Orientation Year

The orientation year residence permit (A-card) is a permit for which only non-EEA nationals can apply. It is valid for 12 months and cannot be extended. 

PhD graduates can only apply for an orientation year as long as they have a student residence status.  

During the orientation year: 

• You have unlimited access to the Belgian labour market. 

• You are not eligible for Belgian unemployment benefits. Applying for any kind of financial support from the Belgian government may result in an earlier and forced ending of your orientation year residence permit. 

• You must make genuine efforts to look for work or take the necessary steps to comply with all legal obligations to exercise an independent professional activity in the case of setting up your own business. The government may ask for proof that you are either looking for work or setting up a business. In case you are not able to provide any proof, the government may end this residence permit. 

• When you have found an employer who wants to employ you, they should submit an application for a single permit for you as soon as possible.  

On the following links, information can be found on the professional card for foreigners and on which steps to take to start a business in Belgium: 

• Professional card for foreigners (Flanders) 
• Professional card for foreigners (Brussels) 
• Steps to follow when starting a business 

Requirements 

• Your passport must be valid for the full orientation year 

• You have a valid Belgian student residence permit when you apply 

• You have graduated and have proof of graduation (e.g. diploma or provisional certificate) 

• You are currently living in Belgium (if you are currently living abroad you should apply in the Belgian embassy of the country you are residing in or in your home country)

Below you can find the procedure and required documents to apply through the city of Antwerp. If you are not living in Antwerp or one of its districts, you should contact the immigration office in your place of residence. 

Application documents 

The following documents are required for Orientation Year applications: 

1. A colour copy of a valid international passport 

2. A copy of your valid Belgian student residence permit 

3. Proof of current Belgian health insurance coverage (certificate no older than 1 month) 

4. A copy of your diploma or a provisional certificate from UAntwerp 

5. Proof of sufficient means of subsistence: there are three ways to prove that you have sufficient means.

• ​Formal obligation (Annex 32)
  Students cannot reuse the Annex 32 that was issued for their studies. A new Annex 32 must be prepared specifically for the orientation year.
  
• ​Employment contract
  The Federal Immigration Department accepts a valid employee contract as long as the financial amount covers the total minimum amount required for the orientation year period of 12 months.
  
• ​Blocked account
  Open an account with Studely or Ready Study Go International. Check the amount you need to deposit. 
  Alternatively, IOB students can contact greet.annaert@uantwerpen.be. All other students who are unable to use any of the other three options due to valid or significant reasons can request the application form by contacting blockedaccounts.orientationyear@uantwerpen.be.
  

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 IOB students who should send their application to greet.annaert@uantwerpen.be). 
The submission deadline is 15 days before the expiry of your current residence permit. 
Use this link to start up your application for the residence permit extension. Enter your UAntwerp username and password to login. After filling out the form, you will receive an automatic email to complete your application on 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 in Antwerp for further processing. 

Step 4: Your application is forwarded to the head office of immigration in Brussels for final approval 
Once the immigration office in Antwerp has checked your application, the application will be sent to the head office of immigration in Brussels who will make the final decision. It can take several months to receive final approval.  

Important information while waiting on the final decision:  

• If your student residence permit is about to expire, you will receive a temporary residence document called bijlage 15.  With this document, you can already start looking for a job and start working. The Orientation Year will start from the moment you receive this document. Note that you will not have a residence card while your application is being processed in Brussels. The temporary residence document bijlage 15 does not allow you to travel. 

• If your residence card as a student is valid for a longer period, you have two options:  
  Option 1: You can choose to keep your residence permit as a student until it is about to expire, and then start the Orientation Year. In this case, you will still be able to travel with your valid student residence permit. Of course, you will not be able to work as a regular employee. This is a good option if you are still looking for a job. 
  Important note: If you graduate in February and your student residence permit is still valid until the end of October, you cannot work as a student after graduation. If you graduate in June and your student residence permit is still valid, you are allowed to work as a student until the end of September or until the expiration date of your residence card if this is sooner.  
  
  Option 2: You can notify us that you want to start the Orientation Year immediately. Your student residence permit will then be cancelled, and you will have to return your A-card to the immigration office. We will then request a temporary residence document called bijlage 15 for you at the immigration office. With this document, you can already start working. The Orientation Year will start from the moment you receive this document.
  Important note: you will not have a residence card while your application is being processed in Brussels. The temporary residence document bijlage 15 does not allow you to travel. 

Step 5: Request your new residence card (1st appointment) 
Once your file has been approved by the immigration office, we will make an appointment for you at GATE 15 to order your new residence card (A card). You will be notified about your appointment by email. 

Make sure to bring following documents to your appointment: 

• your passport 

• your current Belgian residence card (A-card) 

• a bank card to pay (no cash is accepted) 

• a photo can be taken at the immigration office. If you would rather bring your own: 1 passport size photo with a white background. 

At the appointment, you will receive a follow-up appointment to pick up your residence card. 

Step 6: Collect your new 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, your Belgian residence card a 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 book a new appointment for you to pick up the card.

Requirements 

• Your passport must be valid for the full orientation year ​

• You have graduated from an EU member state and have completed a mobility period in Belgium during this time 

• You have valid health insurance for Belgium 

Application documents 

The following documents are required for Orientation Year applications: 

1. A colour copy of a valid international passport 

2. Proof of graduation at a higher education institution of an EU member state 

3. Proof of your mobility period in Belgium 

4. Proof of current Belgian health insurance (certificate no older than 1 month) 

5. Proof of sufficient means of subsistence: there are three ways to prove that you have sufficient means.  ​

• Formal obligation (Annex 32)
  Students cannot reuse the Annex 32 that was issued for their studies. A new Annex 32 must be prepared specifically for the orientation year.
  
• Employment contract
  The Federal Immigration Department accepts a valid employee contract as long as the financial amount covers the total minimum amount required for the orientation year period of 12 months.
  
• Bocked account
  Open an account with Studely or Ready Study Go International. Check the amount you need to deposit.
  Alternatively, IOB students can contact greet.annaert@uantwerp.be. All other students who are unable to use any of the other three options due to valid or significant reasons can request the application form by contacting blockedaccounts.orientationyear@uantwerpen.be.
  

Procedure 

• You are living abroad: 
  You must submit your application to the Belgian diplomatic or consular post competent for your place of residence. This can be in the EU member state where you graduated or in your home country. 

• You are living in Belgium at the time of application, and you still have a Belgian residence permit: 
  You can apply at the municipality of your place of residence. If this is Antwerp or one of its districts, the university can assist you with this. 

The submission deadline is within 3 months of your graduation in the other EU member state.