Short stay as a non-EU student in Ghent
Are you a non-EU student in Ghent staying for up to 3 months in Belgium? Apply for a declaration of arrival (Annex 3).
What is it about?
You are coming to Ghent to study for up to 3 months. For a short stay, you cannot apply for a residence card but can request a declaration of arrival (Annex 3) (Dutch).
What are the conditions?
- You are a non-EU student.
- You have a valid visa C, are exempt from a visa C, or have a valid residence card from a Schengen member state.
- You will stay in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 days.
What do I need?
- Scan of your passport in colour (cover, page with your personal details, and all pages).
- Scan of your visa if you are visa-required or your residence card from another Schengen member state.
- Your enrolment certificate from an educational institution in Belgium.
- Your address in Ghent.
What are the steps?
You have two ways to register:
Submit your application online via the DOFI website
Use the app ‘My Address in Belgium’ (MAB) to register. Once you have entered all the information, you will receive a confirmation email.
Please note! This confirmation email is not a proof of your legal stay. It merely confirms that you have complied with the legal obligation to notify your presence. If you intend to apply for a long stay before your short stay expires, you will need to register via the online form of Migratie to receive proof of your registration (Annex 3).
Submit your application online via the e-form of Migratie
Once you arrive in Ghent, you should submit your application as soon as possible. Follow all the steps of the form to complete the application and receive a confirmation email.
Once your application has been processed, you will receive your declaration of arrival (Annex 3) via email. This will state the end date of the permitted stay.
Are there exceptions?
If you want to stay in Belgium for more than 3 months but do not have a long-stay visa, you must apply for registration through a status change.