Blocked accounts at ULB

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We will review your requests upon our return.
We wish you a wonderful holiday season! ✨

Explanation video

What is the purpose of blocked account?

Non-EU students who wish to obtain a student visa or renew their residence permit for studies (or job search year) in Belgium must demonstrate that they have sufficient financial means.

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.
 

	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.

⚠️ The cost of living in Brussels may be higher than this minimum amount. You can check online to estimate the amount you will need.

The blocked account is not used to pay your registration fees. It is used solely as “proof of funds.”

How to apply for a blocked account?

• With your letter of admission/enrollment at ULB or your entrance exam results, fill out the online form via our dedicated platform.
  Once the form has been submitted, ULB will process your request as quickly as possible and send you a "Blocked Account Agreement" to sign.
• After signing this document, transfer your funds (amount and bank details indicated on your Blocked Account Agreement).
  Then upload your documents to the follow-up form.
• To start your monthly payments, open a personal SEPA bank account in euros and provide your IBAN via the last form.
  ⚠️ Please note the deadlines detailed in the “monthly payments” section. No exceptions will be made. 

Processing time

The account blocking process can take anywhere from a few days to three weeks (depending on how quickly you send your forms and funds).
ℹ️ We do not issue certificates until we have received your documents on our platform and your funds in our bank account (proof of payment is not sufficient).
ℹ️ Is your visa/residence permit appointment approaching but we have not yet received your funds in our bank account?
Don't worry, we can send your certificate of solvency to your embassy/local authority by email at a later date if necessary. Make sure you have your contract and proof of payment with you for your appointment. 

Monthly payments

General information about deadlines :

Remember to open a Belgian bank account (or a SEPA euro IBAN) as soon as you arrive, otherwise your monthly payments cannot be made. 
Opening a Belgian bank account can take 2 to 3 months, as you must first obtain your national number, which is issued 1 to 2 months after your arrival (after you register with the local authorities). 
ℹ️ Make sure you have enough resources to cover your first few weeks/months in Belgium.
ℹ️ Opening an account with a neo-bank (Revolut, Wise, N26, etc.) is quicker as a national number is not required.
ℹ️ If you do not yet have a bank account at the start of the contract, the late monthly payments will be sent at the same time as the monthly payment for the month in which your bank account was added.

Cancellation

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.

Management fees are non-refundable under any circumstances.
To cancel your blocked account, please contact us by email.

Here is the link to our platform.

 

You will find :
Links to the application form, information about your blocked account, and your documents.
At each stage of the process, you will find new links to complete your file.

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.

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

Can I use a relative's bank account to receive my monthly payments?

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.

If you have any questions, please contact us:

blocked.account@ulb.be

Be sure to always read this information page first, as the answer to your question may be found there.

Meetings by appointment only.