Foreigners who are accepted for study programme in the Netherlands should apply for a visa which allowes them to stay in the country during studies.

There are 3 visa types:

• VKV is a short-stay or Schengen visa for up to 3 months period, which should be required before arrival to the Netherlands by the Dutch embassy;
• Entry visa — MVV, a temporary permission for stay when the duration is longer than 3 months; this visa should be required before departure to Holland at the Dutch embassy;
• A residence permit VVR, that is issued at the Alien Registration Office in the Netherlands after one's entry.

Authorization for temporary stay or entry visa (MVV)

Nationals of non - EU countries  who wish to come to the Netherlands for a stay of more than three months need an authorization for temporary stay MVV (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf). This rule is applied almost to all students except citizens of European Union, Switzerland, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Vatican City, Monaco or South Korea. It is obligated to have this visa before arrival to the Netherlands.

How to apply for an MVV visa?

Usually application for visa takes nearly 3 to 6 months to be processed and a visa to be issued. Important to know that Dutch universities expedite this process for a candidate by making an application on his behalf within a short form procedure.  When a candidate gets an official letter of admission, the host university requires to prepare and send all documents needed for application for a visa. 

The list of documents required for visa application is mentioned on the letters send by university to candidates. Usually the following documents are needed:

• a copy of the first page of the valid passport;
• proof that you can support yourself financially;
• photo's:
• proof of tuition fees and visa application payments.

For Chinese students a NESO certificate may be necessary.

After approximately 3 - 5 weeks the candidate gets a letter from the host university, that MVV visa can be collected only at the Dutch embassy or consulate in home country or the country where an applicant legally resides. The visa looks a sticker which is placed in the passport at the embassy.

Administration fees for an authorization for temporary stay

In case the host university applies for an authorization for temporary stay through a short procedure, the visa processing fee is € 300.

Validity of MVV visa

The MVV visa is valid for 6 months starting from the date of issue. This visa remains valid for a single entry into the Netherlands during this period based on the MVV visa.

However, the D+C Visa is an exception. It is a special kind of MVV that permits travel in and out of the Netherlands during the first 90 days after the visa issue date. It also permits you to travel through the Schengen states during this time period. If you wish to travel outside the Netherlands during the first three months of stay there, you should ask for a D+C Visa in place of the normal MVV. You can request for this at the Dutch embassy or consulate when you go there to collect your MVV.

Proof that you can support yourself financially

You will need to prove that you will have enough money to live on while you are in the Netherlands. The monthly amount considered adequate depends on your status.

What are the valid proofs to indicate financial self-sufficiency? These proofs can be in the form of any of the following reference documents:

• Offer letter from the host Dutch institute mentioning your internship fee or trainee stipend

• Admission letter from the Dutch university providing details of your student grant, tuition waiver or scholarship

• Your bank account statement with a Dutch bank or reputed international bank, indicating enough funds to pay for your proposed expenses in the Netherlands. As an illustrative example, your account should have at least € 9.600,00. If your stay is being sponsored by your parents, then a written statement of your sponsor that indicates the amount of the sponsorship, its duration and proof of finance of your sponsor is required. Again your sponsor’s bank statement should have at least € 9.600,00.

Please note that the bank statement must be on the original official bank letter head. Your full name, address and telephone number of the bank, date of birth and bank account number, all must be clearly mentioned.