Visa Info for American Students Going to a University in Belgium

Main steps to take for the Belgian student visa

Here is what American students have to do to get a student visa that will allow them to study in Belgium:

You have to complete a Visa on Web application form and sign it. After that, you will need to have the application form notarized. You have to send the notarized application form by mail, along with the necessary documents to the Embassy or Consulate General of Belgium in the United States, competent for your place of residence. Make sure you have included 2 copies for every original document in your file. The visa-section requires one set of original documents and two sets of copies for every long-stay visa-application. The visa fee can be paid by including a money order OR a filled out credit card authorization form (Washington DC and Los Angeles only).

American students will have to provide biometrics during the visa application process. Your biometrics are, basically, extra identification (e.g. fingerprinting and pictures) that countries use for security purposes.

You won't have to attend a visa interview during the application process.

The D visa (national long-stay visa) from Belgium is valid for up to 90 days. So that you can stay during your entire degree programme, you may need to renew your visa every year. If you want to stay in Belgium after your degree is over, you will have to apply for a different visa, or a visa renewal through the immigration office.