days from the acknowledgement of receipt to decide. The Immigration Office advises applying before 1 July for a September start. Book the appointment as soon as you have your admission letter.

Documents

The core file, to which the embassy may add:

  1. A passport valid for at least 12 months when you apply.
  2. The application form, completed and signed.
  3. Your admission or enrolment certificate from a Belgian higher education institution.
  4. Proof of sufficient means (see below).
  5. Proof of health insurance.
  6. A medical certificate, completed by a doctor approved by the Belgian embassy and no more than six months old.
  7. A police record certificate from your country of residence, no more than six months old, if you are over 18.
  8. Proof that you paid the Immigration Office fee and the visa fee.

Documents that are not in Dutch, French, German or English need a sworn translation. See sworn translations and apostille and legalisation.

Proof of sufficient means

For 2026/27 you must show at least €1,062 net a month, or €12,744 for twelve months. It is indexed every year, so check it again for 2027/28. Tuition comes on top. Accepted proofs include:

See blocked accounts and paying tuition.

Fees

You pay the visa fee at the embassy and, if you are an adult, an administrative fee (redevance) to the Immigration Office. Both change yearly; the embassy publishes the current amounts. Holders of a scholarship from a Belgian or European public body can be exempt from the redevance.

Health insurance

For the visa, travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000 for medical care and repatriation during your first months is the usual minimum. After arrival you join a Belgian health insurance fund: you need proof of Belgian cover to renew your permit. See health insurance for students in Europe.

After arrival

  1. Register at the commune where you live within eight days of arrival.
  2. Wait for the police check. An officer visits to confirm that you live at the address. Put your name on the doorbell and mailbox.
  3. Receive your documents. You first get a temporary document (Annex 15), then you collect the residence card, called the A card. It is usually valid for one year.
  4. Renew each year at the commune before the card expires, with proof of re-enrolment, means and health insurance. Apply weeks in advance, not days.

Working while you study

With a student residence permit you may work up to 20 hours a week during the academic year, as long as the job is compatible with your studies. The limit does not apply during school holidays. Flanders and Wallonia state the same rule, and no separate work permit is needed. See working while studying in Europe.

After graduation

Graduates can get a one-off 12-month permit, the "orientation year", to look for work or start a business. You must apply while your student permit is still valid, at the latest 15 days before it expires. The permit cannot be extended. During that year you have unlimited access to the labour market.

Where to look next

Official sources

Always check current information on the official website of the university before you apply.