If you want to study in Belgium as an international student, you may need a visa. Here's what you need to know.
Then you may travel to Belgium on the strength of a national passport or identity card.
Then you must apply for a student visa (type D) with the Belgian embassy or consulate in your current country of residence before your depart to Belgium.
A European Union residence permit from another EU country is not sufficient. Upon arrival in Belgium you will have to present the same documents to the immigration office as for a student visa (type D) application.
If you have dual citizenship (e.g. non-EU + EU) but you are not currently a resident of an EU-country, we strongly advise you to apply for a visa. The issuance of a residence permit could otherwise be delayed as you will not have health insurance issued by a European provider (which is a requirement for all European nationals to stay in Belgium). By applying for a visa, you will already be able to settle this in advance.
For some countries, approval by the Belgian authorities can take up to three months or longer. So make sure you start the visa application procedure well in advance! We urge you not to come on a tourist visa alone.
