Students from mainland China
For your visa and/or residence permit application, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient financial means to support yourself during your stay in the Netherlands. Follow the instructions written below to ensure a smooth visa application process.
If you are from mainland China you will receive a separate invoice that includes the amount for living expenses. You will have to pay the tuition fees and proof of financial means in advance. Once you have a Dutch bank account, the financial means will be refunded at the start of your study program.
Full degree students
Once you have been – conditionally/unconditionally – accepted, you can begin your residence permit application in OSIRIS Online Application. You will need the following documents:
- A copy of your passport including pages with stamps and/or visas.
- Proof of tuition fee payment and financial means payment. Payment details are included in the invoice.
- Antecedents certificate
- TB declaration if applicable
Go to here for more information on these documents and requirements.
You must pay the €286 residence permit fee through OSIRIS. This fee is non-refundable and can be paid via VISA or Mastercard, debit or credit card. You can find more information in the payment portal.
The deadlines to submit your application and pay fees are June 15th – September start - and November 15th – February start.
Full-time Bachelor’s and Master’s applicants must ensure they meet the admissions requirements with the visa deadline of June 15th – September start – or November 15th – February start. If you do not meet these conditions before the visa deadline, we will be unable to forward you application to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
Once your application is complete, the university submits it to the IND for review. Once the university has received a confirmation from the IND that your visa application has been approved you will receive an email from us. This generally takes between two to five weeks.
Do not book your flight until you receive official confirmation that your residence permit has been approved and until you receive your MVV, entry visa.
Do not email us about the status of your IND decision: We do not have control over how long the visa process takes, nor can we provide updates beyond what is stated above. As soon as we receive the official confirmation, we will notify you immediately.
You will need an MVV, entry visa, to enter the Netherlands. You must schedule an appointment at the Dutch ambassy or consulate in your country.
When submitting your visa application, you must indicate at which Dutch embassy or consulate you will pick up your MVV. The embassy must be in your country of residence. If there is no Dutch embassy in your own country, you can book an appointment with an embassy in a neighboring or nearby country. Once the application has been submitted, the chosen embassy cannot be changed.
The process usually requires two visits:
- The first visit is for submitting biometric data such as your passport, signature and fingerprints. The IND uses this to create your residence permit card.
- The second visit is to collect the MVV visa sticker, which will be placed in your passport. This visa is valid for three months and allows you to travel to the Netherlands.
Once in the Netherlands, you will receive your VVR, Dutch student residence permit. This is a separate card and serves as your official residence permit, valid for the duration of your studies. You will receive detailed instructions via email after your visa application is approved.
Once you arrive, you will receive an email with instructions on the next steps:
- Registering with the municipality where you will live. Mandatory for maintaining your residence permit.
- Collecting your residence permit card from the IND once it is ready. You will receive an email from us when it is ready for pick-up.
- The refund process for your living expenses deposit. Will start up at the beginning of your program in February or September.
- Tuberculosis (TB) testing, if required based on your nationality.
Exchange students
Once you have been – conditionally/unconditionally – accepted, you can begin your residence permit application in OSIRIS Online Application. You will need the following documents:
- A copy of your passport including pages with stamps and/or visas.
- Proof of tuition fee payment and financial means payment* Payment details are included in the invoice.
- Antecedents certificate
- TB declaration if applicable
Go to here for more information on these documents and requirements.
You must pay the €286 residence permit fee through OSIRIS. This fee is non-refundable and can be paid via VISA or Mastercard, debit or credit card. You can find more information in the payment portal.
The deadlines to submit your application and pay fees are June 15th – September start - and November 15th – February start.
*Financial means payment
As an exchange student from mainland China, you are required to transfer the financial means for the official duration of your exchange period at Utrecht University in advance. For a five-month exchange, this would amount to 5 x €1225 = €6125. You can prove that you have sufficient financial means by transferring this amount.
The payment must be made via bank transfer. We must receive the exact amount required to meet the financial means requirement, so please cover any associated bank transfer costs.
The funds will be held 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 the amount.
Please ensure the payer covers any additional bank charges. The payment must be made before the deadline of June 15th – September start – or November 15h – February start. The payment reference must include the student's name, date of birth, and student number.
Bank details:
- Bank name: ABN AMRO, Amsterdam
- Bank Account Number: NL26ABNA0628400624
- Swift/BIC Code: ABNANL2A
- Bank Address: Gustav Mahlerlaan 10
P.O. Box 283
1082 PP AMSTERDAM
- In the Name of: Universiteit Utrecht
Postbus 80011
3508 TA Utrecht
The Netherlands
Once your application is complete, the university submits it to the IND for review. Once the university has received a confirmation from the IND that your visa application has been approved you will receive an email from us. This generally takes between two to five weeks.
Do not book your flight until you receive official confirmation that your residence permit has been approved and until you receive your MVV, entry visa.
Do not email us about the status of your IND decision: We do not have control over how long the visa process takes, nor can we provide updates beyond what is stated above. As soon as we receive the official confirmation, we will notify you immediately.
You will need an MVV, entry visa, to enter the Netherlands. You must schedule an appointment at the Dutch ambassy or consulate in your country.
When submitting your visa application, you must indicate at which Dutch embassy or consulate you will pick up your MVV. The embassy must be in your country of residence. If there is no Dutch embassy in your own country, you can book an appointment with an embassy in a neighboring or nearby country. Once the application has been submitted, the chosen embassy cannot be changed.
The process usually requires two visits:
- The first visit is for submitting biometric data such as your passport, signature and fingerprints. The IND uses this to create your residence permit card.
- The second visit is to collect the MVV visa sticker, which will be placed in your passport. This visa is valid for three months and allows you to travel to the Netherlands.
Once in the Netherlands, you will receive your VVR, Dutch student residence permit. This is a separate card and serves as your official residence permit, valid for the duration of your studies. You will receive detailed instructions via email after your visa application is approved.
Once you arrive, you will receive an email with instructions on the next steps:
- Registering with the municipality where you will live. Mandatory for maintaining your residence permit.
- Collecting your residence permit card from the IND once it is ready. You will receive an email from us when it is ready for pick-up.
- Tuberculosis (TB) testing, if required based on your nationality.
- The refund process for your living expenses deposit. Will start up at the beginning of your program in February or September.