Blocked accounts at ULB

When applying for a visa or renewal of a residence permit for studies or orientation year in Belgium, a non-EU national must provide proof of sufficient financial resources to cover living, study, health care and repatriation expenses for the entire duration of his/her stay (academic year or quadrimester).

Proof of sufficient means of subsistence is provided by producing one of the following documents:

a certificate of scholarship or loan
a commitment by a guarantor to take charge of the student (called Annexe 32), validated by the Belgian embassy or consulate of your country of origin, or by the foreigners’ service of your municipality if you already reside in Belgium. For more information, please consult the website of the “Office des Étrangers” or contact the Belgian embassy of your home country.
Beware that there are people who offer to act as guarantor in exchange for a sum of money. Never use this service, it is a fraud.
a "blocked account" certificate: payment of a sum of money (minimum amount required x number of months of your stay in Belgium) into the bank account of the higher education institution in which you are registered, have been accepted to register or graduated.

The ULB now offers the blocked account service to all its students, future students and young graduates.

	Minimum monthly amount for 2025-2026*	Handling fees (non-refundable)
Single	835€	150€
Family reunion	2131,28€ (rounded to 2132€)	150€

*The Belgian authorities (Office des Étrangers) set annually the minimum amount of sufficient means of subsistence that is required.

Please note that the cost of living may be higher in Brussels. You can check online to estimate the amount you will need.

NB: you may transfer funds to that account only if you have received and signed your Blocked Account Agreement.

Explanation video

Application 2025-26

Here is the link to our new platform.
You will find : links to the usual forms, your blocked account information and your documents.

Information about the blocked account service

For more information, please read our guide and the Q&A section below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Agreement - Certificate

How do I choose the duration and period of my blocked account?: In the online application tool, you must choose a duration between 5 and 13 months and the period for which you need a blocked account. The duration and period depend on your stay at the ULB.
In any case, your blocked account must be situated within one academic year. It cannot overlap another academic year. This means your blocked account cannot start before September and end after September of the following year. It may start in September at the earliest and end in September of the following year at the latest.
Is it possible to change the language of the documents (agreement & certificate)?: Our documents are always sent in English only, but no worries, all embassies/communes accept them in English.
I have deposited my proof of payment on the platform. Can I receive my solvency certificate?: As soon as our financial department informs us of the receipt of your funds on our bank account, we will send you your solvency certificate.

Payment - Amount

Can another person transfer the requested amount in my name to the ULB’s account?: Yes, anybody can transfer the requested amount for you. Please carefully follow the instructions for the reference of the transfer.
What is the total amount to be paid?: € 835 x number of months (for the academic year 2025-2026 - this amount is subject to change for each academic year) + administrative fees (€ 150)
NB: there is no link between the ULB registration fees and the amount you transfer for your blocked account. The blocked account is not used to pay the registration fees.
Is it possible to pay the total amount in several transfers?: No, the requested amount must be paid in one transfer only.
If I transferred too much money because I wanted to make sure that the ULB receives the requested amount after the transfer and change costs have been applied by my bank, will I be reimbursed?: Yes, any surplus you transferred to the ULB account will be refunded (monthly payments are automatically adjusted).
Can I reduce the amount of the monthly payments?: No, even in the case of a grant that covers part of the amount requested by the Foreigners' Office (Office des Étrangers)

Instalments

General info
Will I receive my first payments if I do not yet have a bank account on the start date of my blocked account contract?: You will not receive any payments until you have a bank account (in EURO and SEPA zone) in your name. However, once your account has been opened, you will receive all missing payments at once (with the next scheduled instalment).
If you need to use a relative's account, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Can I receive my instalments on a non-EU account?: No, the instalments can only be paid into an account in euros and in the SEPA area.
Can I receive the remaining balance if I leave Belgium before the end of my blocked account contract?: Yes, but only to the euro account in your name. For this, please contact us at least two weeks before your departure.
Can I change the date the monthly payments arrive into my bank account?: No, we manage a large number of files and therefore have strict deadlines.
Can I receive several monthly payments at once to cover expenses I may have?: No. We would like to remind you that the funds in your blocked account are primarily intended to prove that you have sufficient financial resources.
Can I still be added to the monthly instalments if I submitted my banking information late (after the 10th of the month)?: No. We process a large number of files, so we have to meet strict deadlines for monthly payments to ensure that they are sent out correctly.

Cancellation

If I have to cancel my blocked account, will I be reimbursed for the amount paid?: In all cases, you will be reimbursed for the amount corresponding to your monthly instalments.
If your cancellation request is accepted by the Office des Etrangers (visa refused or officially cancelled, etc.), you will receive all your funds (except administration fees) at once. Otherwise, your blocked account will continue as planned, and you will be reimbursed on a monthly basis.

If, at the time of cancellation of your blocked account, you have already provided us with your IBAN in euros, the amount will be reimbursed (in one go) to this account in euros.

Otherwise, the amount will be refunded to the account from which the initial transfer was made. Any exchange or transfer fees will be at your expense and will be deducted from the total amount to be refunded.

To cancel your blocked account, please contact us by email, giving the reason for the cancellation.
Please note that cancelling your blocked account will invalidate your credit report.
Are my administrative fees refunded if I cancel my blocked account?: No, once the administrative fees have been paid into the ULB account they are no longer refundable.