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Are you an international student in Belgium and your A-card is about to expire? Renewing your student residence permit is a vital step to legally continue your studies in Belgium.
But be careful: renewing your A-card isn't just about providing a new enrollment certificate. The authorities will check that your file is complete, that you have sufficient means of subsistence, that you are covered by health insurance, and that your academic progress is satisfactory.
For the 2026-2027academic year, the rules regarding academic progress have also been tightened.
Here is everything you need to know to properly prepare for the renewal of your student residence permit in Belgium.
Important: rules may vary depending on your personal situation, your program, and your institution. This article is an informative guide and does not replace the assessment of your file by your local municipality, your institution, or the Immigration Office.
Renewal applies primarily to nationals of countries outside the European Union who hold a residence permit for more than 90 days in Belgium as a student and who wish to remain in the country to continue their studies.
You must submit your renewal application to the municipal administration of your place of residence.
The A-card is generally issued for a limited duration of one year. If you wish to continue your studies in Belgium beyond this period, you must renew it.
Your renewal application must be submitted no later than 15 days before your A-card's expiration date.
If you do not meet this deadline, the municipal administration may declare your application inadmissible.
Practical tip: do not think of these 15 days as the time to start preparing your application. Gather your documents several weeks in advance.
To put together a complete renewal application, you must include:
It is important to distinguish between two university documents.
The certificate of enrollment proves that you are officially registered at an institution to pursue your studies.
The certificate of academic progress, on the other hand, allows the administration to evaluate your academic record and results.
This second document becomes particularly important with the new rules applicable from the 2026-2027 academic year.
This is a point many students overlook.
If you submit your application on time but some documents are missing, the municipality may ask you to complete your file.
You then have 15 days from the date of that request to submit the missing documents.
If you provide them within the allotted time, your application can continue to be processed.
However, if you do not complete your file on time, the municipal administration may declare your application inadmissible.
So, avoid thinking:
"I'll submit my application now and provide the rest later."
Your goal should be to present a file that is as complete as possible from the very first submission.
This is one of the important changes to keep in mind.
For the 2026-2027academic year, the minimum amount of means of subsistence required for a student is set at: €1,062 net per month.
Over a twelve-month period, this represents: €12,744.
This amount is set by the authorities and may be indexed each year.
The goal is to demonstrate that you have sufficient resources to support yourself during your stay in Belgium without becoming a burden on the Belgian social welfare system.
There are several ways to prove that you have sufficient financial resources.
According to the Immigration Office, this proof can take the following forms:
The Immigration Office currently indicates that it accepts certificates issued by Studely among the blocked account options provided by specialized companies.
Your guarantor must also demonstrate that they have regular and sufficient income.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, the Immigration Office states that a guarantor supporting a student must have at least:
€2,173.88 net/month + €1,062 net/month = €3,235.88 net/month.
It is not enough to simply find someone willing to support you. Their financial situation must also meet the conditions required by the authorities.
This is likely the change to watch most closely for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Since the Royal Decree of May 7, 2026, the rules regarding excessive study duration have been modified.
Starting in the 2026-2027 academic year, the Immigration Office may refuse to renew your residence permit or terminate your stay if it considers that you are taking too long to complete your studies based on your results.
One of the rules specifically states that you must have obtained:
There are also limits on the number of years you can spend in certain programs.
For example, for a program of 180 credits, the Immigration Office may consider the duration excessive if the program is not completed by the end of the sixth year, in accordance with the established rules.
The rules are different.
The Immigration Office sets specific credit thresholds to be met depending on whether your master's program consists of 60, 120, or 180 credits.
Doctoral students are also subject to the rules regarding academic progress.
The Immigration Office stipulates a limit of six years for completing a doctorate under these provisions.
A change of program does not automatically lead to a refusal of renewal.
However, it may impact the assessment of your academic progress.
The new rules include specific provisions if you have previously pursued a program at a higher academic level than the one you now wish to undertake without having completed that first program.
Specific credit thresholds may then apply.
The Immigration Office may also consider it excessive if you wish to begin a third change of study program during your first three years of residence without having successfully completed the two previous programs.
Your change of program must therefore be carefully considered from both an academic perspective and in terms of your right of residence.
If you submit your application on time and your file is complete, the municipal office will provide you with an acknowledgment of receipt known as Annex 33ter.
Two situations may then arise.
When your application is admissible and you meet the necessary conditions to maintain your student status, the municipal office may proceed directly to renewing your card, subject in particular to the rules regarding the excessive duration of studies.
When the decision rests with the Immigration Office, it has 90 days from the date of the acknowledgment of receipt issued for a complete file.
This situation worries many students, but the expiration of your A card while your application is being processed does not automatically mean that you are left without a residence document.
If the Immigration Office cannot make its decision before the expiration of your A card, your municipal office may issue you an Annex 15 provisionally covering your stay in Belgium.
This certificate is valid for 45 days and can be extended twice for the same duration.
There is therefore a temporary mechanism to cover your stay while your renewal is still being processed.
This is a particularly important question.
Having a renewal application in progress does not automatically mean you have the same travel options as you do with a valid A card.
Before leaving Belgium, you must check the validity of your residence document and the conditions applicable to your situation with your local municipality or the competent authorities.
Above all, avoid traveling abroad thinking:
"My application is in progress, so everything is fine."
First, make sure your documents allow you to travel and return to Belgium.
Before submitting your application, check that:
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is waiting until the last minute to prepare for your renewal.
Your application is primarily based on three pillars :
Your passport, enrollment certificate, health insurance, and other requested documents must be prepared well in advance.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, the reference amount is €1,062 net per month, or €12,744 for twelve months.
Your academic results and the duration of your studies may now play a decisive role in the review of your renewal application.
A blocked account is one of the ways to prove that you have sufficient means of subsistence.
For the 2026-2027 academic year, the reference amount is €12,744, or 12 months at €1,062 per month.
If you choose Studely for your blocked account, the goal is to simplify this administrative step and allow you to obtain the certificate required for your application in 24 hours.
Renewing your student residence permit in Belgium is an annual process that you should approach with the same seriousness as your university enrollment.
The more you prepare your documents, financial resources, and academic status in advance, the better your chances of putting together a complete application.
Information verified against official sources from the Immigration Office as of August 13, 2026. Rules are subject to change, and certain individual situations may be subject to specific conditions.