Student residence permit in the Netherlands

Residence permit (VVR) in the Netherlands for non-EU students

If you intend to stay in the Netherlands for less than 3 months

You may have to apply for a Schengen Visa (if you intend to stay up to 90 days) or a visa type D (if you wish to stay more than 90 days but less than 180 days) at your local Dutch embassy or consulate.

Students form certain countries do not require a visa to enter the Netherlands.

[List of countries whose citizens don't require a visa to enter Europe].

If you intend to stay in the Netherlands for more than 3 months

Students who don't require a visa (MVV) to enter the Netherlands

Students from the countries as listed below don't require a visa to enter the Netherlands when intending to stay for a period of time longer than 3 months:

Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, United States of America, Vatican City.

Your higher education institution in the Netherlands will act as your sponsor and will submit your application on your behalf. Even though you may submit your application for student a residence permit when you arrive in the Netherlands, it is advisable to do it when you are still abroad. Your institution will then contact the IND (the Immigration and Naturalization Service of the Netherlands), which will assess your application.

If your permit for study purposes in the Netherlands is granted, you and your sponsor will receive a confirmation letter. You may collect your residence permit at your local Dutch embassy or consulate within 3 months from the date stamped on the confirmation letter. If you decide to collect your student residence permit in the Netherlands, you will have to do so within 2 weeks of your arrival. If you don't collect your permit within that period of time, you will need to apply again.

Students how require a visa to enter the Netherlands

Non-EU students and students from the countries not listed above must apply for an entry visa (MVV) and a residence permit (VVR) at the same time before arriving in the Netherlands. Your higher education institution in the Netherlands will act as your sponsor and will submit your application for a student residence permit on your behalf. Therefore, it is recommended you contact your institution and they will inform you about what documents you will need to enclose along with your application.

The cost of the application for a student residence permit in the Netherlands is 307 EUR and the processing time is up to 3 months.

In order for your student residence permit in the Netherlands to be granted, you will need to prove you have, at least, 854.13 EUR per month for studies at a higher education institution.

Source: Netherlands Immigration and Naturalization Service, IND, De Rijksoverheid. Voor Nederland.

Residence permit (VVR) in the Netherlands for EU students

EU students who have sufficient means to support themselves financially during their studies do not need to apply for a student residence permit in the Netherlands.

For stays less than 4 months

You do not need to either apply for a residence permit or register at the municipality where you will be residing.

For stays over 4 months

If you are an EU student and you plan to study in the Netherlands for a period of time longer than 4 months, you are required to register at the Municipal Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie personen, BRP) from the civil registry of the municipality where you will be residing. Once registered, you will be automatically issued a Citizen Service Number (Burgerservicenummer, BSN), which you may use for various purposes, such as when opening a bank account, approaching the Tax Agency if you are offered a job or accessing the health care system.

When registering, you will be asked to provide a proof of your identity, such as your passport.

For further information, please contact the civil registry of your city to learn whether you need to submit additional documents, or visit www.burgerservicenummer.nl.

Source: Netherlands Immigration and Naturalization Service, IND, De Rijksoverheid. Voor Nederland.