Do years spent studying in Belgium count toward long-term resident status?

Not all residence periods are treated equally. According to the Immigration Office, time spent in Belgium for study or vocational training is counted at half its actual length when calculating the five years for long-term resident status.

Similarly, certain temporary-only authorisations and stays under diplomatic or consular conventions do not count at all. If much of your time in Belgium was as a student, you may need more calendar years before you reach the equivalent of five qualifying years, so it helps to map your residence history carefully.