Change in the purpose of your stay
25 Aug 2010
Residence permits are issued for a particular purpose of stay. You will find a description of this purpose on the reverse side of your residence permit. For example, this might read: ‘Studie aan Universiteit Utrecht te Utrecht’ (‘Study at Utrecht University in Utrecht’).
If you will still be a student at Utrecht University when your current permit expires, you must apply for an extension of your residence permit. However, if your purpose of stay changes, your residence permit will have to be changed accordingly.
What to do in the following situations?
Below are a few examples of situations that require an application for a change in the purpose of your stay:
- You have finished your prepatory year programme and will start with your actual degree programme.
Example: you have taken a Dutch language course in order to be able to study a BA in Dutch history and you are going to start with the Dutch history course. In this case, the institution of the BA programme will submit the application for the change of purpose, but you have to sign the form.
- You will continue your studies at a different institution.
Example: you switch from an LL.M. in international law at the University of Amsterdam to an LL.M. in international law at Leiden University. In this case, Leiden University will submit the application for the change of purpose, but you have to sign the form.
- You are going to start a research programme (beyond master’s level).
Example: you have finished a master’s programme and will now take up a research position to pursue a doctorate. In this case, your institution will most likely submit the application for a change of purpose. Please contact the human resources department of your institution.
- You have finished your studies and will start a job.
In this case, the application for a change of purpose may be submitted either by you (in person at the local IND desk) or by your employer. Please contact the human resources department for further information.
Note: having a part-time job alongside your studies does not result in a change in the purpose of your stay. For more information, please read the information on working while studying - You have finished your studies and would like to make use of the ‘search period’ for graduates.
In this case, you will have to submit the application for a change of purpose in person at the local IND desk. For more information, please read the information on working after your studies.