Studying in Belgium · Tunisia
Studying in Belgium from Tunisia.
From the admission application to lodging the visa in Tunis, the journey of a Tunisian 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 Tunisia, you must obtain an admission in a recognised institution (deadline often set at 31 March for universities), have the Tunisian baccalaureate recognised through an equivalence with the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (fees reduced to EUR 150 for Tunisia), then lodge the type D long-stay visa at TLScontact Tunis. Since 11 June 2025, Tunisian documents intended for Belgium are apostilled and no longer legalised.
The steps to study in Belgium from Tunisia
- 1Obtain an admission in a recognised institution (university, haute école or higher arts school) in French-speaking Belgium.
- 2Have the Tunisian baccalaureate 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 Tunis.
- 4Have the Tunisian documents apostilled and prepare the proof of means of subsistence.
Admission and equivalence: the calendar
For a first university enrolment, the Tunisian 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 Tunisian baccalaureate is recognised through an equivalence with the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles, to be lodged within a window that closes around 15 July. As Tunisia is among the countries eligible for development aid, the administrative equivalence fees are brought down to EUR 150 (instead of EUR 400) and are non-refundable.
The student visa from Tunisia
In Tunisia, the visa application for Belgium is prepared on VisaOnWeb, then lodged at the TLScontact centre in Tunis (Les Berges du Lac 2), service provider of the Belgian Consulate. The study purpose has a dedicated slot, by appointment, with a complete file required and an interview about the study project on the day of filing.
| Visa file item | 2026-2027 reference |
|---|---|
| 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 (Immigration Office, 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 Tunisian documents: the apostille
Since 11 June 2025, the Hague Convention (apostille) has taken effect between Tunisia and Belgium. Tunisian public documents intended for Belgium (diplomas, transcripts, civil status certificates) are therefore no longer legalised at the consulate: they receive an apostille affixed by a Tunisian notary, the sole authorised party, then are produced directly in Belgium.
Beware of outdated information: before 11 June 2025, the Tunisian apostille was not recognised by Belgium and a full consular legalisation was required. Many online pages still describe this old regime. We tell you the exact chain applicable today 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 apostilled in the right place, a visa file accepted the first time in Tunis.
- Institution choice and building of the admission file on time
- Equivalence of the Tunisian baccalaureate steered through to the decision
- Preparation of the visa file and the appointment at TLScontact Tunis
- Apostille of documents directed to the right contact
- 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 Tunisia?
How much does the equivalence of the Tunisian baccalaureate cost in Belgium?
Where to lodge your student visa application in Tunisia?
Do you need to legalise or apostille your Tunisian documents?
What means-of-subsistence budget must be proven?
Ready to launch your project?
First conversation free, no commitment. We review your situation and orchestrate all the procedures, right up to your arrival.