Assimilation criteria

Assimilation is the process by which a student from a non-EU country can be considered as a European student for the tuitions fees if he meets one of the assimilation criteria.

At the beginning of the online application form, you will be asked a series of questions that will determine whether you meet these requirements and are entitled to the same conditions as EU students. If so, you will be required to provide supporting documents.

We may contact you (by e-mail at your ULB address) during the academic year in order to verify that you meet the assimilation criteria, in particular if you are reorienting your studies. Should you not provide an adequate response to our request, we will have to change your status to that of a ‘non-assimilated student’, which will result in you paying higher tuition fees.

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Assimilation must be proven by the 31st of October of the concerned academic year.

List of the assimilation criteria

The assimilation is possible if the student or a parent of the student (father/mother/legal guardian, legal cohabitant or spouse) meets one of the criteria below.
 
Benefit from a long-term residence permit in Belgium

A copy of both sides of the identity card proving the long-term residence in Belgium of the person concerned* (B, C, D, F, F+, K, L, M, S, P card)

To note: the one-year renewable A card is not a long-term residence permit

Benefit from a refugee status or be a refugee candidate, stateless person or temporary subsidiary protection

Refugee: A copy of both sides of the B-card of the person concerned*

Stateless person: Official document from the municipality or the Foreigners' Office proving the stateless status of the person concerned*

Subsidiary or temporary protection: Certificate of registration in the register of foreigners for a limited period of one year, renewable (A or B card) + Decision of the Foreigner's Office attesting to the subsidiary or temporary protection of the person concerned*

Refugee candidate: A copy of the order to leave the territory (Annex 26bis) OR Document attesting that the asylum application has not been fefinitively rejected (Annex 26) of the person concerned* + lawyer's letter dated the month of registration stating that the appeal is still open

Be authorised to reside in Belgium for more than three months and exercise a real and effective professional activity or receive replacement income

A copy of both sides of the residence permit of more than 3 months (A card or registration certificate (orange card)) of the person concerned* +

Professional activity: recent employment certificate mentioning the salary OR employment contract + pay slips (the minimum amount of wich correspons or has corresponded over 6 of the 12 months preceding registration to half of the minimum guaranteed average monthly remuneration set by the "Conseil national du Travail") of the person concerned*

Replacement income: certificate of replacement income (CPAS, unemployment, muual insurance company, pension) of the person concerned*, dated the month of registration

Reside in a home from the CPAS

A copy of both sides of the residence permit of more than 3 months (card A or registration certificate (orange card)) of the person concerned* + certificate of placement in a home from the CPAS, dated the month of registration

Father/mother/legal guardian or spouse/legal cohabitant of EU Member State nationality

A copy of the national identity card of the person concerned*

Scholarship student

Certificate of proof of scholarship

Student authorised to stay in Belgium for more than three months on the basis of long-term resident status acquired in another EU Member State

A copy of both sides of the residence permit of more than 3 months (card A or registration certificate (orange card)) + document attesting the long term resident status obtained in another European Union Member State

  

In order to prove the family relationship with the person concerned by the assimilation criterion, please also provide the following documents:

*Father or Mother

A household composition if living at the same place as the student OR a birth certificate

*Legal guardian

A guardianship act transcribed in Belgian law (please do not confuse legal guardian with financial guardian)

*Spouse

A household composition if living at the same place as the student OR a marriage certificate  
- if European marriage: a European marriage certificate
- if non-European marriage: a marriage certificate legalised by a Belgian embassy or consulate
   

*Legal cohabitant

A legal cohabitation certificate


 
Updated on February 22, 2023