Visa application and blocked account

Visa application

Are you a citizen of a country outside the European Union and wish to pursue full-time studies at UCLouvain? Then you must apply for authorisation to stay more than 90 days in Belgium.

As a general rule, this application must be submitted to the Belgian diplomatic or consular post competent for your place of residence and takes the form of a D visa application (national long-stay visa).

You will find all the required information on the website of the Immigration Office. The supporting documents to be provided are:

• A copy of your valid passport; 
• Proof of payment of the fee, if you are subject to this obligation; 
• A certificate from UCLouvain proving that you are enrolled to pursue higher education, have been admitted to studies, or are registered for an admission test or exam; 
• Proof that you will have sufficient means of subsistence (see below); 
• A medical certificate; 
• If you are over 18 years old, an extract from your criminal record or an equivalent document; 
• If you are under 18 years old, proof of parental authorization or, if applicable, from the person exercising guardianship;
• Proof that you have or will have health insurance covering all risks in Belgium.
  • We remind you that you must take out valid health insurance before arriving in Belgium. Without this, you will not be able to obtain your residence permit, which is essential to access Belgian health insurance (mutuelle). We strongly advise you to make all the necessary arrangements before your departure to avoid any complications.

Adequate means of subsistance

Proof of sufficient means of subsistence may be provided by producing one or more of the following documents: 

• A scholarship or loan certificate; 
• A commitment to financial support in accordance with Annex 32; 
• A bank deposit guarantee with a financial services company specialised in opening blocked bank accounts; 
• A certificate issued by UCLouvain specifying that the student has deposited an amount covering the necessary expenses for their stay in Belgium into a blocked account. 

Many students are tempted to use fictitious guarantors to meet visa application requirements. These guarantors offer their services in exchange for payment. This illegal practice can result in severe penalties: several students have been forced to leave Belgium during the year because the guarantor's conditions were not met.

We recommend consulting the Immigration Office's website to learn about the official requirements for guarantor support.

We strongly advise you to use alternatives such as a blocked account at UCLouvain to prove that you have sufficient means of subsistence.

Blocked account at UCLouvain

UCLouvain offers you this service for visa applications, residence permit renewals and application for a year of job search.

Amounts for 2025-26:

Please note that this theoretical amount is not sufficient to cover the real costs of living and studying in Belgium. The real cost of living can vary between €1,000 and €1,200 per month. This account is subject to indexation and will be reviewed every year by the Immigration Office. Also note that registration fee is not included in this amount.

The handling fee is not refundable even in the event of a visa refusal. Only exchange student for a stay of less than six months are exempt from handling fee.

For more information, see the Blocked Accounts Guide and FAQ.