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.
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 they pay the minerval at the European rate. 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 on Mesetudes.be 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
A European student pays the minerval at the normal rate (a basic registration fee of around EUR 835 per year, indexed), and not the specific, higher registration fee of non-EU nationals. Additional institution-specific fees may be added.
Why get support
The European journey is simpler than the non-EU journey, but it has its traps: the resident/non-resident status, the Mesetudes 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 on Mesetudes 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.