Long-term residence: change of status

What are the conditions?

• You are a non-EU or non-EEA student.
• You do not have a type D visa.
• You do have a right of short-term residence (with a type C visa or exempt from visa requirements) or a right of long-term residence (e.g. as an employee or on the basis of an application for family reunification).

Within the context of your legal residence, you can apply for a right of long-term residence (= more than 90 days) on the basis of your studies via a so-called ‘change of status’.

There is no legal deadline for the Immigration Office to approve the change of status or reject it (if you don’t meet the requirements or if certain documents have not been presented).  The period of your legal residence may expire and you will not be granted a temporary right of residence pending the decision.

You will need to bring:

• a valid passport
• a valid Belgian residence card OR a valid visa (for third-country nationals who need to have a visa) OR a residence card issued by another Schengen member state
• proof of enrolment with a Belgian educational institution ('model van standaardformulier')
• proof of sufficient financial means (scholarship, blocked bank account, annex 32)
• an extract from the criminal record issued by the country of last place of residence and not older than 6 months at the time of the application (with a translation and the adequate legalisation/apostille if required)
• a standard medical certificate
• proof of payment of the administrative fee: € 237 (recognised or subsidised educational institution) or € 229 (private educational institution) into bank account number BE57 6792 0060 9235 - reference:  SurnameFirstnameNationalityDD.MM.YYYY
  For exceptions and exemptions please check out the website of the Immigration Office
• health insurance

Are you unable to present one or several of these documents?

Add a letter stating the reason and complete your file as soon as possible. The Immigration Office will only take a decision about your file once it is complete.

Are you applying for a change of status on the basis of short-term residence?

In that case, you will receive a declaration of arrival at the counter (annex 3).  You should bring the following documents in order to receive the declaration of arrival:

• a valid passport
• a valid visa (for third-country nationals who need to have a visa) or residence card issued by another Schengen member state
• correct and complete residence address in Ghent

If the Immigration Office takes a positive decision with regard to your file, you will be invited to apply for your A card. 

More information about the A-card