Studying in Belgium · Congo-Brazzaville
Studying in Belgium from Congo-Brazzaville.
From the admission application to lodging the visa, the journey of a student from the Republic of the Congo to French-speaking Belgium follows precise steps and a tight schedule. Here is how to approach it without losing a year.
In short
To study in French-speaking Belgium from Congo-Brazzaville, you must obtain an admission in a recognised institution (deadline often set at 31 March for universities), have your diploma recognised through an equivalence with the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (fees reduced to EUR 150 for the Congo), then lodge the type D long-stay visa at the European Visa Centre in Kinshasa, competent for residents of Congo-Brazzaville. As the Congo is not party to the Apostille Convention, Congolese documents follow the classic legalisation.
The steps to study in Belgium from Congo-Brazzaville
- 1Obtain an admission in a recognised institution (university, haute école or higher arts school) in French-speaking Belgium.
- 2Have your secondary school leaving diploma (Congolese baccalauréat) recognised through an equivalence with the Equivalence Service of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.
- 3Fill in the visa form on VisaOnWeb, then lodge the long-stay visa file (type D, study purpose) at the European Visa Centre in Kinshasa.
- 4Have the Congolese documents legalised and prepare the proof of means of subsistence.
Admission and equivalence: the calendar
For a first university enrolment, the Congolese student (non-resident, non-EU) lodges their admission application via the universities' common portal, with a deadline set at 31 March 2026 for the 2026-2027 year (form open in mid-February). Quota-limited programmes (medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, veterinary medicine, psychological sciences) follow a separate procedure, from mid-May to early July.
In parallel, the Congolese baccalauréat is recognised through an equivalence with the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, to be lodged before mid-July. As the Congo is among the countries eligible for development aid, the equivalence fees are EUR 150 (instead of EUR 400) and are non-refundable.
The student visa from Congo-Brazzaville
For the long-stay study visa, residents of Congo-Brazzaville lodge their application at the European Visa Centre (EVC) in Kinshasa, across the river, in connection with the Belgian Embassy (it is neither TLScontact nor VFS Global). The application is prepared beforehand on VisaOnWeb, and the Belgian Embassy in Brazzaville does not handle visa applications.
| Visa file item | 2026-2027 reference |
|---|---|
| Filing location | European Visa Centre (EVC), Kinshasa (DRC), for residents of Congo-Brazzaville |
| Means of subsistence (amount indexed each year) | EUR 1,062 net / month, that is EUR 12,744 on a blocked account for 12 months |
| Administrative fee (as of 1 January 2026) | EUR 251 (public higher education) or EUR 242 (other cases) |
| Legal decision deadline | 90 days after acknowledgement of receipt of a complete file |
Legalising your Congolese documents
The Republic of the Congo is not party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Congolese public documents intended for Belgium (diplomas, transcripts, civil status certificates) therefore follow the classic legalisation chain, through successive steps with the competent Congolese authorities, then the competent Belgian consular post.
Lodging the visa in Kinshasa and the step-by-step legalisation are prepared early: these are the points that waste time when poorly anticipated. We identify the exact procedure for your file.
Why get support
As for the many international students we support, our role is to secure the sequence from end to end: an admission calendar met, an equivalence lodged on time, documents legalised in the right order, and a visa file lodged in the right place.
- Institution choice and building of the admission file on time
- Equivalence of the Congolese baccalauréat steered through to the decision
- Preparation of the visa file and the appointment at the European Visa Centre in Kinshasa
- Document legalisation chain directed to the right contacts
- A single point of contact, in French, until your arrival
Official sources
Information verified against official Belgian sources. Procedures, amounts and dates change every year, so always check the date before acting.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline to enrol at a Belgian university from Congo-Brazzaville?
How much does the equivalence of the Congolese baccalauréat cost in Belgium?
Where to lodge your student visa application from Congo-Brazzaville?
Do you need to legalise or apostille your Congolese documents?
What means-of-subsistence budget must be proven?
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