Apply for an orientation year

What is it about?

An orientation year allows you to extend your stay in Belgium up to 12 months. This gives you the time to look for a job or start a self-employed activity in Belgium after your studies or research.

Read more about it here (Dutch)

What are the conditions?

Apply for the orientation year at the latest 15 days before your residence card (A-card) expires.

I am a non-EU/EEA student

You are eligible for an orientation year if you

• have recently graduated and obtained a higher vocational, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree
• obtained a degree in another EU Member State and followed a mobility programme in Belgium, e.g. Erasmus Mundus

Students who obtained a diploma in another Member State of the European Union and completed part of their studies in Belgium within the framework of a mobility programme must submit their application within 3 months after having obtained their foreign diploma.

I am a non-EU/EEA researcher

You are eligible for an orientation year if you are a researcher 

• with a hosting agreement at a recognised research institute in Belgium and your research is completed
• in another Member State of the European Union who completed the research and participated in a mobility programme as a researcher with Belgium as the 2nd Member State

Researchers who completed their research in another Member State of the European Union and resided in Belgium during part of their research within the framework of a mobility programme must apply for the orientation year at the latest 15 days before the expiry of their residence card as a researcher in the 1st Member State. These researchers must file the application with the Belgian embassy in the 1st member state of residence or with the municipal authorities on the basis of a short- or long-term legal residence.

How much does it cost?

Applying for an orientation year as a student is free of charge.

If you are a researcher,  you will have to pay an administrative fee of € 144 to start the application.

What do I need?

I want to apply for an orientation year as a student

• your valid passport
• a copy of your current residence card
• a passport photo
• a diploma or proof that you successfully completed a training programme at a recognised Belgian university college or university.
• If you participated in a mobility programme, you will need a diploma from a foreign educational institution and proof of residence in Belgium (e.g. Belgian residence permit or registration certificate for the mobility programme)
• proof of health insurance, e.g. a recent certificate of affiliation with a Belgian health insurance fund
• proof of sufficient financial means through
  • an annex 32 (commitment that charge will be taken by a guarantor)
  • a blocked account at an institution for higher education
  • own resources, e.g. employment contract for the planned orientation year 

I want to apply for an orientation year as a researcher

• proof of payment of the administrative fee of € 144 into account number BE57 6792 0060 9235 - reference: LastnameFirstnameNationalityDD.MMYYYY (date of birth)
• your valid passport
• a copy of your current residence card
• a passport photo
• proof provided by the accredited research institution that the research activities have been completed
• proof of health insurance, e.g. a recent certificate of affiliation with a Belgian health insurance fund
• proof of sufficient financial means. The living wage amounts serve as the reference amount

What steps need to be taken?

Apply for your orientation year

Send an email to migratie@stad.gent. Write the following in the subject line: APPLICATION FOR STUDENT ORIENTATION YEAR or APPLICATION FOR RESEARCHER ORIENTATION YEAR - your full name - your national identification number. Attach all documents.

Which documents will you receive after having filed your application?

You will receive an annex 15 pending the issuance of your new residence card when your current residence card expires.  With this document, you are allowed to work for an indefinite period of time. 

You will receive the decision of the Immigration Department at the latest 3 months after having filed your application.  In case of a positive decision, you will receive an A-card for 12 months. The period in which you had an annex 15 will be deducted from these 12 months.