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

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 degree 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 degree. These students can submit the application at the Belgian embassy in the 1st member state of residence or at the municipality while having a legal stay.

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 can submit the application at the Belgian embassy in the 1st member state of residence or at the municipality while having a legal stay.

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 a contribution 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 degree 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 degree from a foreign educational institution and proof of your stay in Belgium (e.g. annex 33 or proof of registration for the mobility programme)
• proof of health insurance, e.g. a 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 contribution 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
• proof provided by the accredited research institution that the research activities have been completed
• If you participated in a mobility programme, you will need a proof provided by the accredited research institution that the research activities have been completed and proof of your stay in Belgium (e.g. Belgian residence document)
• proof of health insurance, e.g. a certificate of affiliation with a Belgian health insurance fund
• proof of sufficient financial means through
  • a blocked account at an accredited research institution
  • own resources, e.g. employment contract for the planned orientation year 

     The living wage amounts serve as the reference amount.

What steps need to be taken?

Apply for your orientation year

Submit your application online. You will receive a confirmation of your application in your mailbox.

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 A-card expires. With this document, you are allowed to work for an indefinite period of time. If you participated in a mobility programme, you will not receive an annex 15 while waiting for the decision.

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.