Arrange your resident permit
Visa / residence permit (for a study longer than 3 months)
If you are enrolled in a course lasting longer than 3 months (such as a master course) you have to apply for a residence permit in order to stay in The Netherlands legally. But before you can enter the country you must obtain the so-called "authorization for a temporary stay" (Machtiging Voorlopig Verblijf, MVV) before you come to The Netherlands. This authorization is given as a visa stamp in your passport. You need this authorization if you do not have the nationality of one of the countries of the EU, or of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the United States of America. For people from some African countries: if you are travelling through the U.K., you may need a transit visa. Please make sure you are well informed about that before you leave your country. They may send you back when you reach the U.K. if you do not have a transit visa. You will also need a transit visa upon return.
Visa Information for Master Programme Students
Before you come to the Netherlands, you must obtain a so-called "authorization for a temporary stay" (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf, MVV). This is a visa stamp in your passport, authorized by the Dutch representative in your country. It is valid for 180 days and is a multiple-entry visa.
IHS will start up this visa procedure for you.
You need this authorization if you do not have the nationality of one of the countries of the EU (Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, U.K., Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Germany, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Malta, Cyprus, Slovenia) or of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Australia, Canada, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and the United States of America.
Once in the Netherlands, we will assist you in applying for a residence permit. The procedure for the residence permit may take up to 3 months. However, since your MVV (D-visa) is valid for 180 days, you are allowed to travel through the Schengen area during this period, and re-enter the Netherlands.
The Schengen countries are: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Czech Republic, Iceland, Sweden, Switzerland.
For Students from China
Students from China must register to Neso Beijing for a "Neso Certificate" before their visa applications can be filed. In order to register for a "Neso Certificate", you will have to take the IELTS Test (Academic Version) and send the IELTS Report Form to Neso Beijing with the Neso Certificate Registration Form and copies of your diplomas and degrees. We would like to inform Chinese students to start this procedure at least 4 months before the start of the Master Programme. Please contact the Neso Beijing office for more information. Their website is: www.nesochina.org
