Visa Regulations
Dutch immigration procedures for international students
The Dutch Immigration procedure for study purposes
Foreign students who wish to study or do an internship in the
To enter the Netherlands for study purposes, people from most countries need a visa. This is stamped into your passport at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your own country, but it must be applied for well in advance.
Authorization for temporary stay (in Dutch: Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf, or MVV)
If you will be staying for longer than three months, you might need an ‘authorization for temporary stay’. This requirement does not apply to citizens of EU/EEA member states, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Switzerland or Monaco. The regular application procedure for an MVV may take two to six months. Within three days of arriving in the Netherlands, all foreign nationals must register with the local authorities.
You will be required to pay 433 euro at the embassy as Visa-fee. Please be advised that the embassy will check all the papers you had to send in for legality, authenticity and credibility!
Residence permit (in Dutch: Verblijfsvergunning)
Those intending to stay for longer than three months also need to obtain a residence permit. You may need this even if you did not require a visa to enter the country. The administration fee is rather high and currently stands at € 188.
Related issues
Legalization and verification of documents
The Dutch authorities are unfortunately often confronted with falsified documents. As a consequence of this, they have become very strict in demanding certification that the document is genuine and says what you claim it says.
Legalization
As a rule, the signature or seal placed on a birth certificate, marriage certificate of certificate of not being married must be checked by two relevant authorities and declared to be genuine. This is known as 'legalization'.
The two relevant authorities are:
1. The body to which the body that issued the certificate is accountable. Usually this will be the ministry of foreign affairs in the country where the certificate was issued;
2. The Dutch embassy or diplomatic representative in the country where the certificate was issued.
Translation
If one of your certificates is not written in Dutch, English, French or German, a translation into one of the above mentioned languages is needed; the translation needs to be done by a sworn translator.
Explanation regarding the required documents to prove financial sustainability during study in the
A visa will only be issued if all the conditions have been met. One of those conditions is that the student needs to prove that the study in the Netherlands can be financed.
How much money does a student need?
Student studying in the Netherlands need € 740.38 net per month (this amount is adjusted twice a year and are derived from the “Law on Study Financing”). The student needs this amount for every month he will stay in the Netherlands.
So for the first year of study a student needs 12 x 740.38 euro = 8,884.56 euro
How can the student prove this?
1. The student has enough funds in his own bank account
This can be either a Dutch bank account or a foreign bank account. The account must be in the name, or as well in the name of the student.
Documents to be submitted:
· A copy of a recent bank statement, showing the amount in the account; OR
· A recent declaration from the Bank stating the amount currently in the account.
In both cases the name of the student, the account number and the available funds need to be clearly stated on the statements. The declaration from the Bank can leave no doubt as to the authenticity of the Bank. This means that at least the name of the Bank, the address and telephone number needs to be clearly on the declaration. There can also be no doubt as to whether the amount really is available to the student.
2. The student is being supported by a non-Dutch person.
In this case the foreign national needs to submit a written statement stating how much money he will provide the student with on a monthly basis and for what period this statement is valid. Next to that the foreign national needs to produce a bank statement from which his financial status is clear. To reduce doubt with the immigration authorities it is advisable to produce a statement from the bank of the foreign national in which clearly is stated that a monthly amount is to be transferred to the student, or that the total amount for one year will be transferred.
3. The student is being supported by a Dutch person.
· A Dutch national can declare that he/she will support the student financially. In that case the Dutch national needs to prove that he can sustain both himself and his Dutch dependants AND the student.
Please in this case let the Dutch person get in touch with the FE-group so we can explain what is needed.
Please note!
· The enclosed copies need to be legible and clear;
· The enclosed documents need to be recent, they need to be no older than two months at the moment the visa application is submitted;
· When the enclosed documents are in an other language than Dutch, English or French a official translation needs to be submitted as well (from a sworn translator);
· A possible job in the Netherlands can NOT be submitted as a source of income for the student!
Disclaimer
The information contained in this document was accurate at the time it was printed. In case of doubt please consult us or consult the immigration authorities in The Netherlands.
