Belgium Tightens Rules for Foreign Students

Belgium tightened its rules on June 1 for non-European Union students seeking to study in the country or renew their student residence permits, according to the government and Belga news agency. The measures require students to show academic progress more quickly and give authorities broader grounds to refuse extensions. Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt said the changes were meant to prevent abuse of the system while keeping Belgium open to international talent. The move adds to a broader tightening of Belgian migration policy under the federal government. ### Which students do the new rules cover? The June 1 changes apply to non-EU students who want to begin studies in Belgium or extend a student residence permit already granted there. Belgium’s Immigration Office says its study-residence rules are aimed at non-EU foreigners staying more than 90 days for higher education, exchange programs or certain non-recognized training programs. (belganewsagency.eu) Belgium already requires non-EU students to obtain residence authorization and then a limited-period residence permit tied to their studies. The new measures tighten the conditions attached to that status rather than replacing the student-permit system itself. ### What do students now have to prove to keep their status? Students in bachelor and graduate programs must now earn at least 60 credits within their first two academic years and then at least 40 additional credits in each following year, Belga and VRT reported. (belganewsagency.eu) The government also introduced clearer limits on the maximum duration of study for master’s degrees, advanced master’s courses, certificate programs and doctoral studies. (dofi.ibz.be) A student who starts a third study program within the first three years after failing to complete two previous ones can now be refused an extension of a residence permit. Students who move from a higher-level program to a lower-level one after failing will also face stricter assessment, according to Belga. ### Why are course changes and some schools getting extra scrutiny? (belganewsagency.eu) The new rules are also designed to make it harder for students to extend their stay by repeatedly switching programs. VRT reported that authorities want to stop students from changing course every year without good reason and thereby artificially prolonging their residence. (belganewsagency.eu) Non-recognized institutions, including some music or ballet schools and certain private business schools, will face tougher visa scrutiny. Anneleen Van Bossuyt said there were fewer guarantees about course quality and the value of qualifications at some of those institutions, according to Belga and VRT. ### What numbers did Belgium cite to justify the change? (vrt.be) Nearly 14,000 non-EU students applied for a first study visa in Belgium in 2025, according to Belga. Approval rates differed sharply by institution type: about 82% of applications tied to recognized institutions were approved, compared with 51% for non-recognized institutions. (belganewsagency.eu) Anneleen Van Bossuyt said the government’s aim was to combat the “abuse of student status without closing the door to international talent,” as quoted by Brussels Times from Belga reporting. That formulation matches a line the minister has used in other migration-policy announcements this year. (belganewsagency.eu) ### How does this fit with Belgium’s earlier student-visa changes? On March 12, Belgium’s Immigration Office published notice of a March 5 ministerial circular revoking older guidance on the residence of foreigners who want to study in Belgium. The Immigration Office says the current study-residence framework is now set out through that updated circular and related guidance on its website. (brusselstimes.com) In March, Van Bossuyt also raised the minimum financial means required for non-EU students seeking Belgian study visas for the 2026-2027 academic year. Belga reported at the time that the indexed amount would rise to 1,062 euros net per month. The June 1 rules are already in force, according to Belga and VRT. (dofi.ibz.be) Students and institutions can find the updated framework on the Belgian Immigration Office’s study-residence pages, which reference the March 5 circular published in the Belgian Official Gazette on March 12. (belganewsagency.eu) (belganewsagency.eu)