Find more information here about travelling to Antwerp and getting around the city. We will also provide you with some practical information about your residence permit, opening a bank account in Belgium and why you might need a Belgium SIM card for your phone.
Getting to Antwerp
Antwerp is very well connected to several major international traffic hubs.
By plane
- Brussels national airport in Zaventem is 45 kilometres from Antwerp, and the airport in Deurne is only 15 mins from the city center. Brussels South Charleroi Airport and Eindhoven Airport (in the Netherlands) are also nearby.
- From these airports, you can take a train to Antwerp's central train station.
- Alternatively, the Antwerp-Brussels Airport Express Bus is arguably the most convenient way to get to Antwerp from Brussels airport. It reaches the centre of Antwerp in approximately 45 minutes.
By train
- Antwerp has two main stations: Antwerp Central Station and Berchem station.
- International railway lines link Brussels and Antwerp to several other major European cities in France, the Netherlands and Germany.
- Antwerp is connected to the European high-speed train projects: Thalys, Eurostar and Eurotunnel.
Residence Permit
The residence permit applies to most students from outside Belgium who will remain living in Belgium for 3 months or more.
Procedure
- You need a permanent address in Antwerp to start your application for a residence permit. If you are temporarily staying in a hostel or with friends, you can’t start your application yet.
- If you have accommodation outside of Antwerp (Antwerp, Berchem, Borgerhout, Deurne, Ekeren, Merksem, Hoboken, Wilrijk, Berendrecht-Zandvliet-Lillo), you will need to contact your local municipality yourself to apply for a residence permit.
- If you are an EEA+ national and only stay for one semester, you don’t need a residence permit. Getting a permit can take a very long time and you might only receive it by the time you are almost leaving again. Please contact Student Services if you think you still need a residence permit.
- Start your application as soon as possible (when you are in Belgium and have suitable accommodation). The process takes around 2 months, so you don’t want to wait too long after arriving.
- As a resident of the province of Antwerp you are subject to an annual provincial tax of around 40 euros and you will have to fill out a tax letter. This does not apply to students with an ‘annex 33’.
1. Submit your documents
Residence permit applications have to be submitted through Mobility Online.
- Start your application in Mobility Online. Enter your KdG username and password to log in. After filling in the online application sheet you will receive an automated email to complete your application in Mobility Online.
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From that moment on, follow the different steps of your workflow in Mobility Online.
There is a special block on the information sheet to provide useful information for the police officer (see section ‘residence check’ below), such as your class hours/days, and the times/days you are at home. You can also provide other specific details: e.g. that there is only one doorbell or mailbox for several residents. The information you enter may simplify and therefore speed up the residence check procedure.Once you have finalized the process, our Student Services team will review your application. When your application is approved by us, you will receive a confirmation mail that your file has been forwarded to the Antwerp Immigration Office for further processing.
- Upload your documents
- Scan each document (not each page) as a .pdf and give each document the correct name. If it is a scan of your passport, name it “passport”. Do the same with the other items, such as visa, study certificate, info sheet, proof of insurance, etc.
Exception: NON-EEA students who study in another EU country with a valid EU residence permit and who come here for an exchange semester, can register in Antwerp by sending an email to studentservices@kdg.be
Students from neighbouring countries (France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany)
- Required documents:
- Completed information sheet (pdf)
- Valid ID card or passport (front & back)
- The document ‘formulier visum of verblijfstitel’ (in Dutch), which you can download from e-studentservice
- If you prefer to have a full-fledged residence permit with a residence card, meaning your main residence will be in Belgium, please contact studentservices@kdg.be.
EEA+ students (EU + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Switzerland)
- You need to register on the national register using your accommodation address in Antwerp. You are given a national register number and an electronic residence card which is valid for 5 years.
- If you are an EEA+ student staying for only one semester, you don’t have to apply for a residence permit.
- Required documents:
- Completed information sheet (pdf)
- Valid ID card or passport (front & back)
- Proof of sufficient resources
- Proof of health insurance coverage (if you have a European Health Insurance Card, this is sufficient as proof of insurance)
- The document ‘formulier visum of verblijfstitel’ (in Dutch), which you can download from e-studentservice
NON-EEA students with visa type D (including UK)
- You will need a visa type D to study in Belgium. Contact us if you have any questions.
- You will receive a residence permit for one year and need to renew this every year
- Required documents:
- Completed information sheet (pdf)
- Valid passport
- Valid D visa with entry stamp
- Proof of sufficient resources (proof of solvency or sponsorship certificate)
- Proof of health insurance coverage
- The document ‘formulier visum of verblijfstitel’ (in Dutch), which you can download from e-studentservice
After submitting your documents
Once you have finalized the process, we will review your application. When your application is approved, you will receive a confirmation mail that your file has been forwarded to the immigration office at STAN for further processing.
- We will let you know once the immigration office has approved your application and send you a proof of application document which you have to carry a (digital) copy of until you receive your residence card (annex 15 or 19).
- Students from neighbouring countries don't have to do anything else, we will send you your electronic residence permit (annex 33) by email once your file has been processed by the immigration office.
2. Residence check
As a next step, the police will check your address. This is a standard procedure and you don’t need to worry about it. Please make sure your full name is on both your mailbox and bell.
If you are not home at the time they come to check, they will come by at a later time. You don’t need to worry about missing them.
Please confirm in Mobility Online that the residence check is completed. We will then book an appointment for you at STAN (see below).
If you have not received a police visit within four to five weeks after application, please contact studentservices@kdg.be
3. Appointment at STAN
We will book a first appointment for you at STAN. You will be notified about your appointment by email. If the proposed date or time doesn’t suit you, you can reschedule your appointment by clicking on the link of the confirmation email that you’ve received from the immigration office.
At your appointment, you have to present:
- Your passport or identity card
- A recent passport photograph (size 3.5 x 4.5cm on a white background), which you can get in a photo booth at the train stations Antwerpen-Centraal and Berchem
- Your proof of application document (annex 15 or 19)
- Your bank or credit card to pay for the residence card (approx. EUR 25). Card only, cash is not accepted.
There is also an urgent procedure where you pay approx. EUR 140 and receive your permit within 2-3 days.
Approximately two weeks after your appointment, you will receive a letter with a PIN code by regular mail, so make sure to check your physical mailbox regularly. Now you can collect your electronic residence card at STAN at the appointed date and time. Please bring the following documents to this appointment:
- Your passport
- The PIN code letter
- Temporary residence document
If you have not received your PIN codes by the time of your appointment, send an email to studentservices@kdg.be and let us know. We will then request new PIN codes for you which will be sent directly to the immigration office at STAN.
Final confirmation of residence card
Once you’ve picked up your residence card, please mark your application as complete in Mobility Online.
Getting around Antwerp
And once you’re here, getting around the city is very simple whether it be on foot, by bike or by public transport.
Joining us in September?
You can find a tourist center in the Antwerp central station. There you can get information about Antwerp in general and learn all about your transport options for getting around the city including ticket info about De Lijn for buses and trams. Plus, you’ll get your very own plan of Antwerp.
You can also do your research right here. Read on for more info!
On foot
- Antwerp is especially good for walking. It is not too big and there’s so much to take in, so just follow Google maps to get from A to B and off you go!
- To give you an idea of distance, to get from Antwerp Central Station to the river Scheldt, via the main shopping street 'Meir', the 'Groenplaats' and the Town Hall only takes about 20 minutes.
- There are 3 ways to get from one side of the river to the other in Antwerp: 2 tunnels both accessible by bike or on foot, and the ferry, which can be a nice alternative if you’re exploring the city.
By bike
- Buying your own second-hand bike in Antwerp is a worthwhile investment. Wielredders and 2dehands are two sites to check out. There are also a few second-hand bike stores in Antwerp.
- Velo: You will notice the small red-and-white Velo bicycles as soon as you arrive in Antwerp. They have stations all over the city and it’s a really easy to use system. Want to fit in like a real local? A pass for a week is 12 euros, for a full year you’ll pay 58 euros.
- Swapfiets: Get a Swapfiets bicycle for a fixed price per month. Swapfiets ensures a bicycle that always works.
- Blue-bike: With Blue-bike you can easily get from the train station to your final destination and back. You can rent a bike in every big train station for as long as you need it. You pay 12 euros per year for your membership card and pay 3,5 euros for every first 24 hours.
Shared scooters
Bird, Lime, and Poppy provide shared scooters in Antwerp through a free-floating system: they have no fixed parking space, but you can locate them with an app. Use your smartphone to unlock the scooter and depart immediately. At the end of your journey, you must leave the scooter behind in a drop-off zone or in a place where it will not inconvenience anyone.
Scooters can only be ridden on bicycle lanes and you should wear a helmet.
By public transport
- De Lijn (buses and trams)
- Tram rides above and underground
- Trams are ideal to get around between the neighbourhoods of Antwerp. The moment you want to travel outside those, then the bus is your best option.
- Antwerp city card travel as much as you want, without the hassle of getting tickets. With this card, all transportation with trams and buses is included
- NMBS (train)
More useful links
- Slim naar Antwerpen (Smart ways to Antwerp) will give you all the different options to get from point A to point B with updated maps, and warns you when and where it will be crowded due to traffic or events.
- Visit Antwerp is the website of the tourist office in Antwerp. They can provide you with loads of information and advice on transportation.
- De Waterbus is a fast and cheap boat on the river Scheldt for if you want to explore more.
- Airport Express is a fast and cheap bus to get to and back from Brussels Airport Zaventem.
- Flixbus offers cheap bus rides all through Europe.
- b-Europe is the platform for international trains that pass through Belgium.

Opening a bank account
If you are a non-EEA student you are advised to open a Belgian account to reduce your international transaction costs. For EEA students this is not necessary but you may choose to do so.
If you would like to open a bank account in Belgium, a popular choice is BNP Paribas Fortis. Some other options for you are:
For more specific questions around banking contact studentservices@kdg.be
What kind of SIM card should you get?
If you are joining us from outside the EEA, you are advised to get a Belgian SIM card. EEA students can continue using an existing European SIM. Roaming charges may apply.
To get a Belgian SIM, choose between a prepaid account (short-term) or a subscription(long-term). You will need a Belgian bank account for a full subscription.
The most popular providers are:
More info about:
Post-acceptance
Preparing for your stay
Travel and arrival in Antwerp
First days in Antwerp