Before arrival
Visa information
A visa should be applied for at the Belgian Embassy or Consulate in the home country well in advance.
You can check on the following website http://www.diplomatie.be/en/travel/visa/default.asp whether you need a visa to come to Belgium.
Although procedures and documents may vary from country to country, you definitely need an official invitation letter from Hasselt University. You will receive this invitation letter as soon as possible after admission.
There are three types of visa for Europe:
- Visa C for stays of up to 3 months
- Visa D for stays longer than 3 months
- The scientific visa for researchers who come to work (not study) in Belgium
Please note that visa applications are the responsibility of the incoming student or guest.
Visa C or Schengen visa for stays less than 3 months
Certain European countries have entered into an agreement regarding the opening of their borders to international visitors. In effect, a new type of visa - the Schengen Visa - has been introduced by the member countries. This visa covers a short-stay period of a maximum of 90 days (three months) within a six-month period and allows the holder to travel freely between all the Schengen member states. The Schengen Visa is also referred to as Visa Type C.
Schengen countries
Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
- If you intend to visit only one Schengen country, you must apply at the Consulate or Embassy of that particular country.
- If you intend to visit several Schengen countries, you must apply at the Consulate or Embassy of the country which is your main destination.
- If you intend to visit several Schengen countries but do not have a main destination, you must apply at the Consulate or Embassy of the country which is your first point of entry.
- If you do not need a visa for the Schengen country which is your main destination or first point of entry, note that you may be required to have a visa for other Schengen countries you wish to visit. You should therefore apply at the Consulate or Embassy of the first Schengen country which does require you to have a visa.
Countries that do not require a visa to enter Belgium for a short period of up to three months
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea (South), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Singapore, the United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela
However, always check at http://www.diplomatie.be/en/travel/visa/default.asp
Visa D or Authorisation for Provisional Sojourn for stays longer than 3 months
This particular type of visa (in Dutch: Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) allows the holder to stay in Belgium for a period longer than three months. This visa is also referred to as Visa Type D. For non-EEA Students, the Authorisation for Provisional Sojourn is also commonly known as the ‘Student Visa’.
As a rule, students must apply for this visa at the Belgian Consulate or Embassy in their own country or in the country where they legally reside, and not from the public authorities in Belgium itself. If there is no Belgian Consulate or Embassy in their home country, they may submit their application at the Belgian Consulate or Embassy in a neighbouring country.
Non-EEA researchers and visiting professors are also required to apply for the Authorisation for Provisional Sojourn in order to enter and stay in Belgium for a period longer than three months. They may therefore apply for a so-called scientific visa.
ATTENTION: non-EEA students should not enter Belgium with a tourist visa if they intend to stay longer than 90 days or three months. The University will not support an application for a change of status or visa.
Fee for visa applications
In January 2024 a new visa fee of € 237 or €144 was set by the Belgian Federal Government. Typically, Master's and PhD-students pay €237. If you come to UHasselt with a so-called Host Agreement, you will need to pay €144.
Students, carrying a scholarship issued by a Belgian Authority (e.g. VLIR or one the universities) are exempt from this tax.
You can find full details on the website of IBZ.
Registration Town Hall: Short Stay (< 3 months)
Are you traveling to Belgium from outside the Schengen Area (non-EU/EEA) for a short stay of less than 3 months (maximum 90 days) as an international student or guest? New, stricter federal regulations now apply to your registration.You are legally required to report your stay to the local municipality where you will be residing before you arrive. Please follow these steps carefully:
Step 1: Submit Your Documents (As soon as possible BEFORE arrival)
As soon as possible—and definitely before your official arrival in Belgium—send an email to the civil registry office (dienst burgerzaken) of your future municipality:
- If staying in Hasselt: Email andere.nationaliteiten@hasselt.be
- If staying in Diepenbeek: Email burgerzaken@diepenbeek.be
Your email must include the following mandatory information:
- Your exact accommodation address in Belgium.
- A single MS Word document (.docx) containing high-quality color copies (or very sharp, complete photos) of your entire passport.
- !Strict Passport Requirement: The file must include the front and back of the cover, as well as all inner pages (including every single blank page). Please compile all of these pages into one single Word file.
Step 2: Request Sent to BrusselsOnce the municipality receives your email and the correctly formatted Word document, they will officially request your Declaration of Arrival (Aankomstverklaring / AKV / Annex 3) from the Immigration Office in Brussel.
Please Note: Due to updated federal verification procedures in Brussels, the processing of this application is currently experiencing delays. We kindly ask for your patience during this time.
Step 3: Document Collection & Bank Setup
As soon as your approved Declaration of Arrival (AKV) is received by the municipality, they will notify you directly. You will then receive instructions to schedule an appointment to pick up your physical document at the city hall.
Why this matters: This physical Declaration of Arrival is your official legal residence document in Belgium for your short stay. Furthermore, you will absolutely need this physical document if you intend to open a local Belgian bank account (e.g., with KBC).
Health care & Insurance
It is important for guests travelling to UHasselt from a non-EEA country, to check all the information about insurance below.
AON
AON is a comprehensive insurance which is mandatory for all non-EEA students studying at Hasselt University. Detailed information on the content of AON International Student Insurance, as well as full registration info can be found on the AON website.
Please go to their website and choose the tab "your situation" and proceed from there to find the correct insurance for your situation.
How to obtain a refund?
If you need to obtain a refund from your AON insurance, please consult their website.
More information
- AON Website
- UHasselt contact: Stefanie Commeene
PAY ATTENTION!
Civil liability: This is if you intentionally or even mistakenly injure someone or damage someone's property. If Medical and hospital costs ensue, these are not or only partly covered in the mandatory health insurance. A lot of students are not aware of this and it can have big financial implications!
This can be solved by taking the AON student insurance mentioned above.
Housing
Your contact person at Uhasselt can inform you about this.
Bank account
Money - How do I open my bank account?
If you cannot use your own bank account when you are in Belgium, you can open a Belgian bank account.
In order to speed up the opening of a Belgian bank account we hereby provide you with some more information. Via the link to the KBC website, you can already start the process for opening a bank account, even before your arrival in Belgium (!open your account no earlier than 7 days before your arrival in Belgium).
You will have to enter some personal data, as well as upload some documents:
- A clear photo or copy of your identity card or passport
- Proof of your current domicile address (e.g., a declaration from your local authority or a copy of a utilities bill). Ensure this document bears a signature and date
- Proof of your future school or place of work (this could be your acceptance letter from UHasselt)
Please consult the KBC Manual (pdf, 729 KB) to open the account. Pay attention to the different types of accounts they offer. The "KBC plus account" is only free if you are under 25. If you are older than 25, it is best to choose the "KBC Basic Account". It is free of charge.
Upon your arrival, you just have to send one more document which you receive after registration at the town hall.
Opening an online bank account could also be an option:
Travelling to Belgium
Travel from the airport to my destination in Hasselt, Diepenbeek or Genk
By public transport
You can use public transport from the airport to your destination.
- You can take a train from the airport to Hasselt. You can buy tickets on this website.
- Then you can take a taxi from the train station in Hasselt to your destination. Taxis are located in front of the train station in Hasselt. More information: www.uhasselt.be/Contact-and-location.
By taxi
You can always travel from the airport to your destination by taxi. You can book your taxi in advance. We recommend Taxi Patrick
- Email: info@airportservicepatrick.be
- Telephone: 0032 (0)474 74 74 74
- Price: +/- € 80 (to be paid in cash)
UHasselt wants to make your first trip to your student room/lodging in Belgium as smooth as possible. If you are an international student or exchange student Hasselt University refunds a part (maximum 30€) of the price of your cab ticket. More info can be found on this website.
Campus Hasselt & Diepenbeek
More information about the location of our 2 campuses can be found on our website.
Electrical/Chargers
Please note that you might need a travel plug! In Belgium, we use these kinds of plugs