Administration feesThe following handling fees (administration fees) are charged by the Immigration Service. For study purposes the following amounts apply: - € 188, when you came to the Netherlands with a provisional residence permit (MVV).
- € 433, when you didn’t need a provisional residence permit (MVV) to come to the Netherlands. Paying the fee does not automatically mean that your application will be granted! The fee must be paid even if your application is turned down.
- Extending a residence permit costs € 52 if you’re a student.
- Changing the purpose of your residence permit costs depending on the purpose between € 331 and € 830.
Applying for a residence permit (as non-EU/EEA or Swiss citizen)In order to apply for a residence permit, your host institution will (with your help) fill out an application form that you have to sign. The institution will send it to the IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service) in Rijswijk if you arrived with an MVV and to the IND in Den Bosch if you arrived without an MVV. To complete the application form you will be asked to supply a number of documents. Furthermore you need to register as inhabitant of the municipality where you are staying.
Documents required When you are applying for a residence permit, you will be required to present a number of documents. Depending on the fact whether or not you arrived with an MVV, you will need to supply more or less documents. - If applicable, your MVV for the same purpose as the residence permit you are applying for.
- A valid passport.
- A passport photo.
- A letter or other document from the Dutch host institution stating that you are or will be enrolled as a student
- Proof that you can support yourself financially.
- A declaration signed by you in which you state that you have a law-abiding past (this declaration is included in the application form for a residence permit.
- Proof that you did or will do a tuberculosis-check in the Netherlands (this is not applicable if you have one of the following nationalities: Australia, Canada, EU/EEA, Israeli, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, Surinam, Swiss, the United States and Vatican City.)
In case these documents have been provided in a MVV-procedure, you do not need to show them again. Proof that you are adequately covered by health insurance is not a condition to apply and receive a residence permit, but once you are in the possession of a residence permit you must make sure to get one. The IND might ask for proof any time after granting you a residence permit. Registering as inhabitant (GBA-inschrijving)If you are staying for more than four months in the Netherlands you will need to have yourself registered as new inhabitant of the town where you are living. For this registration you have to go to the local town hall. The civil servant who registers you as inhabitant will ask to see the following documents. - Valid passport.
- Evidence that you have a suitable place to live (your contract as tenant, for example).
- A certified true copy of a birth certificate indicating your name, date of birth and place of birth. For most countries, this should be legalized.
Proof that you can support yourself financiallyIn the same way as foreign citizens that need to apply for an MVV have to show that they have enough money to survive in the Netherlands, foreigners that apply for a residence permit must do the same. When applying for the residence permit, non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens will need to prove that they have enough money to live on while they are in the Netherlands.
Application form for residence permit There are two ways to get an application form for a residence permit: - Your university may provide you with the form ahead of time and help you to fill it in.
- You can find the form on the website of the Immigration Department:
Application form - if you arrived with an MVV
Application form - if you arrived without MVV
Extension of the residence permitResidence permits for the purpose of study are valid for a period of up to twelve months. If your programme of study will continue beyond the expiry date of your residence permit, you have to apply for an extension. Some schools will apply for the extensions on behalf of their students. At other institutions, students will have to send the applications themselves. Check with your school which procedure is used. If your school leaves it up to you, this page will give you some information on how to apply. Please note that if you are going to transfer to another school, or if you will no longer be a student, you cannot extend your residence permit. In those cases, an application for a change in the purpose of your stay is required.
Application procedureIt is always your own responsibility to make sure your residence permit is extended in time. About three months before the expiry date you will receive a letter from IND telling you how to extend your residence permit. A bilingual (Dutch and English) application form will be included. After you have filled out and signed the application form, you have to send it to IND. Do not forget to include all necessary attachments as explained in the letter. One of the documents you need to submit is a proof of enrolment for the next academic year. This document will be issued by your host institution. If you do not receive an extension package from IND or if you do not receive a response to your application, please contact IND (phone: 0900-123 45 61).
Change in the purpose of your stay Residence permits are issued for a particular purpose of stay. You will find a description of this purpose on the reverse side of your residence permit. For example, this might read: ‘Studie aan Universiteit Utrecht te Utrecht’ (‘Study at Utrecht University in Utrecht’). If, after the expiry date of your current permit, you will still be a student at Utrecht University, you must apply for an extension of your residence permit. However, if something changes in your purpose of stay, your residence permit will have to be changed accordingly.
What to do in the following situationsA few examples of situations that require an application for a change in the purpose of your stay are:
- You have finished your preparatory year programme and will start with your actual degree programme.
Example: you have taken a Dutch language course in order to be able to study a BA in Dutch history and you are going to start with the Dutch history course. In this case, the institution of the BA programme will submit the application for the change of purpose, but you have to sign the form.
- You will continue your studies at a different institution.
Example: you switch from an LL.M. in international law at University of Amsterdam to an LL.M. in international law at Leiden University. In this case, Leiden University will submit the application for the change of purpose, but you have to sign the form.
- You are going to start a research programme (beyond master’s level).
Example: you have finished a master’s programme and will now take up a research position for pursuing a doctorate. In this case, your institution will most likely submit the application for a change of purpose. Please contact the relevant (human resources) department at your institution.
- You have finished your studies and will start a job.
In this case, the application for a change of purpose may be submitted either by yourself (in person at the local IND desk) or by your employer. Please contact the human resources department for further information.
Note: having a part-time job alongside your studies does not result in a change in the purpose of your stay. For more information, please read the information on working while studying.
- You have finished your studies and would like to make use of the ‘search period’ for graduates.
In this case, you will have to submit the application for a change of purpose yourself, in person at the local IND desk. For more information, please read the information on working after your studies.
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