Frequently asked questions

You do not have to contact Utrecht University or the IND to pick up your residence permit, or to check on its status. Utrecht University will inform you when you can pick up your residence permit. You will receive this information during the first month of your study program (February or September).

No, we cannot speed up the process. You can make sure to submit your residence permit application as soon as possible and pay the tuition fee. If you are a student from mainland China you can find more information here on the living expenses! 

You can contact studentservices@uu.nl to learn more about what might be going on in your situation. Please note that we can only start up your residence permit application process after you have been (un)conditionally accepted and you have accepted your offer.

The application fee is €286. On top of that, you need to pay the tuition fee and show that you have sufficient financial means for a full year (the equivalent of 12*1225 = 14700 euros).

You can find the required documents here!

Your residence permit is valid for the duration of your studies. After you graduate, the IND will give you three months after the graduation date or until the expiry date on your card, whichever comes first. More information can be found here . If you hold a residence permit for study and stop your enrolment without graduating, your residence permit becomes void as of the date of enrolment termination. You will have to leave the country within 28 days (about 4 weeks).

The IND needs to register your fingerprints, photo and signature for your residence permit card. For students requiring an entry visa (MVV) to enter the Netherlands this takes place at the Dutch embassy/consulate in the country where the visa will be issued. For students requiring a student residence permit (VVR) only, this takes place after arrival in the Netherlands. If you need to register your biometric data after arrival in the Netherlands, you will receive an e-mail about this with more information on how and where to make an appointment.

If the country of your nationality is not on the list of exemptions, the IND requires you to complete a ‘Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test’. You will need to fill out the following form: Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test from Immigration and Naturalisation Service appendix. By completing and signing this form, you declare that you are prepared to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test and – if necessary – treatment after your arrival in the Netherlands.

As soon as you notice the theft or loss make sure to report it at the nearest police station. You then need to contact the Dutch Immigration Authorities (IND) directly to request a replacement residence permit card. For more information, please check the IND website.

We cannot arrange a visa/residence permit for your spouse/family member for you. You need to do this yourself. More information about the application procedure and the requirements can be found on the IND website.

It is a mandatory requirement for keeping your residence permit, that you are registered at the municipality you live in. You can find more information about how to register at the municipality here, drop down City registration.

You can only collect your student entry visa outside your home country in the following two situations:

• You have legal residency in the country where you want to collect your entry visa. Legal residency means you are a national of or have a residence permit for that country. A tourist visa, or short-stay visa is not sufficient.
• There is no Dutch embassy or consulate in your home country. In this case, you may collect your visa from the Dutch embassy/consulate that officially serves your country, which will generally be in a neighboring country. Visit the Netherlands and you website for information on the location of the Dutch embassy that officially serves your country.

If you are in doubt whether either choice applies to you, please send an e-mail to visa@uu.nl.

Only if your application has not been sent to the IND yet. If you want to know what is possible in your situation, please contact visa@uu.nl . You can only change location in your own country unless you have a residence permit for another country.

The embassy will inform you when you can collect your passport with the MVV entry visa. On average, it takes about 5 working days after your first visit, before your passport is ready for pickup. However, it may take longer or shorter, depending on the embassy in question.

Yes. After you have received a positive decision from the IND, you have 3 months to collect your MVV.

After collecting the MVV it will be valid for another 3 months (90 days). You must enter the Netherlands within this period.

When you come to the Netherlands with an MVV entry visa, it will take a few weeks before you receive your residence permit. If your MVV entry visa states "multiple entry Schengen visa", this means that, while your entry visa is valid, you are allowed to travel freely in and out of the Netherlands and through all the Schengen countries. You are also allowed to leave the Schengen area and return within the period your MVV entry visa is valid.

Someone sponsors your stay in the Netherlands, for example your parents. To prove that you have a sponsor with sufficient financial means to fund your stay in the Netherlands, you must provide:

• A recent bank statement (at most two months old) for an account in your sponsor’s name.
  OR, if you cannot provide a bank statement, a recent declaration from your sponsor’s bank that is signed and certified with a stamp of the bank.
• A scan of your sponsor’s passport or ID card. In the case of a joint account, both account holders must sign the Financial Statement sponsor form.
• A the Financial Statement Sponsor form, filled out and signed by your sponsor(s).

The bank statement must have the following information:

• Name and address of the bank
• Currency
• Name of the account holder(s). If you have a joint account, you need to submit written approval from the second account holder that you can dispose of the amount specified.
• Balance
• Full account number
• Account type
• Date

In addition, the documents must:

• Be less than two months old. If you have already paid your tuition fee, the bank document(s) issue date must be AFTER the payment date.
• Hold no sign that there is a hold on the funds (e.g. no term/time deposits or share/stock portfolio).
• Show a balance sufficient for the entire period of your stay, or at least the first year.
• Be issued in English, French, Dutch or German. If not, the document(s) must be translated by a certified translator (translations made by a lawyer or notary are not accepted).

Only for students from mainland China. 

 The payment can only be made by bank transfer (details are mentioned on the invoice). We must receive the exact amount needed to prove your financial means. This means you must cover any costs associated with the transfer. The money will be kept in your name until you arrive in the Netherlands. Once you have arrived, you will need to open a Dutch bank account so we can refund your financial means. Go here for students from mainland China!

Only for students from mainland China. 

The money will be kept in your name until you arrive in the Netherlands. Once you have arrived, you will need to open a Dutch bank account so we can refund your financial means. You will receive more information about the exact procedure by e-mail at the start of your study program. Go here for students from mainland China!

It’s recommended to have your passport (with MVV sticker if you need an entry visa) and (digital) letter of admission ready.

When moving within Utrecht, you need to report your new address within 5 days at the municipality. You can find the procedure on the municipality’s website If you will be moving to another place than Utrecht, you should contact the municipality you will be moving to (so not the one you are moving away from) for information about arranging the change of your Dutch address.

Go here for more information on extension. Drop down Extension. 

You can find more information about working during your studies here! Drop down Working and/or internships.

You can stay outside the Netherlands for a maximum of six months, if this is for other purposes than study. But to keep your residence permit, you must remain registered in your studies and at the municipality. If you do not follow these requirements, we must deregister you with the IND and you will need a new residence permit – depending on your nationality you also need a new entry visa – when you return.For more information on studying outside of the Netherlands as part of your program go here! Drop down Requirements study residence permit – Your main residency must be in the Netherlands. 

Go here for more information on the search year! Drop down Application search year residence permit.