Entry visas
25 Mar 2010
To enter the Netherlands for study purposes, nationals from most countries need a visa. Once in the Netherlands, a residence permit is often required. In some cases a work permit is also required. Here you can find out which requirements apply to you and how you go about arranging things.
An entry visa is a sticker placed in your passport at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your own country (or the country in which you legally reside), but it must be applied for well in advance.
Short or long stay
For a stay of up to three months, you might need a short stay visa (Visum Kort Verblijf), depending on your nationality. If you will be staying for longer than three months, you might need a provisional residence permit (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf, or MVV). These requirements do not apply to citizens of the EU/EEA and Switzerland, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Vatican City, Monaco or South Korea.
Student visa wizard
We advise you to fill in the student visa wizard first before reading on. This way, you can find out which procedures apply to you on account of your nationality and the duration of your stay.