Higher financial threshold for non-EU students seeking Belgian study visas
Non-European students wishing to study in Belgium will have to prove they have significantly more financial resources from the next academic year after Migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt raised the minimum required means of subsistence.
For the 2026–2027 academic year, when the new rule takes effect, the indexed amount will jump to 1,062 euros net per month. As students are typically required to prove they can cover a full year in advance, this means setting aside approximately 12,700 euros.
To obtain a study visa, applicants must present a clean criminal record, a medical certificate, a valid diploma and proof of sufficient financial means. According to Van Bossuyt of N-VA, the previous threshold of 835 euros was no longer realistic and did not adequately reflect the cost of housing and living expenses in Belgium.
The measure, she argues, is intended both to protect students from financial hardship and to prevent them from having to rely on social assistance. Access to social assistance for non-EU nationals will become more restricted, as they will soon only qualify after five years of legal residence.
Growing numbers, rising rejections
A total of 16,434 non-European students applied for a Belgian study visa in 2025. More than 12,400 were approved, mainly from Cameroon, Morocco and China. Last year, however, 2,615 applications were rejected, including 1,098 from Cameroon and 536 from Morocco. Other applications are still being processed.
With the stricter financial requirements, Van Bossuyt also aims to prevent the student visa system from being misused as an easy route to Belgium. While no exact figures are available, the Immigration Office acknowledges that abuse does occur. Some applicants submit false diplomas, while others enrol formally but never attend classes or sit exams, effectively disappearing from the system. In other cases, students overstay their visas.
Van Bossuyt considers this unacceptable, arguing that study migration should serve as an exchange of knowledge, with a temporary stay followed by a return home, not as a channel for long-term residence.
Universities have welcomed the adjustment. Three years ago, Flemish universities had already agreed internally to apply a threshold of at least 1,000 euros. “We felt that 835 euros was simply not realistic to make ends meet. So we are pleased that the federal government is listening and adapting the law to existing practice,” KU Leuven said. Universities do not expect the higher threshold to reduce international enrolments significantly.
The new rule applies to all applications, including from students already studying in Belgium.
Guarantor system under scrutiny
Students can demonstrate financial means in three ways: through a scholarship, by depositing funds in a blocked bank account that allows monthly instalments released for living costs, or via a guarantor.
Under the guarantor system, a Belgian citizen or legal resident commits to covering the student’s accommodation, study costs, medical expenses and potential debts. However, problems have arisen. According to Van Bossuyt's cabinet, some individuals advertise themselves as paid guarantors on Facebook. When asked to cover debts, they sometimes lack the means or refuse to pay, leaving authorities to pursue costly recovery procedures.
To address this, Van Bossuyt plans to introduce a guarantor database to blacklist those who fail to meet their obligations.
While the Immigration Office will continue to assess each case individually, the government is making clear that the system will become stricter.
The aim, the minister says, is to ensure that studying in Belgium remains financially viable and credible, without placing pressure on social services or creating loopholes for irregular migration.
Students in Ghent © PHOTO BELGIAN FREELANCE
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