Have you just graduated from a Belgian university and are a non-EU student? Congratulations on your achievement! But now what? As a non-EU graduate in Belgium, you have the unique opportunity to extend your stay by 12 months. This so-called "search year" was introduced in 2021 and is already widely used. In this blog, you will discover what the search year entails, how to qualify for it and what steps you should take to make the most of this valuable period.

What is a search year?

After your studies, as a non-EU citizen, you can extend your stay in Belgium by 12 months to look for a job or start self-employment. This is called a "search year" and is in sé a residence permit with a view to work. This permit therefore allows you to work full-time in the Belgian labour market!

For whom.

• Students from non-EU countries who have obtained a degree (associate degree, bachelor, master or doctorate) from a Belgian university or college of higher education.
• Students from non-EU countries who obtained a degree in another EU member state and did part of their studies in Belgium through a mobility programme such as Erasmus.

These regulations apply in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.

The benefits of the search year

• One year of unlimited access to the labour market in Belgium.
• During your search year, you will have the opportunity to find a suitable employer who can apply for a combined residence and work permit, the "Single Permit", for you to continue your career in Belgium.

What is required to apply for a search year?

• A valid international passport.
• Proof of a degree obtained at a Belgian institution of higher education.

OR

• Proof of a degree obtained at an EU higher education institution, together with proof that you have stayed in Belgium as part of a mobility programme (e.g. Erasmus). These documents must be available in English, French, German or Dutch.
• Proof of health insurance (e.g. health insurance fund registration certificate).
• Proof of sufficient means of subsistence. For the academic year 2024 - 2025, this is 803 euros net per month. This can be demonstrated through various documents, on the website ibz.be find out which. An employment contract is only accepted as proof of sufficient means of subsistence for obtaining a search year if it earns you at least 12 x 803 euros. The duration of the contract is irrelevant here.

The procedure

Submitting the application

• Diploma obtained in Belgium?

Submit your application to the municipality where you live no later than 15 days before your student residence card expires.

• Diploma obtained in another EU Member State with a mobility programme followed in Belgium?

Submit your application within 3 months of obtaining your degree in another EU Member State. The application must be submitted to the Belgian diplomatic or consular post responsible for your place of residence. If you have a short or long legal residence in Belgium, the application can also be submitted to the municipality in Belgium.

Assessment of the application

If you application complete is, you will receive an attachment 33ter. If you incomplete application is, you will receive a written notification stating which documents you still need to submit. In this case, you have 15 calendar days from the notification to provide the missing documents. If your application is not submitted on time or remains incomplete after the correction period, the Immigration Department (DVZ) will reject the file (Annex 29).

Decision

If your application is complete and submitted on time, but your student residence expires during the process, the municipality will issue an annex 15. With this annex 15, you may already start working while waiting for the Immigration Department's decision. They will make a decision within 90 days of receiving the confirmation of receipt. As soon as the Immigration Department grants approval, you will receive an A residence card that is valid for a maximum of 12 months. If you already had an Appendix 15 in the meantime, the validity of the A residence card will be reduced by that period.

Note!

As long as you have an A residence card as a student, you only have limited access to the labour market. In that case, you may work a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year, even once you graduate. In principle, you will receive a Schedule 15 with unlimited access to the labour market only after your A student residence card expires. Therefore, between the start of the new academic year and the expiry of your A residence card (usually 31 October), you can work a maximum of 20 hours per week.

I am a researcher, am I also eligible for a search year?

Yes, if:

• You are a researcher with a hosting agreement at a recognised research institution in Belgium and you have completed your research.
• You are a researcher in another EU member state, you have completed your research and you have used your mobility as a researcher with Belgium as your second member state.
• You have a certificate of completion of your research issued by the university, in your pocket.

As a researcher, you have to pay a fee for applying for your search year. This fee is currently €144 (in 2024).