Belgium is one of the most preferred countries for students and has been attracting a lot of students every year. There can be a lot of reasons for the popularity of Belgium. This is one of the best study centres, and they have been proving themselves for a long time now.
We have seen that universities and colleges of Belgium have ranked in the top universities of the world. Their tourist spots are an additional benefit that you get by living there. Students can spend their spare time in the beauty of Belgium that can refresh their minds and motivate them to work on their dreams.
If you are also one of those who want to study in Belgium and have already decided which university you are going to study in, then you can read further to know the process and requirements to apply for a study visa.
Before we go ahead and describe the procedure of applying for a study visa, Let us tell you if you need a study visa or not.
Study Visa for European Countries
If you are from one of the European countries, then you do not need a study visa to study in Belgium. All the countries that are included in the European Union share a law by which any residence of these countries can study in any of the other countries with the help of an offer letter from any of the universities.
Study Visa for Non-Europe Union Countries
If you are not from a European Union country, then you will have to apply for a study visa in Belgium. Then go through the whole procedure.
You can apply for the study visa by following the procedure given below:
Procedure to Apply for Student Visa in Belgium
Get an offer Letter
The first step to get your student visa in Belgium is to get a study visa from any of the Universities of Belgium. You can apply to different universities by submitting your documents to the university. You may also need to take an entrance test to get the offer letter.
Submit Documents in the Embassy
You need to submit your documents at the Embassy of Belgium in your own country. You can also submit your study visa application through some external agencies to get your student visa.
Prove Your Age
You will need to prove that you are over 21 years old. You can test it by submitting your identification card or any other card that is registered with your country.
Go through the Medical Process
You may also need to go through the medical procedure to prove that you are not suffering from any disease.
Required Documents to Apply for the Student Visa in Belgium
Passport– You need to have a valid passport of your country so that you can get the study visa of the applying country. Make sure to apply for a passport before applying for a study visa to avoid any circumstances.
Application form– You need to have 2-3 application forms so that you can submit your application for a study visa in the Belgium Embassy. You can keep one application form for yourself for future references.
Passport Size Photo– You will need 4-5 passport size photos in the application process. You should keep a passport size photo for your verification process too.
Offer Letter– You need an offer letter from one of the registered universities of Belgium to apply for a study visa in Belgium. Make sure to get all the formalities related to offering letter done before applying.
Educational Documents– You will need to submit the photocopy of your educational documents to apply for your study visa in Belgium. You may be asked to show your original documents for verification purposes.
Cover letter- You will not submit a cover letter or statement of purpose to describe the use of visiting Belgium. Make sure to add all your relevant skills and qualifications in your cover letter to increase your chances of getting a study visa.
Required funds– You will need to show proof of your financial stability to prove that you can afford to live in Belgium and take care of all your studies and personal expenses.
Legal letter– You will need a legal letter stating that you do not have any criminal record in your country. You can get it done through the nearest government office of your country.
Conclusion
Belgium can help you complete your higher education through a better university as they have the leading universities in the world. A lot of students dream of studying there as the popularity of Belgium is not limited to their education. They have a lot of beautiful places where students can spend their spare time and get a break from their studies.
Another advantage of applying for the study visa of Belgium is that you become eligible for the Permanent Residence of Belgium if you are studying there through their immigration program.
You can apply for the study visa by following the ways that we have discussed in this article. You can also check the eligibility criteria by visiting their official website or the embassy in your own country.
Make sure to apply for study visa 2-3 months before your study starts as the whole process may take some time. You may lose your admission if you fail to get your paperwork done by the last submission date.