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This information is for students registered in Belgium already and who will continue their stay in Belgium.

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You can start the renewal of your legal residence in Belgium 90 days before the expiry date and no later than 15 days before the expiry date of your current residence permit. To renew your legal residence in Belgium, as a student, you will need to present following documents to your local Migration Office or City Hall:

• Model van het standaardformulier (attached to your re-enrollment document) available in Oasis after **re-enrolment** for the next academic year once your transcript of records is available in Oasis.
• The progress report (not mandatory for PhD students)

If you are a third country national and your results turn out to be less successful, please be aware that local authorities are required to forward your residency renewal application to the Immigration Office (DVZ), who will assess whether studies are being extended abusively and might terminate the legal residence (not for PhD students): https://dofi.ibz.be/en/themes/ressortissants-dun-pays-tiers/etudes/favoris/studies-are-being-extended-excessively

However, there is no need to worry. There is an opportunity to give extra information or documents useful in assessing whether studies are being extended abusively:

• The progress report must explain why you did not pass for all exams (illness, special status, academic level, personal, … )
• The standard form (available with your re-enrolment document) must explain why you are not enrolled for a full time study program of minimum 54 credits (graduation year, special status, …)

This information must be provided by your Faculty Student Administration (FSA) who should write down your motivation as detailed as possible on the above mentioned forms, once available via Oasis. You can find their contact details via https://www.ugent.be/student/en/administration/fsa

Remark: The FSA will not be able to give you information or advise you about your legal stay.

• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence

Students who want to extend or open a blocked account at Ghent University for their residence renewal should start this process early. Many students will do this at the same time, and we want to ensure everything can be arranged on time for everyone. More information can be found here: https://www.ugent.be/prospect/en/administration/visa/subsistence.htm

• A-card from the past academic year
• Valid passport
• Proof of health insurance

Students who are planning to travel abroad (e.g. exchange abroad), and might risk not obtaining the renewal of your legal residence in time, make sure to begin your renewal well in advance or contact your local city hall to discuss this matter.

If needed, (for example, if you are not able to re-enrol yet) you can request a certificate from your faculty’s student administration or international office to support your application.

We wish you all the best during this exam period and hope this information is helpful!

If you should have:

• Questions or doubts about your residence permit renewal: contact your local City Hall.