Each year, thousands of international students choose Belgium to pursue their higher education. However, before obtaining a student visa or residence permit, they must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial resources to cover their expenses for the entire duration of their stay.
There are three main ways to prove these means of subsistence:
A fourth possibility also exists for some students: obtaining a recognized scholarship covering the amounts required by the Belgian authorities.
All these solutions are officially recognized by the Immigration Office. However, they present significant differences in terms of speed, administrative simplicity, security, flexibility, and financial autonomy.
To help you choose the most suitable solution for your situation and study plans, here are the main points to know.
Proof of means of subsistence is a legal requirement for international students wishing to obtain a Belgian student visa, apply for a first residence permit, or renew their stay authorization.
The objective is to demonstrate that the student will be able to cover their needs during their stay without relying on Belgian social assistance.
This amount must cover, in particular:
For the academic year 2026-2027, the minimum amount set by the Belgian authorities is:
1,062 net euros per month, or 12,744 euros for a full academic year.
This amount is set by royal decree and may be indexed annually based on the evolution of the cost of living.
Several Belgian universities offer their own blocked account system to allow international students to prove their means of subsistence.
Among the institutions offering this type of arrangement are:
It is important to note that this system is generally reserved for universities. Higher education institutions do not usually offer a blocked account.
How does a university blocked account work?
After gaining admission, the student receives payment instructions from the university.
They must then transfer to the institution's account:
Once the funds are received, the university issues an official certificate of financial support, which can be used for the student visa application.
After arriving in Belgium, the student generally must:
The university then makes monthly payments into this Belgian bank account.
Depending on the institutions and the time of year, several weeks may sometimes pass between the student's arrival and the receipt of the first payment.
Annex 32 is another method recognized by the Immigration Office to demonstrate means of subsistence.
Under this system, an individual legally commits to supporting the student for the entire duration of their stay in Belgium.
This person then becomes their official guarantor.
According to the regulations currently in force, the guarantor can be:
The guarantor must compile an administrative file containing several supporting documents to demonstrate their solvency.
Depending on the situation, the requested documents may include:
The commitment document can be established with:
Once the application is submitted, the various administrations carry out administrative checks before validation.
It is important to note that processing times can vary significantly from one administration to another.
Municipalities, embassies, and consulates apply rigorous procedures involving multiple successive verifications.
Processing times depend notably on:
The applicable conditions and income thresholds may change annually based on decisions by the Belgian authorities.
For the academic year 2026-2027, a guarantor supporting a student must generally demonstrate a net income of at least 3,235.88 euros per month, subject to the rules applicable to their family situation.
For several years now, the Studely Blocked Account has established itself as one of the most popular solutions among international students and their families.
Beyond simply issuing a financial certificate recognized by the Office for Foreigners, Studely has developed a comprehensive ecosystem designed to facilitate students' relocation to Belgium.
The procedure is entirely digital.
After admission to a Belgian higher education institution, the student creates their application directly from the Studely app.
Account opening takes only a few minutes.
Once funds are transferred, Studely performs the necessary verifications and typically issues the official certificate within a maximum of 48 hours after receiving the funds.
This certificate can then be used for student visa or residence permit applications.
One of the main advantages of the Studely solution Studely is the ability to have a European payment account in the student's name before their departure.
This allows them to:
Unlike other solutions, students do not need to wait for a Belgian bank account to be opened to receive their living expenses.
Disbursements can be accessed immediately upon arrival via the app.
A solution designed for students and their parents
Many parents particularly appreciate the transparency and security of the system.
The certificate features a secure verification system, allowing administrations to quickly confirm its authenticity.
Studely also offers:
For many international students, this combination of services significantly reduces administrative procedures both before and after arriving in Belgium
Beyond the simple administrative requirement imposed by Belgian authorities, students and their families are now looking for a solution that can simplify the entire international mobility project.
The Blocked Account Studely precisely meets this expectation.
Students benefit from a fast, secure, and officially recognized procedure while also taking advantage of tools that concretely facilitate their settlement in Belgium.
The European bank account before departure, quick access to funds, administrative support, legal assistance, payment flexibility, and multilingual customer support are all advantages that allow students and their parents to approach their project with greater peace of mind.
It is this comprehensive approach that explains why more and more international students are now choosing the Studely blocked account to prepare for their arrival in Belgium.
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