Blocked Account

 

 

LUCA School of Arts offers a blocked account service to help non-EEA students demonstrate proof of solvency as part of their visa application or residence permit procedure.

 

A blocked account is a financial arrangement through which you transfer your living expenses for the duration of your studies to LUCA in advance. LUCA then releases a monthly allowance to your personal bank account. This gives the Belgian authorities official proof that you have sufficient financial means for your stay.

Important: a blocked account covers living expenses only. You cannot use these funds to pay your tuition fees.

 

Who can use this service?

You can use LUCA's blocked account service if you are a non-EEA national and you are:

  • Starting or continuing a degree programme at LUCA School of Arts (first residence permit or renewal)
  • Coming as an exchange student for a semester or full academic year
  • Applying for a Search Year (orientation year, zoekjaar) after completing your studies at LUCA

The service can also cover accompanying family members (spouse and/or children) who travel with you to Belgium. The applicable amounts differ, see the overview below.

Proof of solvency: your options

The Belgian authorities require non-EEA students to prove they have sufficient financial means for stays longer than 90 days. There are three accepted ways to do this. For the official requirements, see the Belgian Immigration Office (IBZ).

  • A scholarship or loan certificate: official documentation from your funding body confirming you receive a scholarship or study loan that covers your living expenses
  • A financial certificate via the blocked account procedure: LUCA holds the funds on your behalf and releases a monthly allowance to your personal account; this page explains how that works
  • Annex 32 ('a commitment to a formal obligation'): a formal guarantee from a private person, accepted by the Belgian diplomatic or consular post, the Immigration Office, or your municipal administration

If you hold a scholarship that only partially covers your living expenses, you may use the blocked account procedure to cover the difference.

How does it work?

  1. Fill in the application form: Complete the Blocked Account application form. Do not transfer any money before you have received a confirmation from us.
  2. Wait for payment instructions: LUCA Student Accounting will confirm your application and send you the payment reference and bank details.
  3. Transfer the required amount: Transfer the total amount (monthly rate × number of months + € 100 handling fee) to the LUCA bank account, using your full name, academic year, degree programme, and campus location as your payment reference. For a Search Year, use: Full name + search year 12 months.
    Bank details LUCA School of Arts
    IBAN: BE31 4252 0317 2155
    BIC: KREDBEBB
    Bank: KBC Bank Brussels, Turn & Taxis, Opzichterstraat 1, 1080 Brussels, Belgium
    Address LUCA: Paleizenstraat 70, 1030 Brussels, Belgium
  4. Receive your Proof of Solvency: Once your payment has been received, LUCA Admissions will issue an official Proof of Solvency Certificate. You can submit this document to the Belgian Embassy, Consular Post, Visa Application Centre, or municipal administration when applying for your visa or renewing your residence permit.
  5. Provide your bank account number: Before the start of the academic year, share your Belgian or European bank account number with LUCA Student Accounting. From that point on, LUCA will transfer your monthly allowance to that account at the end of each month.

Costs (2026–2027)

The amounts below apply to all students, whether registering for the first time or extending their stay. They are set by agreement among Flemish universities of applied sciences and are slightly above the Immigration Office's minimum reference amounts.

Full academic year (12 months) or Search Year

  Monthly rate Total (12 months)
Student only € 1,100/month € 13,300 (incl. € 100 handling fee)
Student + family member € 2,450/month € 29,500 (incl. € 100 handling fee)

 

Semester stay (6 months — exchange students only)

  Monthly rate Total (6 months)
Student only € 1,100/month € 6,700 (incl. € 100 handling fee)

The € 100 handling fee is non-refundable, even if you withdraw from your studies after receiving your Proof of Solvency Certificate. The remainder of your blocked amount will be refunded if you withdraw.

Contact

 

For questions about the blocked account procedure, contact LUCA Student Accounting: studentenboekhouding@luca-arts.be