Staying more than 3 months as a non-EU student in Ghent

What is it about?

If you are a non-EU student staying in Belgium for more than 3 months, you must apply for registration (domicile) with the municipality. You will be registered in the National Register and receive an electronic residence card (A-card - Dutch).

What are the conditions?

• You are a non-EU student.
• You are staying at a private address in Ghent.
  If you do not have a residence address for at least 1 month, the registration process will be postponed until you stay at the same address for more than 1 month.
• You have a visa D. Apply for this visa at the competent Belgian diplomatic post before coming to Belgium.

How much does it cost?

Starting your file in Ghent is free, but there are costs associated with the visa application.

For the residence card, you pay:

What do I need?

• Your valid passport.
• Your valid visa D.
• Your enrolment certificate from an educational institution in Belgium ('standard form model' - Dutch).
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence (scholarship, Annex 32 - Dutch, blocked account).

What are the steps?

1. Register online within 8 working days. Follow all steps of the form to complete the application.
2. Receive a confirmation email.
3. After your application is processed and your file is complete, you will receive a digital Annex 15.
4. Police (Dutch) check your address.
   If you stay in an official student home, the police will not visit.
5. Receive an invitation via email to apply for your residence card. Use the link in the email to make an appointment for the application of your A-card. At the counter, you will receive a temporary residence document (second Annex 15).
6. Collect your residence card with the codes you receive at home.

Are there exceptions?

If you stay in Belgium for more than 3 months and do not have a visa D but have another legal residence status, you need to apply for a status change.