Upon Arrival

Upon arrival it is important you complete a few steps so you can start your studies and stay in Hasselt without any worries.

Follow the steps below to ensure a smooth start of your stay.

Upon arrival in Belgium, it is important that you make an appointment for your final registration.

This registration is required in order to get your student/staff/visitor card. This card allows you to make use of the Hasselt University facilities and infrastructure such as the library, bike rent and university restaurants.  

Do you have questions related to your application? Please contact the Student administration office: stua@uhasselt.be

Registration at town hall

Upon arrival in Belgium all foreigners staying longer than one month must register at their local town hall withing eight working days.

Please make an appointment at town hall of the city you reside in. Please mention that you’re an international student of UHasselt. 

You are staying in Hasselt

• go to the website of the city of Hasselt
• Make sure the lines "Aankomst uit buitenland - lang verblijf (>3mnd) is selected ( only If you are staying longer than 3 months)
• If you don't have a Belgian telephone number to add, you can use +32 11 26 81 11, the general UHasselt telephone number. Please ask to receive a BIS-number (cf. national insurance number).
• Adress: Limburgplein1, 3500 Hasselt

You are staying in Diepenbeek

• contact burgerzaken@diepenbeek.be.
• Adress: Dorpsstraat 14,3590 Diepenbeek

You are staying in Genk

• contact vreemdelingen@genk.be.
• Please attach a scan/photo of your passport to your e-mail.
• Adress: Stadsplein 1, 3600 Genk

Take following documents to your appointment

• Your passport
• Your rental contract, including your e-mail address
• Your enrollment certificate AND your standard form, which clearly mentions your study/internship. You can find this in your student file - if you have trouble finding it, or it doesn't mention your study or internship yet, please contact stua@uhasselt.be
• If applicable, proof of your scholarship
• 19 euros for Stad Hasselt, 22 euros for Stad Genk, 15 euros for Gemeente Diepenbeek
• 2 passport pictures for Stad Hasselt, 2 for Stad Genk, 3 for Gemeente Diepenbeek
• In the town hall of Hasselt, you can take passport photographs

After your initial appointment, a local police officer will formally determine your address. Afterward, the town hall will contact you about a second appointment for receiving your A-card residence permit.

HIER NOG TABEL TOEVOEGEN

If you choose to open a bank account in Belgium you will need the following documents:

 • a valid passport or identity card, proof of enrollment at Hasselt University;

 • a copy of your rental contract;

• registration at the town hall.

You can also look into online banks such as revolut: www.revolut.com.

 A current account provides you with a cash card for 24-hour cash dispensers.

CASH

To withdraw cash you have to go to cashpoints. www.bancontact.cash/en/how-use-cash-point

ADDRESSES:

• BNP Paribas Fortis, Ridder Portmansstraat 1, Hasselt

 • KBC, Gouverneur Verwilghensingel 102, Hasselt (especially for non-EU (PhD)students)

• Belfius, Havermarkt 36, Hasselt • Crelan, Stadsomvaart 1, Hasselt 

• ING, Welvaartstraat 1, Hasselt

• ING, Marktplein 11, 3590 Diepenbeek

• BNP Paribas Fortis, Marktplein 18, Diepenbeek

• KBC, Kapelstraat 36, Diepenbeek

• Belfius, Dorpsstraat 24, Diepenbeek

 • Crelan, Varkensmarkt 10 B11, Diepenbeek

Individual health insurance is compulsory in Belgium.

If you are from an EEA country, you are covered by your national health service through the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card covers medical expenses incurred while abroad and is valid for a maximum of one year.

When you visit a doctor or specialist, you will receive a ‘certificate of services provided’. In some cases, the pharmacist will give you a document for reimbursement purposes (certificate model 704). Bring these certificates, along with your EHIC, to the health insurance fund office.

We also strongly recommend taking out travel insurance.

If you are from a non-EEA country, you are required to take out insurance.

We recommend the all-inclusive AON insurance.

If you are staying for more than three months, you are also obliged to join a health insurance fund. We suggest ‘CM’ (Christelijke Mutualiteit), "Helan" or ‘Solidaris’. 

• CM: Didier Verding Kerklaan 6 bus1, Diepenbeek Vismarkt 11, Hasselt Prins-Bisschopssingel 75, Hasselt 
• Helan: Martelarenlaan 3/2, 3500 Hasselt, 

PAY ATTENTION!

The extra AON student insurance might be smart to cover civil liability as well, in case you intentionally or even mistakenly injure someone or damage someone’s property since some medical and hospital costs are not or only partly covered in the mandatory health insurance. Having this extra insurance or not, can have a significant financial impact. If medical or hospital costs arise, they are not, or only partially, covered by the mandatory health insurance. Many students are unaware of this and it can have significant financial consequenses.