Visa and proof of solvency

Student Visa

Non-EEA students are required by Belgian immigration law to obtain a long-term ‘D’ visa before arriving in Belgium.

Once you have your letter of enrolment, this is your next most urgent step! You must initiate the visa application through the Belgian embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

Deadlines

  • Visa application deadline: 10 June 2026. Visa processing can take three to five months. Embassies usually require a couple of weeks for processing (including interviews, etc.) before submitting your application to the Belgian Immigration office, which has 90 days to respond to applications under Belgian law. Therefore, applying for your visa no later than 10 June is crucial. This is also the deadline for submitting your Proof of Solvency payment through KdG.
  • Term start date: 14 September 2026
  • Arrival deadline: We expect all students to be physically present for the Welcoming Days on 10 and 11 September.
  • The Belgian immigration office will not grant any applications after 10 October 2025. Students arriving after this date will not be able to join the 2026-2027 intake.
  • If you are already in Belgium with a student residence permit (eg if you are transferring to KdG from another Flemish university), you will need to renew your residence permit at the latest one month before it expires.

What do you need to apply for a visa?

  • Valid passport
  • KdG’s standardised letter of enrollment: you receive this after paying the tuition fee
  • Certificate of good conduct
  • Medical certificate
  • Proof of payment of the supplementary administrative fee. KdG is a public university (and not a private one) so you have to pay 245 euros. Note that you must transfer this directly onto the immigration office’s account. Please find more information and payments instructions on the immigration office’s website.

Here you'll find an example visa application form with some fields already completed that you can copy for your own application.

Read more information on visa requirements and the necessary steps at Study in Flanders

Proof of Solvency

When applying for a visa, you must proof that you have enough funds to cover your stay. We strongly recommend using our proof of solvency procedure (also known as a ‘blocked account’), as students who have relied on sponsors have sometimes had their visa applications denied.

Required amount

  • The amount for the 2025-2026 academic year is 835 euros per month.
  • The solvency amount is set by the Belgian government and increases every year due to inflation.
  • Proof of solvency is required each academic year to extend your residence permit.
  • The amount set by the Belgian government is not enough to live comfortably as a student in Antwerp. We recommend having at least 1200 euros per month at your disposal, excluding tuition fee costs. Working as a student is not recommended and only possible after the first semester. 

Read more about the cost of living in Antwerp

How to provide proof of solvency

  1. After enrolment, transfer your funds via Flywire:
    • Full year: 10,020 euros (12 × 835 euros)
    • One semester: €5010 euros (6 × 835 euros)
  2. Once we receive the payment, we’ll email you a solvency certificate for your visa application.
  3. After arrival in Belgium, open a local or European (IBAN) bank account and send us the bank account details. KdG will refund your money in 12 monthly instalments, minus any transfer fees.

If your visa is denied: KdG refunds the full amount to the original account used for payment.

Other ways to prove your solvency

  1. Sponsor (Guarantor / Formal Obligation)
    You may use a sponsor who agrees to cover your expenses in Belgium. However, many students have had their visa denied using this method.
  2. Blocked Account via Studely
    If you missed KdG’s proof of solvency deadline, you can use Studely as an alternative.
    • The service fee is about 350 euros in addition to the solvency amount.
    • Funds are refunded to you monthly after arrival.
  3. Scholarship or Study Grant
    If your grant or sponsorship covers more than 835 euros per month, you can use it as proof of solvency.