[Article 61 of the Act of 15 December 1980]
The third-country national who wishes to pursue full-time higher studies at an institution of higher education in Belgium, or a preparatory year for such education, and the third-country national who, after completing their studies, asks to be authorised to extend their stay in order to seek employment or set up a business, must prove that they have sufficient means of subsistence.
The minimum amount for the means of subsistence is set by Royal Decree and indexed every year.
For the 2025 - 2026 academic year, this amount is 835 euros net/month.
Proof of sufficient means of subsistence is provided by submitting one or more of the following documents:
- a certificate drawn up [in accordance with a Royal Decree] either by an international organisation or a national government, or by a community, region, province or municipality, or by an institution of higher education, to the effect that the third-country national is receiving or will soon receive a scholarship or a loan;
- a commitment to a formal obligation in accordance with annex 32 to the Royal Decree of 8 October 1981;
- any other proof of sufficient means of subsistence – for example, the deposit of a sum of money equivalent to twelve (12) times the minimum monthly amount a student is required to have, into a blocked account opened by the higher education institution in the student's name, or the deposit of a bank guarantee equivalent to twelve (12) times the minimum monthly amount a student is required to have, into an account opened in the student's name by a financial services company specializing in the opening of blocked bank accounts intended to justify financial resources as part of a study visa application.
Attention: at present, the Immigration Office only accepts certificates of irrevocable transfer ("Attestations de versement irrévocable") issued by Studely and Ready Study Go International. However the Immigration Office is not contractually bound to these companies and cannot be held responsible for any breach of their obligations towards the student.
The assessment as to whether the third-country national has sufficient means of subsistence is based on an individual examination of the case. As part of this examination, funds originating from a grant, scholarship, allowance or the lawful and regular pursuit of a gainful activity outside the time normally to be devoted to study are taken into account in particular.