Prepare for your arrival at UCLouvain – International students

1. Begin the formalities for entering Belgium

You have received your letter of authorisation for enrolment? Congratulations, you can now begin the visa application process. Visit the page below for more information.

Not required to apply for a visa? You can skip to the next step.

2. Settle in Belgium

a. Find your housing

UCLouvain offers a variety of housing options to suit every profile.

It is also possible to find housing through agencies, private landlords, project-based student housing, etc.

b. Obtain your residence permit

• European students: We recommend that you report to the local council of your place of residence within a few days of your arrival in Belgium.
• Non-European Union students: You must report to the local council of your place of residence within eight days of your arrival in Belgium.

c. Obtain health insurance

In Belgium, all students must be covered by health insurance.

• If you are a citizen of the European Union (or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland):
  • Remember to apply for your European Health Insurance Card. This card is free and will give you the same access to healthcare as Belgian citizens.
• If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union:
  • As soon as you arrive, join a mutual insurance company to obtain compulsory and supplementary insurance. This will ensure the reimbursement (partial or total, depending on the type of services) of your medical care and the purchase of certain medicines.
  • You are free to choose your health insurance provider: there are socialist, Christian, liberal, independent and neutral providers.
  • There are also additional, non-compulsory health insurance policies available at an extra cost, which cover all or part of the costs not reimbursed by health insurance providers.

d. Attend the medical examination

The medical examination applies to all students from countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis if this is their first enrolment at UCLouvain. This medical examination is free of charge. After your arrival, you will be invited to attend a consultation with the university health service. This is an opportunity to meet a healthcare provider in Belgium..

3. Activate your UCLouvain account

A few days after receiving your registration authorisation letter, you will receive an email to activate your UCLouvain account. Follow the instructions provided in the email.

Did you not receive an activation email?

• Check your spam folder.
• Still nothing? No problem, have your NOMA number ready and click on this link.

Having trouble activating your account?

• Submit a request for assistance to our Desk service via our online platform or by telephone on +32 (0)10/478282.

4. Complete your registration

a. Return your signed registration authorisation letter

The letter of authorisation for enrolment that you received by email is a favourable decision regarding your enrolment. You must still confirm your enrolment by returning this document, signed and dated, to us by email. Your enrolment will only be finalised once we have received this document and any additional information requested by the Enrolment Office.

Please note that if you are required to apply for a visa, your enrolment cannot be finalised until you have presented your visa.

b. Pay your registration fees

• If you have paid an administrative fee:
  • You will be definitively enrolled once the Enrolment Office has received your signed and dated enrolment authorisation letter, along with any additional documents requested.
  • Your enrolment fees should be paid in whole by 1 February at the latest.
• If you have not paid an application fee:
  • You will be provisionally enrolled once the Enrolment Office has received your signed and dated enrolment authorisation letter, along with any additional documents requested.
  • To be definitively enrolled, you will need to pay a deposit of at least €50, as well as any additional fees (sports card and solidarity card) by 31 October at the latest. Please note that after this date, if payment has not been received, you will be automatically unenrolled.
  • The full amount of your registration fees must be paid by 1 February at the latest.

Is your ‘Registration Notice and Invoice’ certificate not available?

• Please wait at least three days after receiving the email confirming your provisional or final registration.
• Still nothing? Please contact our department.

5. Prepare for the new school year

The latest information you need to start the year with peace of mind.

Discover everything your campus has to offer.