Belgium student visa from Cameroon
Belgium · About 39 weeks with us, as an indication: it depends on your file and on the authorities.
To study in Belgium for more than 90 days, you need a student D visa. You fill in the form on Visa On Web, then lodge the file at TLScontact in Yaoundé: it is the only centre that accepts student visa applications in Cameroon.
The Immigration Office decides on the basis of your file, a questionnaire and, if the embassy asks, an interview. The document list is official: TLScontact only accepts the documents on it.
We help you choose the institution, prepare the equivalence, legalisation and proof of means, and rehearse the interview.
Who is it for?
- Baccalaureate holder admitted to a bachelor's at a Belgian university or university college.
- Student admitted to a master's or an advanced master's.
- Student enrolled at a non-recognised private institution: the document list is different.
- Candidate for the medicine or dentistry entrance exam, who applies for a specific short-stay visa.
The main conditions
- Enrolment or admission at a higher education institution.
- For a bachelor's in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation: the equivalence of your secondary diploma, or proof that you applied.
- Sufficient means for the whole year, at the official amount in force: personal funds, a scholarship or a sponsorship undertaking.
- Diploma authentication: by the GCE Board before filing for English-speaking applicants, by the Cameroon Baccalaureate Office after filing for French-speaking applicants.
- A legalised criminal record certificate and a medical certificate from an approved doctor.
- Health insurance covering your stay.
- The fees set by the authorities, including the Immigration Office contribution (see the official page).
How long does it take?
The Immigration Office has in principle 90 days at most to decide, and applications pile up before the start of the year: file as soon as your file is complete and follow the embassy and dofi.ibz.be pages.
The steps
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Consultation and choice of school
Documents to prepare
- Valid passport
- Academic transcripts
- Language test results
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Letter of acceptance
Documents to prepare
- Letter of acceptance
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Proof of financial means
Documents to prepare
- Bank statements
- Sponsorship undertaking
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Health insurance
Documents to prepare
- Health insurance certificate
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D visa application
Documents to prepare
- Visa application form
- Passport photos
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Consulate appointment
Documents to prepare
- Appointment confirmation
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D visa issued
Documents to prepare
- Passport with the visa
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Enrolment at the school
Documents to prepare
- Enrolment certificate
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Registration at the town hall
Documents to prepare
- Proof of accommodation
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Student residence permit
Documents to prepare
- Foreign national ID card
Fees are discussed at the appointment, depending on your situation.
What we check with you
- We check that your study plan is consistent with your background: a plan judged not credible is a ground for refusal.
- Prepare the questionnaire and interview: why this programme, why Belgium, and what you will do afterwards.
- Legalise your criminal record certificate before filing: at MINREX first, then with the Belgian services.
- The embassy advises against paying a third party to file for you, and no agency gets special treatment. You file yourself; our work happens beforehand, on the substance of the file.
- The embassy may ask for a non-refundable plane ticket before issuing the visa: keep it in mind in your planning.
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Frequently asked questions
Where do I apply for a Belgium student visa in Cameroon?
At TLScontact in Yaoundé, with an appointment booked through Visa On Web. According to the embassy, it is the only centre that accepts student visa applications in Cameroon, even though TLScontact also has a centre in Douala.
When should I apply for the equivalence of my baccalaureate?
For a bachelor's in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, apply to the Equivalence Service before 15 July preceding enrolment. The deadline is extended if your results come out after 10 July. Some universities accept an admission application before the equivalence.
What means do I need to prove?
Sufficient means of subsistence, at the official amount in force. They can come from your own funds, a scholarship or a sponsorship undertaking signed by a guarantor who meets the conditions. Details are on the official document list.
Is there an interview for the Belgium student visa?
You may be asked to fill in a questionnaire on the day you file at TLScontact: bring your original national ID card. The embassy may then call you to an interview with a Belgian consular officer at TLScontact Yaoundé.
How long does the decision take?
The Immigration Office has in principle 90 days at most for a complete file. An incomplete file or a request for more documents makes it longer.
What do I do when I arrive in Belgium?
You enrol at your institution, then register at the municipality where you live. You then receive your student residence permit.