An international student who wants to stay and study in the Netherlands (Holland) for more than 3 months must apply for a Provisional Residence Permit. It is also known as Machtiging Voorlopig Verblijf or MVV Visa. It is only an entry visa into the Netherlands, and foreign students must register with the Netherlands government to obtain a residence permit or a D-Visa for their stay. An MVV visa can be obtained as a single-entry visa or a multiple-entry visa.
If a foreign student wants to undertake a short-term course that lasts no more than 3 months, he or she will need to obtain a short-stay visa, also known as a Schengen visa (VKV) or type C visa.
Eligibility criteria for the Netherlands student visa
To be eligible for the Netherlands Student Visa or MVV visa, you must fulfill the following conditions:
- You must have a valid passport
- Your passport must be valid for at least 18 months from the date of your visa application
- You must have a completed MVV visa application form
- You must provide a copy of the conditional offer letter or provisional acceptance letter issued by a recognized Dutch host institution stating that you are or will be enrolled as a student or that you are going to do an internship
- You must provide proof of your financial ability to support yourself during your entire period of study in the Netherlands and for your return transportation. The Dutch Ministry of Justice requires you to have at least EUR 22 (INR 56,405.08) per month to stay in the Netherlands. Bank statements and scholarship letters are accepted for this purpose.
- You must provide proof of having cleared the tuition fees for your course for at least one year
- You must provide a recent statement of your financial situation from your bank
- You must provide proof of having obtained travel insurance and valid annual health insurance
- You must be in good physical and mental health and free from any kind of contagious diseases
- You must not have a criminal record
- You must not have been refused entry into the Netherlands previously
- You intend to leave the Netherlands at the end of your authorized stay
* The conversion into Indian currency is based on current conversion rates, which may change
Steps to follow to apply for the Netherlands student visa
You have to apply at the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your country for the Netherlands student visa. Once you have received the official letter of acceptance for your intended course of study, you can check your eligibility for a Netherlands student visa and then proceed with the procedure outlined below. Remember that your MVV visa application will require some time to process. As such, it is advisable to apply at least 3 months before your intended arrival date in the Netherlands.
Note that your MVV visa can be obtained faster if your Dutch host University applies for it on your behalf. Also, keep in mind that you will have to apply for a residence permit within five days of your arrival in the Netherlands.
Step 1: Get the student visa application form
Your first step is to obtain the MVV Application Form. You can access the form online and download it.
Step 2: Fill out the student visa application form
Fill in the details required on the student visa application form carefully and sign it.
Step 3: Gather the required documents for the student visa application
For submission of a student visa application at a Dutch Embassy or Consulate, you must make a checklist of the documents that you need to submit along with your application form. Gather all the documents and keep them ready for submission.
Step 4: Provide a photograph for your student visa application
Provide five copies of your recent color photograph along with your student visa application. Make sure your photograph matches all the photo specifications required for a student visa application. In any case, your photograph must not be more than 6 months old.
Step 5: Check the student visa application fee
Check the fees required for processing your student visa application. Keep the fee ready for submission along with your visa application form.
Step 6: Schedule an appointment to submit the visa application form
Schedule an appointment at the Dutch Consulate to submit your student visa application form. You will have to submit your application form in person, along with all required documents.
Step 7: Submit your student application form
Submit your visa application form along with the required documents and application fees to the Dutch Consulate. You can either pay in cash or use a credit or debit card to pay the visa application fee. Generally, an interview is not compulsory. However, if an interview is required, you will be notified when you submit your application or by phone.
Step 8: Collect your student visa
You can collect your student visa directly from the Dutch Embassy, or have it delivered by courier.
Netherlands student visa exemption program
Citizens of European Union (EU) Member States do not require a student visa or residence permit to enter the Netherlands and stay for up to 90 days. However, such visitors will have to register with a local governing body, i.e., a council, and obtain their personal public service number (BSN).
The citizens of the following countries do not require a student visa or residence permit to stay and study in the Netherlands for a period of more than 90 days:
| Australia | Austria | Belgium |
| Bulgaria | Canada | Cyprus |
| Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia |
| Finland | France | Germany |
| Greece | Hungary | Iceland |
| Ireland | Italy | Japan |
| Latvia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | Malta | Monaco |
| New Zealand | Norway | Poland |
| Portugal | Romania | Slovenia |
| Slovakia | South Korea | Spain |
| Sweden | Switzerland | United Kingdom |
| United States |
Dos and Don’ts for the Netherlands student visa
You must remember the following dos and don’ts while applying for Netherlands student visa
Dos
- Apply for the Netherlands student visa as soon as you get the confirmation letter from your Dutch host University
- Fill up your application form carefully with all accurate details
- Bring original copies and photocopies of all supporting documents when you come to submit your visa application form at the Dutch Embassy or Consulate
Don’ts
- Do not present false documents for your student visa
- Do not hide or misrepresent facts in your application
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