Studying in Belgium · Iraq

Studying in Belgium from Iraq.

From the admission application to lodging the visa, the journey of an Iraqi student 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 Iraq, 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 Iraq), then lodge the type D long-stay visa at TLScontact (Baghdad, Erbil or Mosul). As Iraq is not party to the Apostille Convention, Iraqi documents follow the classic consular legalisation.

The steps to study in Belgium from Iraq

1Obtain an admission in a recognised institution (university, haute école or higher arts school) in French-speaking Belgium.
2Have your secondary school leaving diploma 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 TLScontact (Baghdad, Erbil or Mosul).
4Have the Iraqi documents legalised and prepare the proof of means of subsistence.

Admission and equivalence: the calendar

For a first university enrolment, the Iraqi 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 Iraqi secondary school leaving diploma is recognised through an equivalence with the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, to be lodged before mid-July. As Iraq 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 Iraq

In Iraq, the visa application for Belgium is prepared on VisaOnWeb, then lodged at TLScontact, which has three centres: Baghdad, Erbil and Mosul. The file is processed by the Belgian Embassy competent for Iraq, which is relocated to Amman (Jordan).

Visa file item	2026-2027 reference
Filing centres	TLScontact Baghdad, Erbil or Mosul (processing by the embassy in Amman)
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 Iraqi documents

Iraq is not party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Iraqi public documents intended for Belgium (diplomas, transcripts, civil status certificates) therefore follow the classic consular legalisation chain, through successive steps with the competent Iraqi authorities, then the competent Belgian consular post.

The Iraqi legalisation chain has several levels and is prepared early: a poorly legalised document means a blocked equivalence or visa file. We identify the exact sequence applicable to 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, a visa file accepted the first time.

Institution choice and building of the admission file on time
Equivalence of the Iraqi diploma steered through to the decision
Preparation of the visa file and the appointment at the right TLScontact centre
Document legalisation chain directed to the right contacts
A single point of contact, in French and Arabic, 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 Iraq?

For a first university enrolment, the admission application of non-residents from outside the EU must in principle be lodged by 31 March of the year before the start of the year at the latest (form open in mid-February). Quota-limited programmes such as medicine follow a separate calendar, from mid-May to early July.

How much does the equivalence of the Iraqi diploma cost in Belgium?

The official administrative fees are EUR 150 for a diploma obtained in Iraq (reduced rate applicable to countries eligible for development aid), instead of EUR 400. These fees are non-refundable.

Where to lodge your student visa application in Iraq?

The application is prepared on VisaOnWeb then lodged at TLScontact, which has three centres in Iraq: Baghdad, Erbil and Mosul. The file is processed by the Belgian Embassy competent for Iraq, relocated to Amman.

Do you need to legalise or apostille your Iraqi documents?

As Iraq is not party to the Apostille Convention, Iraqi documents intended for Belgium follow the classic consular legalisation, through successive steps, and not the apostille. We identify the exact sequence applicable to your file.

What means-of-subsistence budget must be proven?

For the 2026-2027 academic year, the student must justify EUR 1,062 net per month, that is EUR 12,744 on a blocked account for twelve months, or a commitment to take charge by a guarantor. This amount is indexed each year.

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