Studying in Belgium · European Union
Studying in Belgium when you come from the EU.
EU, EEA or Swiss citizen: no visa, but specific rules (registration, non-resident quota, equivalence, minerval) not to be confused with the non-EU journey. Here are the essentials.
Updated on September 8, 2026
In short
A citizen of the European Union, the European Economic Area or Switzerland needs no visa to study in Belgium: they enjoy free movement and simply register with the commune. Their secondary school leaving diploma must be the subject of an equivalence with the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (EUR 400), and, if they are EU citizens, they pay the minerval at the European rate (full rate of EUR 1,194 for 2026-2027). For an EEA or Swiss national, nationality alone does not open this rate: unless an individual assimilation criterion applies, non-EU fees may apply. Note: for quota-limited programmes, a non-resident student remains subject to a quota and, depending on the programme, to a draw.
Do you need a visa when you are an EU citizen?
No. Nationals of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland enjoy free movement: no visa is required to study in Belgium. For a stay of more than three months, you have to request a registration certificate (annexe 19) from the commune of your place of residence in Belgium, within three months of arrival; the commune issues a registration certificate or an E card, valid for a maximum of five years.
Quota-limited programmes: the non-resident quota
Even without a visa, a European student who does not reside in Belgium is considered a non-resident. For quota-limited programmes (medicine, dental sciences, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, veterinary medicine, speech therapy, audiology, psychological sciences speech therapy orientation), non-residents are limited to a quota (30%, 20% in veterinary medicine) and the application is lodged with the chosen institution, within an annual window. Depending on the programme, selection is by draw, except for medicine and dental sciences (entrance exam).
This resident/non-resident rule is the most common trap for European students. We analyse your situation and align your application with the right window.
The equivalence of your secondary diploma
A secondary school leaving diploma obtained in an EU country must be the subject of an equivalence with the Equivalence Service of the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles to access university (only the European baccalaureate and the Geneva international baccalaureate are exempt). The application is lodged between mid-November and mid-July, and the fees are EUR 400 (EU countries do not open the reduced rate). A provisional equivalence on the basis of report cards is possible.
The minerval: the European rate
An EU citizen pays the minerval at the normal rate (full rate of EUR 1,194 per year for 2026-2027, indexed every year), and not the specific, higher registration fee of non-EU nationals; reduced rates are reserved for resident students or students whose family works in Belgium. Often overlooked: EEA or Swiss nationality alone does not open the European rate (the decree reserves assimilation to nationals of an EU member state or to individual criteria such as effective employment in Belgium): without an individual criterion, the institution may charge the higher non-EU fee. We check this point with the institution before any enrolment.
Why get support
The European journey is simpler than the non-EU journey, but it has its traps: the resident/non-resident status, the late-August filing window for quota-limited programmes, and the equivalence of the diploma. We secure these points for you.
- Analysis of your resident or non-resident status
- Quota-limited programme strategy (quota, draw or entrance exam)
- Lodging the application with the institution within the right window
- Equivalence of your secondary diploma steered through to the decision
- A single point of contact 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
Does an EU citizen need a visa to study in Belgium?
Does the non-resident quota apply to European students?
Do you need an equivalence for a European secondary diploma?
How much does the minerval cost for a European student?
Is the journey really simpler than for a non-EU student?
Ready to launch your project?
First conversation free, no commitment. We review your situation and orchestrate all the procedures, right up to your arrival.