Registration procedure for foreign students at the Belgian city office

Information about how to register as an international students at the local city office or townhall

Once you’ve arrived in Belgium, you will need to present yourself at your local city office or town hall to register your long-stay (i.e. of more than 90 days) and apply for a residence card.

Depending on whether you have EU or non-EU nationality, the process will be slightly different. Please find a link to more information about this process in the different cities of our campuses:

Brussels (*): Foreign student registration | City of Brussels

(*) Attention: The City of Brussels’ Foreigners' Office is for students residing in the City of Brussels (postal code: 1000, 1020, 1120 and 1130) and also some addresses in 1050 (1051) and 1040 (1041) are located in the City of Brussels. Students who are staying in other communes/parts of Brussels need to go to the town hall in person in order to complete registration or they need to make an appointment. Please use the map on the website of the Brussels Capital Region to choose your local city hall and to get info on how to register.

Ghent: Registration as international student | Stad Gent

Genk: Een afspraak maken | Stad Genk

Leuven:  Students: registration EU/EEA | Stad Leuven

IMPORTANT: If you are a non-EU visa student and residing in the Leuven area (postal codes 3000, 3001, 3010, 3012 and 3018), LUCA School of Arts can start the city registration process for you.

In that case, please send a copy of the following documents to admissions@luca-arts.be:

  • your student visa with Schengen entry stamp, 
  • a copy of your rental agreement 
  • a proof of your financial capability (unless you are using our blocked account procedure)

They will inform you about further steps.