Visas and residence permits
May 09, 2011
International students who wish to study or do an internship in Holland need to go through a number of Dutch immigration procedures.
Depending on your nationality and the period you want to stay, you might need:
- a short-stay visa (Visum Kort Verblijf, VKV) for a stay of up to three months; or
- a provisional residence permit (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf, MVV) and/or a residence permit (Verblijfsvergunning Regulier voor bepaalde tijd, VVR) for a stay longer than three months.
To obtain a short-stay visa, you must apply in person to the Netherlands Embassy or Consulate in your home country (or the country in which you legally reside).
The provisional residence permit (MVV) is a sticker placed in your passport at the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your home country (or in a third country where you are a legal resident) which allows you to enter the Netherlands. Once in the Netherlands you will need a residence permit for the same purpose as stated on your MVV. For example, if you have an MVV to study, you need a permit for the purpose of studying and not for the purpose of working.
A residence permit is a card which proves that you are residing legally in Holland. The permit will generally be issued for a period of one year but may be valid for a longer or shorter period of time, depending on the purpose of your stay.
So there are two factors that determine which procedures apply to you:
- your nationality
- the length of your stay
Depending on the purpose of your stay you might need a work permit as well as a short or long-term visa.
Go to http://www.nuffic.nl/international-students/how-to-prepare/visas-and-permits/student-visa-wizard for the Student Visa Wizard, which will help you find out which procedures apply to you on account of your nationality and the duration of your stay.
Application procedure for a provisional residence permit and/or residence permit
As a student it’s very difficult to apply for an MVV yourself. The Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your country or the country where you legally reside will direct you to your host institution, which can apply for an MVV on your behalf using a fast-track procedure. The fast-track procedure will save you, as a student, both time and trouble and it is a cheaper alternative. The administration fee for an MVV is € 433 if you apply for it yourself and € 250 if the Dutch host institution applies for it on your behalf.
Once you are in Holland, you should go to your institution as soon as possible in order apply for your residence permit through the institution. Students may not independently apply for residence permits with the purpose of studying. Your host institution is responsible for all correspondence with the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization -Service (IND). All foreign students also have to register with the local municipality.
The administration fee for a residence permit is currently € 188.