The student must apply for a VISA D to the Embassy or Consulate closest to their home (see list). The following documents will need to be gathered:
- Valid passport
- Proof of payment of the administrative fee
- 220€ (this amount is adjusted on January 1st of each year)
- Some students can be exempted (see conditions)
- Certificate of good conduct or copy of criminal record
- Proof of health insurance covering all risks in Belgium for the duration of the stay
- Medical clearance delivered by an accredited physician within the 6 months preceding the application
- Acceptance letter from UCLouvain Saint-Louis Bruxelles (available on Mobility Online)
- Proof of access to sufficient financial resources
VISA – Proof of sufficient financial means
A third-country national who wishes to do an exchange mobility in Belgium must prove sufficient personal means of subsistence.
AMOUNT
The minimum amount of the means of subsistence is fixed by Royal Decree and indexed every year. The Immigration Office requires that students prove €789/month. However, please note that his theoretical sum is not sufficient to cover the real costs of living and studying.
WAYS TO PROVE YOUR FINANCIAL MEANS
- Affidavit of Financial Support from a relative
- Proof of grant or loan
- Blocked Account:
This procedure only applies to future incoming exchange students for the Saint-Louis Bruxelles campus. Students undergoing their mobility on another UCLouvain campus must follow the UCLouvain procedure.
The student has the option to send the required amount to Saint-Louis's blocked account. The International Relations Office will issue a solvency certificate stating that our institution commits itself to refund the student by monthly installments (all transactions will be made in EUR). Any financial losses as a result of exchange rate fluctuations or international transaction fees must be carried by the student. The university will not assume any of those costs.
Amount to be deposited:
850€ x the number of months of your stay in Brussels.
- This includes the minimum amount required by the Immigration Office plus a margin for any transaction fees applied by the bank. The remaining amount of such margin will be included in the monthly installments.
- If your scholarship does not cover the financial requirements set by the embassy, you can transfer the remaining amount multiplied by the number of months of your stay.
Blocked account procedure?
- We strongly advise students to open an online bank account (such as Revolut, Wise,...)* before making the transaction to avoid international transaction fees.
*It is up to the student to check the conditions and explore other avenues.
- To obtain the university's bank details, please contact the International Relations Office (incoming-slb@uclouvain.be).
- Please indicate the following mention as the communication: "Visa exchange student + your full name".
- Once the transaction is completed, you must send via email the proof of payment.
- The International Relation Office will issue a solvency certificate to present to the embassy.
How will the money be transferred back to me?
The money will be transferred by monthly installments once the International Relations Office can attest of your arrival in Belgium.
- Students must open an online bank account (such as Revolut, Wise,…) to avoid international transaction fees. It is up to the student to check the terms and conditions and to explore other avenues.
- The account must be opened to the student’s name.
- Students must send the following information to the International Relations Office:
- Name of the bank holder
- Bank account number
- Name of the bank
- SWIFT/BIC number
The documents must be written in either German, English, French or Dutch. If not, you the student must join an officially certified translation into one of these four languages.
For more information :
General information about the VISA D
