Renewing your stay as a foreign student
This is your situation:
- You are not an EU, EEA or Swiss national.
- Your residence status is student.
- Your residence card is about to expire and you wish to continue your studies in Belgium.
Then you must apply for renewal of your stay.
When to apply for renewal?
- As soon as you have assembled all the required documents
- At the latest 15 days before the expiry date of your residence card, even if your application is not yet complete at that time.
Change of address?
- If you change your address within Leuven, you must report your move online. Do not delay submitting your application for renewal of residence until you have moved or until your new address has been confirmed. You may not exceed the deadline for renewal application.
- If you move from another Belgian municipality to Leuven, you may only submit your application for renewal of residence with the city of Leuven after the local police officer conducted an address verification and Leuven has registered your new address in its foreign nationals register.
How to apply?
You come to the city office (by appointment).
Do you wish to submit an annex 32 as proof of financial solvency and does your guarantor reside in Belgium?
Ask your guarantor to come along during your appointment, so that we can authenticate the annex 32 at the same time.
Read which documents your guarantor must bring along
How to make an appointment?
If you are not in Belgium, you can only make an appointment by phone.
What do you need to bring?
- National passport
This must be valid. - Residence card
- Proof of enrolment at your university or college
Regarding the new academic year. - Proof of financial solvency
- A scholarship, blocked account or annex 32.
- Valid for the new academic year.
- Proof of health insurance
- No more than 6 months old.
- E.g. a 'certificate of insurability'.
- Standard form for study progress ('standaardformulier')
- You will receive it from your university or college.
- Regarding the past academic year.
- Not required if you are exempt, e.g. PhD students.
- Transcript of your exam results
- Regarding the past academic year.
- Not required if you are exempt, e.g. PhD students.
You do not need to bring a passport-size photo. We will take a photo during your appointment.
Price
You can pay using cash or a debit/credit card.
- Normal procedure
€ 20 - Expedited procedure
If the application is submitted before 2 pm, delivery the following working day: € 120
What happens after your application?
If you submit your application in full and on time, the city will renew your stay and you may immediately apply for a new residence card. However, your application must meet the requirements of the federal authorities (FPS Home Affairs, Immigration Office). For instance: you must have obtained sufficient study credits, you must have sufficient financial means, ….
If the requirements are not met, or in case of doubt, the city will forward your application to the federal authorities. Once the federal authorities have made a decision, the city will invite you.
What after graduation?
Have you graduated and do you want to work or set up a business in Belgium? Then apply for the residence status 'work migrant'.
Applying for the residence status 'work migrant'
- Salaried employee
Your prospective employer must apply for a single permit for you. - Set up a business
- Apply for a professional card.
- Subsequently apply for a change of residence status with the city of Leuven.
Keep in mind that the processing period for the application of a single permit or professional card can take several months. Therefore, submit your application as soon as possible, so as to avoid no longer having a valid residence card. You may only start working once your application has been approved.
Not yet found a job?
Have you not yet found a job or applied for a professional card? Then you can give yourself one year’s time to do so by applying for a search year.
Do you have a question?
Contact us. We are happy to help you.
