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Belgium · Residence-based status

Belgium Orientation Year after Belgian Higher Studies

13 facts quoted from the official source

For a third-country national who completed qualifying higher studies in Belgium and applies before the student residence expires.

Income required
Means required · no figure published
Can bring
Not stated in the official source
Requirements
5
each quoted below
Who qualifies

Who this route is for

Every item below is the government’s own wording, quoted from the official source. Whether you personally qualify depends on your full profile.

5 requirements quoted from the official source.

The conditions that decide it
  • Degree Evidence RequiredEvidence of the completed degree is required.
  • Financial meansThe applicant must have sufficient means.
  • Qualifying Belgian Degree RequiredA qualifying Belgian higher-education degree is required.
What you’ll show with your application

Paperwork you prepare — it does not rule you out.

  • Health insuranceHealth insurance is required.
  • Passport or travel documentA valid passport is required.
What rules you out

1 exclusion quoted from the official source.

  • Unrestricted Labour Market AccessThe search-year holder has unrestricted labour-market access.
Also stated by the source
  • Application Before Expiry Days MinThe application is filed at least fifteen days before the A card expires.
  • Decision Days MaxThe Immigration Office has 90 days to decide.
  • Eligibility summaryA qualifying graduate may request a maximum twelve-month search year and must normally apply at least fifteen days before the A card expires.
  • Official source basisA qualifying graduate may request a maximum twelve-month search year and must normally apply at least fifteen days before the A card expires.
  • Permit MonthsThe search-year A card is valid for twelve months.
  • Report summaryA qualifying graduate may request a maximum twelve-month search year and must normally apply at least fifteen days before the A card expires.
Family

Who you can bring

Not stated in the official source. The official page for this route does not address dependent-family rights, so we do not publish a claim either way.
Costs & timelines

What the source prices

Validity
1 proven from the official source.
  • Valid Student Residence RequiredThe applicant applies from the qualifying student status.
How it works

From here to a yes

See if you qualify — freeThe 3-minute check scores your profile against every Belgium route at once, this one included. No signup, no card.
Get your full report — €10One personalised report ranks every route you can actually get, with the full requirement set for your profile — so you apply for the right one.
Apply with the official sourceThe application itself always happens with the government — the enacting authority linked below. The report points you straight at it.
FAQ

Straight answers

01Who qualifies for this route to Belgium?
The official source states: For a third-country national who completed qualifying higher studies in Belgium and applies before the student residence expires.
02How much money do I need?
The official source states: The applicant must have sufficient means. It does not publish a fixed amount — no minimum figure is stated.
03Do I need health insurance?
The official source states: Health insurance is required.

Every answer is quoted from the official dofi.ibz.be page for this route, last read 2026-07-26.

We checked 13 points against the official source; 13 are quoted on this page. The other 0 are either not addressed by the source or not yet backed by a quote — we would rather show you the edge of the record than fill it with a plausible guess.

See the 0 open points

Fees and processing time are not published in the official source for this route. We publish a number only when the official text states that number.

The source

Where every quote comes from

Official government source dofi.ibz.beLast read 2026-07-26 Every quote on this page is from this Belgium government page.
Compiled from official sources · pending independent re-check · Last checked 2026-07-26 · Our methodology
· Compiled by António Mira · How we verify · Not legal advice — rules change; confirm with the official source before deciding.
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Does this route fit your numbers?

That depends on your income, savings and family — the parts of the story only you know. The free 3-minute check scores your profile against every Belgium route at once, this one included. Then the full Belgium report takes you the rest of the way.

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