If you’re thinking of studying in Belgium, it’s a beautiful country with world-renowned universities of quality that offer subsidized tuition fees estimated to be about €979.60 – €8,000 (depending on your program) for international students, a multicultural/multilingual population, fabulous cuisines, fantastic countryside and cities.
As a Nigerian international student, you’ll need a study visa and international passport to legally study and live in Belgium during your course or programme duration. This is how to apply for your Belgium study visa, processes involved and the necessary documents required for your visa application.
Note that your first eligibility criteria are provisional admission letter into a Belgium institution, sufficient financial support throughout your study, police character certification and a suitable health insurance policy to cover health costs.
Belgium Student Visa
The Belgium student visa available for study is the National long stay visa (D visa) which allows stay duration of more than 90 days. The D visa is quite similar to a residence permit card with regard to free movement on the SCHENGEN territory. Notably, you are allowed to travel throughout the Schengen region for a total period not exceeding 3 months in a 6-month period, starting from the date of your first entry on to the Schengen territory, provided that you meet the entry conditions otherwise.
To Apply for a Belgium student national long stay visa you must submit the following compulsory documents:
- A properly completed and duly signed Belgium visa application form in duplicate
- Nigerian international passport valid for at least 6 months after your intended stay in the country, it must have at least two blank pages facing each other. Passport should be no more than 10 years old. You can also submit previous passports with visas and stamps; this can help assess your travel history.
- Three copies of your international passport bio-data page showing your passport number, date of birth, country of origin, etc.
- Recent passport photograph in dimensions of 35 – 40 mm, full face capture. Note that you must NOT staple the passport photo; passport photos with staple marks on them will not be accepted.
- Registration attestation documentation of admission from a Belgium government accredited educational institution.
- The letter of acceptance on an official letterhead from the institution must detail the following information: The applicant’s full name, the name of the institution, what course/programme the applicant has been admitted to, the duration of the course/programme, details of tuition fees.
- Travel medical insurance certificate. It is required that the insurance covers all days you are planning to stay in the Schengen area, this document must cover medical costs of up to €30,000.
- Proof of financial income and sufficient funds via a bank account statement, scholarship certificate grants and financial documentations/guarantees of your sponsor. It is required to cover all living, study, accommodation, healthcare, entertainment and return travel costs for the school year.
- Medical certification from an approved medical practitioner stating that you possess a clean bill of health. Tuberculosis and yellow fever cards are also allowed.
- A police clearance certification indicating that you have no prior convictions and a model citizen.
- Original and legalized school certificates and academic records (Bachelor degree, WAEC, etc) used for obtaining your admission to the Belgian institute from the Ministry of Education, Foreign Affairs and the Belgium embassy.
- Letters of recommendation from professors and employers.
- Students bio information like birth and marriage certificates.
Note that other documentations may be required by the Belgian consular officers during visa application and interview.
How much is Belgium Visa Application Fees?
The approved standard visa application fees for the Belgium student visa is €180 (N88,216), payment is made in cash at the bank teller counter at the VFS visa application centre. Take not that you might be charged extra for biometric data collection for The Visa Information System and visa application centre extra services.
Belgium Visa Application Process
Application for a Belgium student visa (D visa) is done via the visa external service provider VFS global office in Lagos and Abuja. The visa applications are submitted at the visa application centres in Lagos and Abuja. Applications submitted will be assessed by the Belgium Embassy in Abuja for forwarding to the Aliens office in Belgium for final visa approval consideration.
To complete your visa application process, you must bring along all your supporting documents in original, the student visa application form and a clear photocopy of all your supporting documents as well. Belgium visa application submission times are between 08:00AM to 14:00PM on Mondays – Fridays except on Nigerian and Belgium public holidays.
Collection of passports back from VFS Visa Application Centre is from 11:00AM to 16:00PM on Mondays – Fridays as well. If you want a representative to collect your passport on your behalf, you must include a letter of authority at the submission counter while submitting your visa application documents.
Biometric Data Collection
Biometric details will be collected from you at the visa application centre for the visa information system; this helps to ascertain your identity and travel status.
This is done in a quick, discreet process that captures a facial image with a digital camera and a 10-digit fingerprint scan with a digital finger scanner.
Your face must be clearly visible for a photograph to be taken. If you wear a head or neck covering for religious reasons you must ensure your face is clearly visible, from the bottom of your chin to above your eyebrows including both cheeks. You may also need to remove your glasses when the photograph is taken.
Belgium Visa Processing Time
The Belgium student visa application process takes duration of 14-30 working days. You can track your visa application with your visa application reference number and date of birth via this link.
On Arrival in Belgium
You must report at the municipal administration in your location within 8 days to ask to be registered on the aliens register and issued with a residence permit (A card).
This residence permit is registered on the list of residence permits issued by the Schengen countries allowing entry without a visa.
As a general rule, you apply for the renewal of your residence permit between the 45th and the 30th day prior to its expiry date. This renewal is issued by the Aliens Office, on production of a valid work permit.
Covid 19 Requirements to travel to Belgium
Belgium does not require a COVID-19 test for entry. However, this information may change, so it’s important to check the latest guidelines and restrictions before making travel plans.
Travelers entering Belgium may be subject to health checks and screening measures, such as temperature checks and health questionnaires, upon arrival. Additionally, there may be quarantine requirements or other restrictions in place for travelers arriving from certain countries with high COVID-19 transmission rates.
Belgium Visa Application Centers in Nigeria
Belgium Visa Application Centre, Lagos
Fourth Floor, Ivie House,
4/6 Ajose Adeogun Street,
Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria
Belgium Visa Application Centre, Abuja
Third floor, Murkhtar El-Yakub Place beside Metro Plaza,
Plot 1129 Zakariya Maimalari Street,
Central Business District, Abuja, Nigeria.
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