Students exempted from higher tuition fees
Under normal circumstances, non European students will pay a higher tuition fee. There are, however, a number of categories of students that do not need to pay the higher tuition fee.
1. Students with a nationality belonging to the European Economic Area (= the European Member States + Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway)
2. Students with a foreign nationality who are permitted to stay in Belgium with unlimited duration as defined by the law of December 15, 1980 regarding the access to the territory, the stay, the establishment and the removal of third country citizens, to be proven by means of a residence permit of a member of the European Communities (annex 8 or annex 9) or the identity card for foreigners (annex 7) or the proof of registration in the foreigners register (annex 6) in accordance with article 31 of the royal decree of October 8, 1981 with regards to access to the territory, the stay, the establishment and the removal of third country citizens.
3. Students who are the victim of human trafficking, attested by an institute recognized by the federal government and specialized in the reception of victims of human trafficking.
4. Students with a foreign nationality permitted to a stay with limited duration in Belgium on the basis of article 48/4 of the law of December 15, 1980 regarding the access to the territory, the stay, the establishment and the removal of third country citizens.
5. Students who – on the 31st of December of the concerned academic year – have been legally resident in Belgium for a continuous period of 12 consecutive months and who were not granted the residence permit for purposes of studying in the Belgian higher education system, or in attendance of a verdict in an asylum procedure to be recognized as refugee or as person entitled to subsidiary protection, in accordance with the law of December 15, 1980 regarding the access to the territory, the stay, the establishment and the removal of third country citizens.
6. Students who received permission on the basis of articles 10, 10bis, [(40bis or 40ter)] of the law of December 15, 1980 regarding the access to the territory, the stay, the establishment and the removal of third country citizens to accompany or join a person mentioned in §1 or §2, 1st until and including 7th, of this article or a person legally staying 12 consecutive months in Belgium to study in higher education or to work.
7. Students who are candidate refugees – or whose parents are candidate refugees - and who have been staying in Belgium as a minor and who have not submitted their asylum request themselves. The asylum request was accepted before June 1st, 2007 and the procedure is still ongoing with the Commissionary General for Refugees and Stateless, with the Permanent Commission of Appeal or with the Council for Foreigner Contestations.