Long-stay visa (type D)
The student visa for Belgium, step by step.
By the Studacy team · Published on June 20, 2026
In short
The Belgian student visa is a residence authorisation for more than 90 days (type D). The application is lodged in person at the competent Belgian consular post (via TLScontact or VFS Global depending on the country), after completing the VisaOnWeb online form. The file gathers the admission certificate, proof of means of subsistence (1 062 € net per month for 2026-2027), a medical certificate, a criminal record extract and proof of payment of the fee. The decision is in principle made within 90 days of a complete file.
What documents do you need for the Belgian student visa?
The long-stay study visa file generally gathers the following items. The precise list and the period of validity depend on the consular post competent for your country.
- Valid passport and application form (via VisaOnWeb).
- Certificate of admission or enrolment at a recognised higher education institution.
- Proof of sufficient means of subsistence (blocked account or sponsorship by a guarantor via annex 32).
- Medical certificate issued by an approved doctor (less than 6 months old depending on the post).
- Recent criminal record extract (less than 6 months old) for adults.
- Health insurance covering the stay and proof of payment of the administrative fee.
- Translations by a sworn translator for documents not in French, Dutch, German or English.
How does the visa application work?
- 1Complete the application form online on VisaOnWeb and gather all the items.
- 2Pay the administrative fee by bank transfer, before lodging.
- 3Book an appointment with the competent provider (TLScontact or VFS Global) and lodge the file in person, with fingerprinting.
- 4Follow the processing by the Immigration Office and collect the decision, then the visa affixed to the passport.
How much is the fee and how long does it take?
| Item | 2026 benchmark |
|---|---|
| Administrative fee (public higher education) | 251 € |
| Administrative fee (other cases) | 242 € |
| Legal decision time (complete file) | 90 days |
| When to lodge, ideally | 6 months before departure |
The fee is indexed every year and is paid by bank transfer before lodging. Minors are exempt from it. The 90-day time is a legal maximum often exceeded in practice: lodging early is the best protection.
Can I work during my studies?
Yes. With a student residence permit, you can work up to 20 hours per week outside school holidays, and without an hourly limit during the holidays. The right to work follows automatically from the student residence permit: there is no longer a separate work permit C since the single permit was introduced in 2019.
How Studacy supports you
We support many international students with their visa application. We check your file item by item, we identify the consular post and the provider competent for your country, we prepare the proof of means of subsistence and annex 32 where applicable, and we set the calendar to lodge early enough. You move forward with a single point of contact until the visa is obtained.
Official sources
Information verified against official Belgian sources. Procedures and amounts change every year, so always check the date before acting.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a C visa and a D visa?
How long does the student visa application take?
How much is the administrative fee?
Where do I have to lodge my visa application?
Can I work with a student visa?
The related service
Student visa file
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