Blocked accounts at ULB

• 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.
 

*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

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

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.
If you are an exchange student, the duration of the blocked account will be the duration of your exchange stay.
If you are a student on individual mobility for one year or more, you can choose a blocked account for 13 months, from September to September (12 months + 1 month to allow you to renew your residence permit). The immigration Office asks for at least 12months.
You may also choose a duration shorter than 12 or 13 months if this is in line with your residence permit requirements.

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

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 paid for the monthly instalments in one transfer.
If the monthly instalments have already started when you cancel your blocked account, the balance of the instalments will be paid to you in one transfer.
If, at the time of cancellation of your blocked account, you have already provided us with your IBAN in euros, the amount will be refunded to you to that account in euros. Otherwise, the amount will be refunded to the account from which the original transfer was made. Any exchange or transfer fees will be charged to you and will be deducted from the total amount to be refunded.
Administrative fees are not refundable.
If you wish to cancel your blocked account, please send us an e-mail with the reason for cancellation.
NB: if you cancel your blocked account, your solvency certificate will no longer be valid.

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.