Residence permit

Application

EU/EEA students residing in Belgium for longer than 3 months must apply for a full registration and change their official address (domicile) to an address in Belgium. Upon your registration you receive a national number or “rijksregisternummer” and you receive a type EU residence card.

You must follow this procedure if you are from a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA) (EU + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco & Switzerland).

This application can only be started with a fixed address and after arrival in Antwerp. If you are temporarily staying in a hostel or with friends, you cannot yet submit an application for a residence permit.

Need help with your application?
Would you like support with starting this application? You can make an appointment via Teams at one of the following times:

• Monday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

To make an appointment, send an email to studentenadministratie@ap.be. Please clearly mention “residence permit application (FS)” in the subject line of your email.
 

The following documents are required for the application: 

• Certificate of enrolment for the current academic year – you can find this on ibamaflex.ap.be in your E-Postbox
• A completed, signed information sheet
• A colour copy of your valid ID card or passport (front and back)
• A proof of health insurance (copy of the European Health Insurance card - Blue Card).  Click here for more information.
• A proof or declaration of sufficient financial means (you can choose one of the following options):
  • Proof of subsidy, scholarship, financial guarantee.
  • Declaration of honour indicating that you have sufficient financial means.

Procedural steps to follow

• Fill out the digital form and add all necessary documents.
• Is your file complete?
  • You receive an appointment after 4 weeks to complete your registration and to apply for your residence card. You also receive a temporary residence document or annexe 8ter.
  • During these 4 weeks your community police officer will visit to check your address. Make sure your name is clearly and visibly mentioned on both doorbell and letterbox.
    • In case of a positive address check, you receive a second appointment after 3 weeks to collect your residence card.
    • In case of a negative address check, you receive a second appointment after 4 weeks. Your community officer will pass and check again.
    • Make sure to bring your annexe 8ter and the codes you will by then have received by post to this second appointment. Your registration is completed upon receipt of your residence card.
• Is your file incomplete?
  • You receive an email in reply listing which documents or details are missing. For all further questions contact your student administration.
  • Fill out the digital form adding all documents again, not just the missing documents.
• Submit a copy of your Residence Permit via studentadministration@ap.be and add (FS) in the subject of your mail.

Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions, please contact studentenadministratie@ap.be. Please always mention “residence permit (FS)” in the subject line of your email.
You cannot contact the Migration Office in Deurne or the Loket Migration for Students (STAN) directly.

 

New application 

You follow this procedure if you are a member from (nationality) a state that does not belong to the European Union or European Economic Area (including the United Kingdom).

This application can only be started with a fixed address and after arrival in Antwerp. If you are temporarily staying in a hostel or with friends and you are still searching for a permanent address, you cannot yet submit an application for a residence permit.

The following documents are required for the application:

With D-Visa

• a completed, signed information sheet
• a copy of your valid ID card or passport (front and back)
• a copy of your visa + copy of your entry stamp in Belgium:
  • If you have code B43 on your visa: you must provide proof of valid or private health insurance for Belgium. In case of Belgian health insurance, only the document 'declaration of membership' is valid. Click here for more information on this.
  • When you have Code B7 or Code B35 you need to provide a copy of your exchange certificate (B7) or mobility certificate (B35)

Without D-Visa

• a completed, signed information sheet
• a colour copy of your valid ID card or passport (front and back)
• a colour copy of your C-Visa + copy of entry stamp in Belgium
• a medical certificate
• a proof of sufficient financial means (you can choose one of the following options):
  • A certificate of a grant, scholarship or loan provided by an international or national organisation (e.g. university);
  • Legalised Annex 32 (commitment to take charge)
  • A blocked account (Proof of Solvency)
• A proof of a valid public or private health insurance for Belgium; a certificate of insurability (verklaring van lidmaatschap) of a Belgian health insurance provider. Click here for more information.
• A proof of payment contibution fee (if you don’t have a scholarship) (more information at studentadministration@ap.be stating (FS) in the subject of your mail)
• Extract from the criminal record (if you’re older than 18 years) if necessary translated and with apostille. )
• Motivation letter why you came to Belgium without a D visa
   

How to apply?

Once you are registered and have your Sxxxxx@ap.be email address and password, you can start your application via these forms.

• Residence permit for Non-EU/EEA new students with D-visa 
• Residence permit for Non-EU/EEA new students without D-visa 
   

What happens after you have submitted your application for a residence permit:

1. The Student Administration checks all your documents. As soon as your enrollment and study program for the 2026-2027 academic year are in order, we will forward your application to the Migration Office for Students.
2. The Migration Office for Students checks your documents; you will receive feedback after approximately 8 weeks:
   • If all documents are in order, you will receive an Annex 15 and an appointment for your residence permit by email from the Student Administration to your AP email address.
   • If documents are missing or incorrect, the Migration Office will forward your file to the Brussels Immigration Office for a decision. Pending this decision, you will receive an Annex 15 by email from the Student Administration to your AP email address. This email will also explain why your file has been sent to the Brussels Immigration Office. It can sometimes take longer than 3 months before we receive a decision from the Brussels Immigration Office.
3. The police will visit for a residence check. This is a standard procedure to verify whether you actually live at the address provided. If you are not at home, the police will visit at another time or leave a message. Make sure your name is clearly visible on your doorbell and mailbox! Send us an email when the police have visited you.
4. An appointment will be made at the Student Migration Office to create your residence permit. Bring your original passport or identity card, your PIN and PUK codes, and the Annex 15 you received earlier.
5. Two weeks later, you can pick up your residence permit. You must renew this residence card annually: start your renewal application as soon as your enrollment for the next academic year is finalized!
6. Send us a copy of your residence permit via studentadministration@ap.be and add (FS) to the subject of your email.

Extension

The following documents are required for an extension:

• A completed, signed information sheet for extension
• A colour copy of your valid ID card or passport (front and back)
• A proof of sufficient financial means (you can choose one of the following options)
  • A certificate of a grant, scholarship or loan provided by a international or national organisation (e.g. university);
  • Legalised Annex 32 (commitment to take charge)
  • A blocked account (Proof of Solvency)
• Recent proof of a valid public or private health insurance for Belgium; a certificate of insurability (verklaring van lidmaatschap) of a Belgian health insurance provider. Click here for more information.
• Only for students who have not participated in some or all exams in the academic year 2025-2026 (see your report): Motivation letter why you did not participate in all exams. If you have doctor's certificates, you can add them additionally to your motivation letter.

How to apply?

Once you are registered and have your Sxxxxx@ap.be email address and password, you can start your application via this form. 

You can start your application for an extension of your Residence Permit as soon as your enrollment for the next academic year is finalized. An application that is submitted too late is automatically declared inadmissible via an annex 29 and you have to follow the procedure 'New application residence permit without D-visa or C-Visa' again.

Don't wait until September to apply for the blocked account or annex 32 and health insurance. Request the necessary documents in time.

What happens after you have submitted your application for a residence permit:

1. The Student Administration checks all your documents. As soon as your enrollment and study program for the 2026-2027 academic year are in order, we will forward your application to the Migration Office for Students.

2. The Migration Office for Students checks your documents; you will receive feedback after approximately 8 weeks:

   • If all documents are in order, you will receive an Annex 15 and an appointment for your residence permit by email from the Student Administration to your AP email address.
   • If documents are missing or incorrect, the Migration Office will forward your file to the Brussels Immigration Office for a decision. Pending this decision, you will receive an Annex 15 by email from the Student Administration to your AP email address. This email will also explain why your file has been sent to the Brussels Immigration Office. It can sometimes take longer than 3 months before we receive a decision from the Brussels Immigration Office.

   Therefore, keep a close eye on your inbox during this period so that you do not miss any information; sometimes you need to add additional documents to your file. These documents must be submitted within a certain timeframe.

3.  After your second appointment at the Migration Office for students, you can pick up your residence card. Send us a copy of your residence permit via studentenadministratie@ap.be and add (FS) to the subject of your email.
    

Mobility students or exchange programme students, e.g. an Erasmus exchange programme, take part of their curriculum in Belgium and remain registered at their home college.

As a mobility student you do not need to apply for residence if you stay in Belgium between 3 and 6 months. Your official address is not changed to a Belgian address, and you do not receive a national number or ‘rijksregisternummer”’. If necessary, you can apply for a BIS number.  You need this BIS number e.g. to work as a student.

Students staying between 3 and 6 months receive an annex 3septies as a temporary residence document. The annex 3septies cannot be extended.

This application can only be started with a fixed address in Antwerp. If you are temporarily staying in a hostel or with friends, you cannot yet submit an application for a residence permit.

Need help with your application?

Would you like support with starting this application? You can make an appointment via Teams at one of the following times:

• Monday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

To make an appointment, send an email to studentenadministratie@ap.be. Please clearly mention “residence permit application (FS)” in the subject line of your email.
 

How to apply

The following documents are required for the application:

• Certificate of enrolment for the current academic year – you can find this on ibamaflex.ap.be in your E-Postbox
• A completed, signed information sheet
• A copy of your valid ID card or passport (front and back)
• Passport picture

Procedural steps to follow

• Fill out the digital form and add all necessary documents.
• Is your file complete?
  • You receive a BIS number and the applicable annexe by mail, depending on the type of application.
• Is your file incomplete?
  • You receive an email in reply listing which documents or details are missing. For all further questions contact your student administration.
  • Fill out the digital form adding all documents again, not just the missing documents.

Do you have any questions?
If you have any questions, please contact studentenadministratie@ap.be. Please always mention “residence permit (FS)” in the subject line of your email.
You cannot contact the Migration Office in Deurne or the Loket Migration for Students (STAN) directly.

Procedure only for Mobility students one semester Not from an EU/EEA-country

This procedure can be followed by students Not from an EU/EEA-country who are staying in Belgium for only one semester:

Erasmus Mobility Non-EEA nationals studying in a European Union country and who are coming to Belgium with Erasmus Mobility can benefit from a simplified application procedure for a temporary Belgian residence permit.

Provided they meet the conditions below at least two months before the start of their stay:

Mobility requirements

1. You have a residence permit from an EEA country which is valid for your entire mobility period in Belgium.
2. You submit your complete application at least two months before the start of your mobility:

• Start Mobility 1st semester: complete application file must be submitted by 17 July
• Start Mobility 2nd semester: complete application file must be submitted before 1 December

What documents do you need:

• A colour copy of a valid passport (front and back)
• A colour copy of a residence permit from an EEA country valid for the entire mobility period in Belgium;
• Proof of valid health insurance for Belgium for the entire mobility period. Click here for more information.
• A proof of sufficient financial means (you can choose one of the following options):
  • A certificate of a grant, scholarship or loan provided by an international or national organisation (e.g. university);
  • Legalised Annex 32 (commitment to take charge)
  • A blocked account (Proof of Solvency): It is best to request this information at the beginning of June 2026 via studentadministration@ap.be with (FS) in the subject of your mail.

Submit these documents to the Student Administration via studentadministration@ap.be. Please add each requested document in a separate PDF attachment and add (FS) to the subject line of your email.

After a positive decision from the immigration service, you will be notified that your application has been approved. Upon arrival in Belgium, you will receive your residence document 'Annex 33' valid for your mobility period electronically.

Please note: This is not a Belgian residence card but an additional residence document to your residence card from the other EU country. Always carry both with you. Working as a student is allowed. If you cannot present the required documentation according to the instructions mentioned above, then you must apply for a D visa to come to Belgium with Erasmus Mobility.

If you do not meet the above conditions, you should follow the procedure on the tab 'Not from an EU/EEA country'.

You can apply for an extension of your residence permit after your studies (i.e., after graduation) for the purpose of seeking employment or starting a business. If you find a job that matches your diploma during the orientation year, you can apply for a combined permit (via Loket Migratie Deurne).

How to apply

The application for extension of the residence permit must be submitted at least 15 days before the expiry of the current residence permit. If your residence permit has expired at the time of application, you can no longer apply for the orientation year.

You can submit your application through this form.

You need to provide the following documents: 

• A colour copy of your passport with all printed pages
• Proof of sufficient subsistence:  
  • Own income (pay slips);
  • A new legalised Annex 32 (commitment to take charge);
  • A blocked account (Proof of Solvency)
• Proof of valid health insurance in Belgium (recent document declaration of membership
• Diploma (this is provided by the student administration, you do not need to do anything yourself)

Whats next?

• If your application is validated by the Migration Office for Students, you will receive an Annex 33.
• If your application is submitted too late it will automatically be declared inadmissible via an annex 29 and you will have to leave the country.