CD&V wants newcomer fee scrapped for foreign students
The fee new residents in Belgium must pay to cover administrative costs should be scrapped for students and staff teaching in Flanders’ institutions of higher education, according to the Christian-democrats
Fees going up
Since last year, foreigners from outside the EU coming to live in Belgium must pay a fee to cover the administrative costs of their visa applications. State secretary for migration Theo Francken (N-VA) announced last October that the fees would be raised. A regularisation application for illegal residents, for example, will soon cost €350 instead of €250.
International students from outside the EU also have to pay the fee, which will increase from the current €160 to €200. The universities of Leuven and Ghent have already protested against the tax.
According to CD&V member of the Flemish parliament Katrien Schyvers, students shouldn’t have to pay any fee at all as it hinders the internationalisation of higher education. “It’s important to motivate students to study in another country,” she said.
Education minister Hilde Crevits, also of CD&V, said that she would like to see the fee scrapped for all students, researchers and teaching staff. Francken, however, is not planning any changes. “There is no proof that the tax has an impact on the appeal of our educational institutions,” he said.
Photo: International students attending a guest lecture at KU Leuven in March 2016
© Rob Stevens/KU Leuven
