Change of status

for students with non EEA+ nationality

​Change of status (researcher/employee to student)​

   Application documents​

   Procedure​

Your immigration status and reason for staying in Belgium might change while you are here, for example from student to researcher/employee or vice versa. Only if you are a non-EEA+ citizen, you will need to change your status and apply for a new residence permit. 

To change your status from student to researcher/employee, read the information provided by the Staff Office. 

To change your status from researcher/employee to student, please follow the instructions below. 
This is the procedure to apply through the city of Antwerp or one of its districts. If you are not living in Antwerp, you should contact the immigration office in your place of residence. 

Application documents

  1. Copy of your current valid residence permit 

  2. Copy of your valid passport 

  3. Proof of valid health insurance for Belgium (recent document, not older than one month)  

  4. a Standard form residence permit (name in Dutch: Model van Standaardformulier).
    This is the only document that will be accepted by the immigration office as proof of student enrolment. The document is only available in Dutch. 
    Download it from SisA (Documents > Standard form residence permit).  

  5. Proof of sufficient means of subsistence

  6. a completed, signed and dated information sheet for extension 

  7. Excerpt from your criminal record (will be provided by the immigration office if you apply through the university) 

  8. Proof of payment of the administrative fee or proof of exemption (if you receive a grant from UAntwerp) 


Procedure

If you are living in Antwerp or one of its districts, you can follow the procedure below:

  • Collect all required application documents 

  • You will receive a link to start your application. As soon as you have uploaded all required documents (see above) your application will be forwarded to the head office of immigration in Brussels.  

 

It can take several months before you receive a decision. Please keep the following in mind while awaiting the decision: 

  • You will not receive a bijlage 15 after expiry of your current residence permit 

  • You will no longer be able to work after expiry of your current residence permit 

  • You will not be able to travel out of the country after expiry of your current residence permit