A number of distinctions are made with respect to nationality. The most important one is that between nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) and non-EEA nationals. EEA nationals may reside in all the other EEA member states. Non-EEA citizens need a visa or an authorisation to enter and stay in Belgium. Special arrangements apply for Switzerland while Monaco follows the French regulations.
Before you start your studies in Flanders, please visit the Belgian Embassy or Consulate in your country. They will help you with the proper formalities for entering Flanders, Belgium.

1. Short stays (less than three months)
1.1. Access to Belgium for short stays (0-3 months) with a passport or identity card, without a visa.
1.2. Access to Belgium for short stays (0-3 months) with a passport and a visa Schengen visa type C)

2. Long stays (more than three months)
2.1. EU and some non-EU countries: a valid passport or identity card
2.2. All other countries: Schengen visa type D
2.3. Processing of the visa application for students

1. Short stays (less than three months)
1.1. Access to Belgium for short stays (0-3 months) with a passport or identity card, without a visa.

• Nationals of the following countries can enter Belgium with a valid identity card (no visa or passport is required):
  • the 27 European Union countries: Austria, (Belgium,) Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom;
  • other countries: Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.
• Nationals of the following countries can enter Belgium with a valid passport (no visa is required):
  • the 27 European Union countries: Austria, (Belgium,) Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom;
  • other countries: Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Switzerland, United States of America, Uruguay, Vatican City, Venezuela.
    

1.2. Access to Belgium for short stays (0-3 months) with a passport and a visa (Schengen visa type C)

Nationals of any country other than those referred to above and holders of identity and travel documents other than those mentioned above are allowed to enter Belgium, provided they have a valid passport or equivalent travel document plus a visa valid for Belgium. Inhabitants of e.g. Turkey will need a visa to enter Belgium, even for a short period.
Visa applicants must appear in person before the diplomatic or consular authorities. At this time, they must provide the documents required for the visa application.

Documents to be provided when applying for a Schengen visa type C are:

•  a valid travel document (a passport, for example) to which a visa may be affixed;
• the validity of the travel document must be three months longer than that of the visa;
• if need be, any documents substantiating the purpose (for example, a letter of invitation from Ghent University) and conditions of the planned visit (for example, confirmation of accommodation);
•  any document proving that the guest has sufficient means of support to cover the visit and the return, as well as any medical expenses, in the form of an undertaking of responsibility if need be (for example, an Erasmus grant).
  

2. Long stays (more than three months)

The Federal Public Service of the Interior is the sole Belgian authority competent for matters relating to the access, residence, settlement and expulsion of aliens.

The Federal Public Service of the Interior, L'Office des Etrangers (Aliens' Office)
Chaussée d'Anvers 59B, B-1000 Brussel.
tel + 32 (0) 2 206 15 99

2.1. EU and some non-EU countries: a valid passport or identity card
An identity card or passport is sufficient to allow them to enter Belgium and remain there, provided their stay is regularised with the municipal authorities (the Foreigners Registration Office of the City).

• Nationals of the 27 European Union countries: Austria, (Belgium,) Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
• Other countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway and Switzerland enjoy free movement.

2.2. All other countries: Schengen visa type D
Inhabitants of other countries who wish to remain in Belgium for more than three months are subject to the visa requirements (for example, Turkey, Russia, USA, …).  They are required to make a prior, express application and to have been issued a special visa authorising temporary residence, namely, the Schengen visa Type D. It can take up to 5 months to receive a Schengen visa type D.

An application for a Schengen visa type D may be submitted exclusively to the Belgian diplomatic or consular authorities in the district where the applicant resides (addresses). Belgian regulations establish specific procedures for only a small number of situations concerning visa applications for residence: i.e., studies, employment purpose, family reunification, cohabitation and marriage. This does not mean that residence in Belgium for another purpose would be ruled out, but that the chances of being allowed to stay in the other cases are more limited.

In all cases, the visitor must be in possession of a travel document (passport) valid for at least one year, and, in most cases, a certificate of good conduct issued three months earlier at most and covering the last five years, or an equivalent document, and a medical certificate issued by a doctor approved by the Embassy.

Official documents drawn up in a language other than French, Dutch, English or German must be translated by a sworn translator. Foreign official documents (originals and translations) shall be presented, after their legalisation by the local authorities, to the competent Belgian diplomatic authorities. The latter will make the legalisations and true copies for administrative purposes. The originals will be returned to the applicants.

Upon their arrival in Belgium, foreigners authorised to reside in Belgium must report to the municipal authorities of their place of destination to regularise their stay. Take a look at 'Your arrival in Ghent', the Foreigners Registration Office.

2.3. Processing of the visa application for students
In order to receive authorisation for temporary residence, an individual planning to come to Belgium to study will be required to provide the Belgian Embassy or Consulate in his or her country with following documents.

• A duly completed visa application form (provided by the local diplomatic or consular authorities).
• Letter of invitation
  This evidence may be established by the following documents:
  • an admission or enrolment certificate for one of the recognised higher education establishments, grant-maintained or organised by the authorities, or an application for an equivalence certificate for a diploma or certificate conferred abroad. The entry certificates or enrolment certificates must cover a full-time course of study (fewer hours are acceptable if the interested party can prove that this course of study will represent the student’s main activity and will be used to prepare or complement another full-time course of study);
  • an enrolment certificate concerning examinations for entering university when these examinations represent the condition for admission to the educational level in question: particularly the examination testing knowledge of the French language, which is required to be entitled to study in French-speaking universities; the examination of qualification for civil engineering studies; the entry examination for medical or dentistry studies at a Dutch-speaking university;
  • an entry or an enrolment certificate for a teaching establishment listed as an approved establishment, updated each academic year by the Aliens’ Office.
• Evidence that the applicant has sufficient means of support.
  This evidence may be established by the following documents:
  • a certificate issued by either an international organisation or a national authority, or by a Belgian or foreign legal person with a sufficient level of income. The certificate must state that the aspiring foreign student has received or will soon receive a grant or loan that is sufficient to cover his/her health care, subsistence, studies and repatriation expenses (for example, an Erasmus grant);
  • a declaration in respect of the Belgian State and in respect of the student, signed by a Belgian or foreigner with a sufficient level of income, in which the said person undertakes to accept responsibility for the subsistence, study and repatriation expenses of the foreign student for no less than one academic year.
• A medical certificate issued by a doctor approved by the embassy, stating that the foreign student is not suffering from certain illness and does not have certain disabilities.
• If the student is over 21, a certificate of good conduct and a document certifying that he/she has not been convicted of any criminal act under common law.
• A valid travel document (passport) valid for at least 12 months.

More information can be found on:
Higher Education in Flanders - Visa
The Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs