Visa and Immigration Requirements

The Belgian immigration law requires students to complete the formalities listed below before departure for Belgium. These formalities will ensure the proper permission to enter Belgium and conduct studies. 

ATTENTION: Students should not enter Belgium with a tourist visa if they intend to stay longer than 90 days or three months. Odisee will not support an application for a change of status or visa.

Find more information on the websites of the Belgian Immigration office

Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 

Belgian Immigration office 

 

Non-EEA citizens are nationals of countries that are not part of the EEA. 

* EEA = European Economic Area member states: EU + Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland 

* EU = European Union member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden

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Visa procedure Non-EEA nationals

We expect you to start up the visa application as soon as possible, as this procedure can easily take longer than 4 months.

To enter Belgium, you will need a visa. The type of visa depends on how long you intend to stay in Belgium. For stays longer than 90 days you need to apply for a Long Stay Visa (Type D), also called Authorisation for Provisional Sojourn. 

As a rule, students must apply for this visa at the Belgian consulate or Embassy in their own country or in the country where they legally reside, and not at the public authorities in Belgium itself. If there is no Belgium Consulate or Embassy in their home country, they may submit their application at the Belgian Consulate or Embassy in one of the neighboring countries. 

Procedure for EEA nationals

As an EEA citizen, you do not need a visa to enter Belgium. Bring along the following documents to Belgium:

  1. Valid passport or identity card 
  2. Proof of solvency: e.g. your personal bank statements, personal bank card or credit card, or the bank statements and attestation of financial support from your parents; in case you can't present this you will be asked to sign a declaration that you have sufficient financial means to complete your studies in Belgium 
  3. European Health Insurance Card that proves you are affiliated with a health insurance in your home country

Once arrived in Belgium you will have to register at the city hall of your residence within three months after your arrival.

For further questions, please contact admissions@odisee.be

Documents to apply for your visa

Please always check the website of the Belgian Embassy concerned for the most recent information. 

Website of Belgian Embassy in your country

  1. Valid passport

With at least one year’s validity remaining. 

  1. Embassy Admission Letter (Standard form/ Model van Standaardformulier)

Your admission letter cannot be used to apply for a type visa D. Please advise us by e-mail, admissions@odisee.be when you are starting up your visa application as you will need an additional document for your visa application. Indicate in the email in which embassy or visa application centre you will be lodging your visa application and the passport number you will use to lodge your application. At that time we will send an e-mail to the Belgian embassy concerned (you will be put in copy).

  1. Proof of Solvency 

There are two acceptable types of proof of solvency. 

  • Proof of your own financial means – Blocked Account

Proof of your own financial means by transferring a certain amount to open a blocked account in Belgium in your name. (Highly recommended procedure.)

Open a blocked account at Odisee here 

  • Form ‘Agreement for Acceptance of Financial Responsibility’ – Annex 32

Please check the website of the Belgian Consulate or Embassy in your home country for the current required amounts.

  1. Certificate of good conduct

This certificate, which is called a police record, can be obtained from the police department in your home country. It should cover the last five years. If the police department in your home country does not provide such a certificate, the Belgian Consulate or Embassy will inform you as to what steps to take. For US citizens, this certificate is also called the FBI Clearance. 

  1. Medical certificate 

This certificate has to be completed by a doctor appointed by the Belgian diplomatic or consular agent nearest to your official place of residence and stamped for approval by said agent. Only the completed original (Dutch, French or English language) certificate is accepted by the ministry in Belgium. The medical certificate needs to be legalised by the Belgian embassy or consulate as well. This certificate should state that you are in good health and are not a carrier of contagious diseases, e.g. tuberculosis.

  1. Contribution Fee  (if obligated) 

Proof of payment of the contribution fee if this is obligated at your embassy. Odisee is accredited and subsidized by the Flemish government in Belgium. The contribution fee for a public higher education institution amounts to 245 euros. 

  1. Proof of consent from parents (under 18 years of age)

If you are under the age of 18 years, you will have to provide proof of consent from your parents  or the person exercising guardianship.

 

 

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