Staying in Belgium for maximum 90 days
If you are planning to stay in Belgium for less than 90 days, you don't need to apply for a residence permit.
You must present yourself to the immigration office in your place of residence to request a declaration of arrival (bijlage 3 for non-EEA+ citizens) unless you are staying in a hotel or hostel for the full period.
If you are living in Antwerp or one of its districts this can be done through an online form (only available in Dutch).
Staying in Belgium for more than 90 days
All students staying longer than 90 days must apply for a residence permit upon arrival. Please note that this process can take a few weeks.
As a rule, you should register at the local government office within eight days of your arrival in Belgium. However, you can disregard the 8-day period notice stated on your visa when you apply for the residence permit through our office. Of course you should submit your application as soon as possible, but the key priority is ensuring that you provide all necessary documents for your application as mentioned below.
Exception bijlage 33: If students meet the requirements for limited registration, they will not have to apply for a full residence permit.
Exception 1: individuals holding a valid residence permit for France, Germany, the Netherlands or Luxembourg
Non-EEA+ nationals holding a valid residence permit for France, Germany, the Netherlands or Luxembourg can opt not to apply for a visa type D (before arrival) and a full residence permit (upon arrival). They have the option to apply for a limited registration document, called bijlage 33, instead of a full residence permit. In that case, you don’t need to apply for the visa type D in advance. Upon arrival, you will have to follow the procedure mentioned on this webpage under the title 'Nationals of France, Germany, the Netherlands or Luxembourg (bijlage 33)' and add two additional documents:
a copy of your valid residence permit for one of these countries
proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the time of your stay
If you would like a full residence permit (procedure below), you will also need to apply for a visa type D before arrival.
Exception 2: Erasmus Mobility
Non-EEA+ nationals who study in a country of the European Union and come to Belgium on exchange via the Erasmus programme can make use of a simplified application procedure for a temporary Belgian residence document without a visa type D, provided they meet the requirements below at least two months before the start of their mobility.
Instead of applying for a visa type D before arrival and a residence permit upon arrival, these students can apply for a limited registration document called bijlage 33.
This is a limited registration, and not a full residence permit.
The document is free of charge.
Working as a student is allowed (up to 20 hours per week).
Requirements
You are an exchange student under the Erasmus programme
You are in possession of a residence permit from an EEA+ country which is valid for your entire mobility period in Belgium. This residence permit must be granted on the basis of your student status in that EEA+ country.
You provide the application documents listed below two months before the start of your exchange.
Application documents
A colour copy of a valid passport
A colour copy of a residence permit from an EEA+ country which is valid for the entire mobility period (front and back) This residence permit must be granted on the basis of your student status in that EEA+ country.
A passport size photo with a white background
Proof of valid health insurance for Belgium for the entire mobility period
‘Model van kennisgeving van de mobiliteit’ (Model of mobility notification): this document will be provided by the university
Application procedure
2 months before the start of your mobility: Contact incomingstudents@uantwerpen.be for instructions on how to proceed. You will need to present the 6 documents mentioned above.
After a positive decision from the immigration services, you will be notified that your application has been approved.
Upon arrival in Antwerp: you will need to provide an information sheet (you will receive instructions for this later on).
Once we’ve received your information sheet, your file will be sent tto the immigration office to deliver your document. You will receive your residence document bijlage 33 valid for your mobility period by email.
If you cannot present the required documentation 2 months in advance, you must apply for a visa type D in order to come to Belgium. You will also need to request a residence permit upon arrival (procedure below).
You can apply via the procedure below if you are living in 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. We recommend that you check the website of the municipality first to check whether you need to book an appointment or if you can go without an appointment.
Application documents
You should upload following documents for a residence permit application:
- a colour copy of your visa
Extra documents needed for specific codes mentioned on your visa:
B43: you must submit a proof of valid public or private health insurance for Belgium. In case of a Belgian health insurance provider the document is called ‘verklaring van lidmaatschap’.
B7 or B35: you must submit a copy of your invitation letter. - a colour copy of your passport
- a Standard form residence permit for the current academic year (name in Dutch: Model van Standaardformulier). This is the only document that will be accepted by the immigration office as proof of student enrolment. If you are a degree student, your standard form should reflect enrolment of at least 54 ECTS. This is not the case for phd/exchange/vrs students.
Degree / Phd students: Download it from SisA (Documents > Standard form residence permit) after you’ve enrolled at our university, paid the tuition fees and selected the courses of your programme.
Exchange / VRS students: you will receive the document by email. - a copy of the rental agreement for your accommodation in Antwerp
- proof of sufficient financial means
- a completed, signed and dated information sheet (.pdf).
- When you submit your application through Mobility Online, the filled-out information sheet will be automatically generated after completion of your data. Do not forget to sign this document.
- With reference to your Belgian address, make sure to type in your apartment/room number (e.g. 1, 3B, ...) and location (e.g. on the left side of the building).
- There is a special field on the information sheet to provide useful information for the police officer, such as your class hours/days, the times/days you are at home. You can also provide other specific details: e.g. that there is only one doorbell or mailbox for several residents, etc. The information you enter will simplify and therefore speed up the residence check procedure.
Procedure
Step 1: Gather your documents
Scan each document (not each page) as a .pdf and give each document the correct name. For example, if it is a scan of your passport, name it “passport”.
Step 2: Submit your application through Mobility Online.
(Except for Linguapolis and IOB students who have to send their application file to the Linguapolis or IOB office email address).
Use this link to start up your application in Mobility Online. Enter your UAntwerp username and password to login. After filling out the form, you will receive an automatic email to complete your application in Mobility Online. Make sure to complete all steps.
Step 3: The university will check your application
If anything is missing, we will contact you to request more information. If your application is complete, you will receive a confirmation email that your file has been forwarded to the immigration office for further processing.
Step 4: Receive your temporary residence document bijlage 15
Once your file has been processed by the immigration office, we will digitally receive your temporary residence document bijlage 15 from the immigration office which will be forwarded to your email. At the same time, a request will be sent to the police to carry out a residence check.
Step 5: Residence check by police officer
The police officer will check if you live at the address you entered. It is important you clearly mark your first and family name on both your doorbell and your mailbox. If you are not at home, they will come back at another time. Please confirm on Mobility Online that the residence check has been completed. If you have not received a police visit within four weeks, contact us (residencepermit@uantwerpen.be), linguapolis or the IOB student office.
Step 6: Request the residence card (1st appointment)
After your residence check has been completed, the university will make an appointment for you at GATE 15 to order your residence card (A card). You will be notified about your appointment by email.
Make sure to bring following documents to the appointment:
your passport and visa
1 passport size photo (white background)
your temporary residence document bijlage 15, which you received by email
a bank card to pay (cash is not accepted)
At the appointment you will receive a new bijlage 15, containing your national registration number. This document also allows you to work as a student.
Step 7: Collect your residence card (2nd appointment)
You should receive a letter with your pin code by regular mail before the date of your second appointment. Make sure to take this letter, your passport and your temporary residence document bijlage 15 with you to the appointment. If you have not received your pin codes by the time of your appointment, send an email to residencepermit@uantwerpen.be and let us know. We will request a new pin code for you that this time will be sent to GATE 15. We will also book a new appointment for you to pick up the card.