Studying in Belgium · France
Studying in Belgium as a French citizen.
No visa for a French student, but a real trap: the non-resident quota and the draw for quota-limited programmes. Here is what really changes, and how to put all the odds on your side.
Updated on September 8, 2026
In short
A French student needs no visa to study in Belgium (EU citizen, free movement): they simply register with the commune. The real issue lies elsewhere: a French national residing in France is considered a non-resident and, for quota-limited programmes (medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, veterinary medicine, speech therapy, psychological sciences), they are subject to a quota and, depending on the programme, to a draw, via an application lodged with the chosen institution. The French baccalauréat must also be the subject of an equivalence (EUR 400), and the minerval is at the European rate.
Does a French student need a visa for Belgium?
No. As an EU citizen, a French national enjoys free movement: no visa is required to study in Belgium. For a stay of more than three months, you simply have to request a registration certificate (annexe 19) from the municipal administration of your place of residence in Belgium, within three months of arrival. The commune then issues a registration certificate or an E card, valid for a maximum of five years.
The real issue: the non-resident quota and the draw
This is the decisive point for a French national. A student residing in France is considered a non-resident in Belgium. For so-called quota-limited programmes, non-residents are limited to a quota (30% of those enrolled, 20% in veterinary medicine), and the application is lodged electronically with the chosen institution, within an annual window set in the last days of August (25 to 27 August for 2026, draw and results in early September).
| Quota-limited programme | Selection method for non-residents |
|---|---|
| Medicine, dental sciences | Entrance exam (since 2017), no draw |
| Physiotherapy and rehabilitation, veterinary medicine | Draw if candidates exceed the quota |
| Speech therapy, audiology, psychological sciences (speech therapy orientation) | Draw if candidates exceed the quota |
Resident or non-resident, that is the whole issue: a French national who resides durably in Belgium (for example five years of residence) is no longer subject to the quota. The classification of your situation and meeting the late-August filing window are prepared in advance. That is where we step in.
Do you need an equivalence of the French baccalauréat?
Yes. The French baccalauréat is not exempt from equivalence (only the European baccalaureate, the Geneva international baccalaureate and the SHAPE schools are). You therefore have to request an equivalence of the secondary school leaving diploma from the Equivalence Service of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, to be lodged between mid-November and mid-July before enrolment.
The equivalence fees are EUR 400 for a French diploma (France is not among the countries eligible for development aid that open the reduced rate) and are non-refundable. A provisional equivalence, on the basis of report cards, is possible while awaiting the official diploma.
How much does enrolment (the minerval) cost?
A French student pays the minerval at the European rate (full rate of EUR 1,194 per year for 2026-2027, set by decree and indexed every year), and not the specific, much higher registration fee applicable to non-EU nationals. The reduced rates (EUR 835, 374 or 0) are reserved for resident students or students whose family works in Belgium: a student arriving from France pays the full rate in practice.
Why get support
For a French national, the classic mistake is not the visa (there is none): it is mishandling the resident/non-resident status, missing the late-August filing window, or underestimating the equivalence of the baccalauréat. Our role is to secure exactly these points.
- Analysis of your resident or non-resident status and its consequences
- Quota-limited programme strategy (quota, draw or entrance exam)
- Lodging the application with the institution within the right window
- Equivalence of the French baccalauréat steered through to the decision
- A single point of contact, in French, until your enrolment
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
Do you need a visa to study in Belgium as a French citizen?
How does the non-resident quota work for French students?
Is there a draw for medicine in Belgium?
Is the French baccalauréat enough to enrol in Belgium?
How much does a year of study in Belgium cost for a French national?
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