Van Bossuyt tightens student visas: “Open to talent, tough on abuse”

Non-European students who wish to study in Belgium or extend their residence permit will now have to meet stricter requirements. Minister for Asylum and Migration Anneleen Van Bossuyt aims to tackle abuse of the student status while continuing to welcome international students who genuinely come to Belgium to study.

“International students strengthen our universities, colleges and economy. But those who use student status to prolong their stay for years without making sufficient academic progress are abusing a system that was never intended for that purpose,” said Van Bossuyt. “We are open to talent, but tough on abuse.”

Higher requirements for academic progress

The new rules place greater emphasis on actual academic performance. Students enrolled in graduate or bachelor’s programmes must have earned at least 60 credits after two academic years. They must then obtain at least 40 additional credits each year in order to qualify for an extension of their residence permit.

Clearer limits will also be introduced regarding the maximum duration of master’s programmes, advanced master’s programmes, certificate programmes and doctoral studies.

In addition, the government wants to put an end to practices whereby students extend their stay by repeatedly changing fields of study. Students who wish to start a third programme during their first three years of residence, after unsuccessfully discontinuing two previous programmes, will no longer be granted an extension of their residence permit. Students who switch to a programme at a lower academic level after failing in higher education will also face stricter scrutiny.

“Studying in Belgium is not a revolving door. Those who fail, start over, change programmes again and artificially prolong their stay year after year should know that there are limits,” she said. “This is a strict measure, but it is also fair to the many students who do make an effort and achieve results.”

Stricter oversight of non-recognised institutions

Alongside the new study requirements, the rules will also be tightened for students who wish to enrol in programmes offered by non-recognised educational institutions, such as music or ballet schools, or certain business schools, where there are fewer guarantees regarding the quality of the programme and the value of the diploma.

Non-EU students seeking to study at such institutions will now be required to provide proof of final enrolment and full payment of tuition fees. They must also demonstrate sufficient language proficiency, provide a credible explanation of their academic and professional background, and prove that they have sufficient financial resources to cover the entire academic year through a bank guarantee.

The figures show that these stricter measures are necessary. In 2025, nearly 14,000 non-EU students applied for a first visa to study in Belgium. Among applications involving recognised institutions, 82% were approved. For non-recognised institutions, the approval rate was only 51%.