Town hall registration
Obtaining a Belgian residence permit / id-card
All international students with a long stay in Belgium must register at the town hall of the city they stay in. More info on the registration procedure via this info video.
Obtaining a visa
You can find relevant information on how to obtain a visa via the links listed below. The procedures for obtaining a visa can vary depending on your nationality, duration of the stay and reason for the stay.
- Info for EEA-students (short stay less than 90 days, long stay +90 days)
- Info for non-EEA students (short stay less than 90 days, long stay +90 days)
- Info on the APS procedure for Chinese students
Housing
Are you looking for student housing? Rent a room on a VUB campus or pick one of the 10,000 student residences offered by private owners. You can apply with Brik, or one of the other VUB housing partners to find a suitable student room .
- Information on renting VUB student dorm accommodation
- Information on renting a student room on the private market
- Have a look at this video to get an overview of housing options when you arrive in Belgium.
Health insurance
A valid Health insurance is compulsory when studying at a Belgian university. VUB has a partnership with Helan/Partena health insurance broker. You can find an overview of what this includes online. You can meet a representative from Helan/Partena at the International Relations office (Pleinlaan 5, 1050 Brussels) on Tuesdays and Fridays during our opening hours. Via email you can contact them at vub@healthinsurance.be
Banking and taxes
International students with a long stay in Belgium are advised to open a Belgian bank account. Visitors can choose any bank they prefer to open their account. Please note that several documents are necessary to open an account: A Belgian residence permit, a rent contract, a proof of registration in the university, ... Documents may differ depending on the choice of bank, nationality and type of account (online or regular).
International students with a long stay are required to fill in a tax return form each year. Here you can find an instruction video on how to fill in a simple tax return (single student with no other income apart from student jobs).
Opening a blocked account
When applying for a student visa or residence permit (ID card), students need to prove that they have sufficient financial means to cover their living expenses, studies, healthcare and repatriation costs. There are several ways to prove this, including opening a blocked account.We provide with help and advise on how to open a blocked account.
Renewal of your Belgian residence permit
Extension of residence permit is the discretionary power of decision of the Immigration department. By law, applications for extension of residence permits should be submitted to the town hall after making an appointment preferably one month and at latest 14 days before the residence permit expires.
The following documents are required:
- Passport
- Current ID card
- Registration certificate for the next academic year
- “Standard form” issued by the Student Administration department
- Transcript of records
- Proof of sufficient financial means
- Proof of a Health Insurance subscription
Study progress to renew your ID card
When extra time is necessary in order to finish a two (MA) or three (BA) year program, students need to submit proof they obtained at least a minimum amount of credits corresponding to the below table (= Immigration law).
|
Minimum amount of credits obtained |
||
|
|
Bachelor |
Master |
|
After 2 years |
45 |
60 |
|
After 3 years |
90 |
120 |
|
After 4 years |
135 |
Finish the programme |
|
After 5 years |
Finish the programme |
|
Professional Orientation Year
Students who recently graduated are eligible for a stay of 12 months to search for a job in Belgium or to carry out an independent professional activity.
- You are a non-EEA student in the possession of a residence permit
- You are a non-EEA student who obtained a graduate, bachelor or master degree or doctorate at a Belgian institution of higher education in the past academic year.
- You are a non-EEA student who obtained a diploma in another EU member state but studied in Belgium as part of a mobility programme (e.g. Erasmus Mundus)
Professional Orientation year
During the orientation year, you must:
- Actively look for a position that allows for the application of a combined permit as an employee; or
- Take the necessary steps to comply with all legal obligations to exercise an independent professional activity, whether as a natural person, within a juridical person (= legal entity such as a corporation, NGO,…) or within any other organisation without legal status.
- If it appears that you no longer meet the conditions set for your residence, and there is no reasonable chance of being recruited by an employer or of starting up a company, the Immigration Department may terminate the temporary residence permit.
- During the ‘orientation year', you are given unlimited access to the labour market and you can work legally for the duration of the orientation year.
Professional Orientation Year
The application must be submitted to the municipal administration where you have your main residence, no later than preferable 1 month and at latest 15 days before the expiry of the residence permit.
You must at least submit the following documents with the application:
- A valid passport:
- Proof that you have obtained a recognised diploma at a Higher Education Institution
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of sufficient financial means
If the application for an orientation year is approved by the Immigration Office, you will receive a temporary residence permit. This residence permit (A card) is valid for a maximum of 12 months and cannot be extended.
Professional Orientation Year
If you obtained your diploma at a foreign institution of higher education, but you were in Belgium via a mobility exchange programme (e.g. Erasmus Mundus programme), you can submit an application to the competent Belgian diplomatic or consular post in the country where you currently reside. The application must be submitted within 3 months after obtaining the diploma.
You must at least submit the following documents:
- A valid passport:
- Proof that you have obtained a recognised diploma at a Higher Education Institution
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of sufficient financial means
