Students from visa-exempt countries do not require a visa, you can enter Belgium for up to 90 days to complete the following activities:

• Tourism
• Visiting family or friends
• Attending business meetings
• Cultural or sports events
• Short-term studies
• Training

Students who do require a visa should apply for the Short Stay Schengen Visa.

Source: Short stay less than 90 days (including airport transit visa) | Belgium in the United Kingdom  

Gather Your Documents

To apply for your Schengen Visa, you will need to gather the following documents:

• Belgium visa application form
• Your passport
• Copies of your previous visas (if applicable)
• Language Preference Form. Belgian authorities offer to you the opportunity to choose in which of the three national languages of Belgium you wish your application to be treated (French, German or Dutch). On the other hand, if you choose to complete the application in English, please choose “no preference”
• A cover letter
• Round-trip Flight Itinerary
• Schengen Travel Insurance
• Travel health insurance policies for foreigners travelling to Belgium that fulfil Belgium Visa requirements can be purchased online from AXA Assistance or Europ Assistance. Both companies are accepted by Belgian Embassies and Consulates worldwide
• Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will stay in Belgium. i.e. Hotel reservation for the whole duration of the intended stay in Belgium
• In Belgium, the original “Engagement de Prise en Charge – Verbintenis tot Tenlasteneming 3 bis” must be stamped by the municipality and have the embossed stamp of the foreign office
• Proof of sufficient financial means for the period of stay in Belgium. According to the Belgian Immigration Office, a traveller has to attest possessing €95 per day if staying in a hotel

Further information on the Schengen Visa documentation can be found here.

How to apply?

If you require a visa, you will need to submit your application at one of the TLScontact Visa Application Centres. To be directed to the TLScontact website to find out all the information you require about appointments, documents, processing time and general process, please click here.

Schengen Visa application needs to be submitted at one of the 'Visa Application Centres' (VAC) and not at the embassy. The addresses in London, Edinburgh and Manchester, as well as all other information, can be found here.

The following activities can be completed under a long-stay national visa (Visa D):

• Work
• Studies
• Traineeship
• The Working Holiday programme
• Humanitarian reasons

EU/EEA national students do not require a visa to live in Belgium, however you will need to register your presence at the local town hall (maison communale/gemeentehuis) within 10 days of arrival. Please note you only need to oblige if you are staying in private accommodation. If you are staying in an hotel you will not need to register for your presence If EU/EEA Students residing in Belgium for over 3 months, will need to provide evidence that you can support yourself fully financially and you are covered by healthcare insurance.

UK/Non-EU/Non-EEA Students who wish to study for a duration of over 6 months, are required to apply for a long stay national visas (Visa D).

You must be registered in full-time education.

Gather Your Documents

• Two completed and signed Visa On Web application forms 
• Four ID photos 
• Passport (Original, Copy) /A travel document where a visa can be issued with a minimum validity of 12 months (e.g. a passport)
• Passport bio-page (Copy); UK visa page (equivalent of UK residence permit if applicable).
• Proof of payment of the CONTRIBUTION fee to the Ministry  (Original, copy)
• Proof of registration/admission from a recognised educational institution (Original, copy)
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover the cost of studies, medical costs, daily expenses - Europ Assistance
• Proof that you have or will have a private health insurance that covers all risks in Belgium during your stay; the insurance must cover at least 3 months and with a minimum cover of 30.000 euros. (Original and Copy)
• Certificate of good conduct -  If you are 18 years old and over, your original certificate of good conduct covering at least the last year. It must also be legalised. For more information about legalisation please follow this link: (www.gov.uk)
• Original medical certificate (Original, Copy)
• Proof that you satisfy the conditions for access to higher education (Copy 2) Diploma, academic record, attestation that account is being taken of the application for equivalence.

Further information about visa requirements can be found here.

How to Apply

Visa applications for Belgium (except for Professional Cards) should be submitted at one of the TLScontact Visa Application Centres. To be directed to the TLScontact website to find out all the information you require, please click here.

Source : https://unitedkingdom.diplomatie.belgium.be/en/travel-to-belgium/visa/long-stay

Arrival in Belgium

You must report to your municipal administration within 8 days of arrival in Belgium. Following a residence enquiry, you are registered in the register of foreign nationals and you will receive a residence permit.

EU/EEA Students can work in Belgium without a visa or work permit. This also applies for students coming to Belgium to work as an intern or trainee. There is no short-stay permit for work under 90 days.

Regardless of the duration of your work placement, UK/Non-EEA students need to apply for national Type-D visa to work in Belgium.

Further information about working under 90 days can be found here.

Non-EU/Non-EEA Students can work in Belgium for a duration of 90 maximum days via a Work Permit.

Prior to you applying for your work permit your employer will need to apply for authorisation for you to work. If the application is approved you will be able to apply for a work permit for 90 days or a single permit.

Further information about authorising work can be found here.

Once you have your work authorisation, you will need to apply for your work permit/single permit.

Please note that only the regions are competent to decide and issue a work permit, single permit, professional card or exemption. A work permit might be required even though you spend less than 90 days within 180 days. Decisions are at the discretion of the consulate regions.

Source: https://www.kuleuven.be/english/stuvo/working-volunteering-career/transition-to-the-job-market/working-non-eea#3

Gather Your Documents

• The application form for an employment permit for maximum 90 days for a worker of foreign nationality (employer in Belgium)
• A photocopy of the identity card of the employer or his agent
• A photocopy of every page of the worker's current passport
• A photocopy of the document covering the worker's stay if they are in Belgium
• A medical certificate in accordance with Article 14 of the Royal Decree of 09/06/1999 
• A copy of the internship contract, dated and signed by both parties, mentioning the number of hours training and the amount of payment, which cannot be lower than the applicable legal minimum, including the amount of any grants
• A translation of this contract into the interns native language or another language they understand, carried out by a sworn translator and signed by both parties
• If the internship is remunerated using a grant, proof that this grant has been awarded to the worker
• A copy of the diploma or certificate of study of which the internship

Full list of documentation can be found here

How to Apply

Applications for a single permit of limited duration must be submitted via the online counter.

You can apply personally at the Belgium embassy or consulate in your home country, or your employer can apply for you in their local residence authority.

EU Students can enter Belgium using their passport and Letter of Acceptance. Students do not require any additional visa/permits. To obtain a visa, non-UK and non-EU students will need an Annexe 46 and a valid passport.

What is Annexe 46? "Annexe 46 is the final approval issued by the Immigration Office regarding the single permit. When the employee receives the Annexe 46 document, they are allowed to apply for the visa D at the Belgian Embassy"

Source: https://www.mooikasterlee.be/belgium/what-is-annex-49-belgium.html#:~:text=What%20is%20an%20annexe%2046%3F%20Annexe%2046%20is,for%20the%20visa%20D%20at%20the%20Belgian%20Embassy

Assistants will need to gather documents to submit to the Office des étrangers. Click here for further information. Only once you have your approval for Annexe 46, you can go ahead and apply for your Visa D.

Please note in Belgium your work is not viewed as salaried. Since you receive an allowance, you are not liable for social security contributions. This means you will need to purchase your own Belgian Health Insurance scheme.

Source: https://www.britishcouncil.org/sites/default/files/1._ela_belgium_destination_guide_2022.pdf