Changes in 2026 to the student self-employed status.

Details

• Source: https://news.belgium.be/nl/wijzigingen-betreffende-het-statuut-van-student-zelfstandige
• Decision: draft approved by the Council of Ministers on 3 April 2026; final Royal Decree of 5 June 2026, published in the Belgian Official Gazette (Belgisch Staatsblad) of 26 June 2026 (numac 2026201293)
• Status: in force since 1 October 2026

What changes? (summary of the source)

1. Declaration on honour abolished at the start of the academic year; study-load condition is checked afterwards based on transcripts.
2. Alternative proof abolished for the “regular attendance” condition in case of supervision of an entrepreneurship project.
3. Keep the status in the graduation quarter even if the study-load condition is not met for the full quarter.
4. Thesis/final paper: even with fewer than 27 credits (or 17 class hours), the status can be kept for up to one year while preparing a final thesis.
5. Age limit 25 abolished (applies from 1 October 2026). In practice, two conditions apply: you must already have the status in the third quarter of the year in which you turn 25, and you must keep meeting all conditions without interruption. You then keep the status until the end of your studies. You cannot apply for the status for the first time after that third quarter, and if you fail to meet the conditions once after turning 25, you lose it for good. See Changes to student self-employed status from 1 October 2026.

Status

After the advice of the Council of State, the Royal Decree of 5 June 2026 was published in the Belgian Official Gazette of 26 June 2026. The changes have applied since 1 October 2026. For how the RSVZ applies them (based on the final text and the RSVZ/KCC note), see Changes to student self-employed status from 1 October 2026; this article summarises the April press release.

Legal reference

Royal Decree of 5 June 2026 (Belgian Official Gazette 26 June 2026) amending article 5bis of the Royal Decree of 19 December 1967 (general regulation implementing Royal Decree no. 38 of 27 July 1967 on the social status of the self-employed).