Student residence permit secondary or vocational education
Requirements
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
- You have proof of a certificate of registration or temporary proof of a certificate of registration as a pupil at a secondary school or as a vocational education (MBO) student.
- The Netherlands is the most appropriate country for your education. This means that you cannot have the same education in your country of origin. Or in the country where you are allowed to reside for more than 3 months (continuous residence).
- You meet at least 2 of these requirements:
- You come from Surinam, Indonesia or South Africa and you have the nationality of one of these countries.
- You have family ties with persons who live in the Netherlands and have a residence permit or have the Dutch nationality.
- You can speak and write in Dutch.
- With your education, you will be able to work for the development of your country. Your educational institution knows more about this.
- Your educational institution is a sponsor recognised by the IND.
- You will follow fulltime education.
- You meet the income requirements.
Process and costs
These are the steps in the application process for the student residence permit:
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1. Check requirements open minusA valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application
Make sure you meet the requirements.
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1. Check requirements open minusMake sure you meet the requirements.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe educational institution has a list of documents you need. Collect all documents before your educational institution submits the application.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe educational institution has a list of documents you need. Collect all documents before your educational institution submits the application.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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3. Apply open minusYour educational institution submits the application and applies for your MVV and student residence permit at the same time.
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3. Apply open minusYour educational institution submits the application for your student residence permit.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 243,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs.
The costs are paid through the educational institution.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 243,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs.
The costs are paid through the educational institution.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 60 days. This is called the decision period.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, your educational institution will be notified.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 60 days. This is called the decision period.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, your educational institution will be notified.
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6. Decision on application open minusYour educational institution will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get an MVV and a student residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not get an MVV or student residence permit. You can object against this decision.
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6. Decision on application open minusYour educational institution will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get a student residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not get a student residence permit. You can object against this decision.
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7. Make appointment for MVV visa sticker and travel to the Netherlands open minusYour can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV.
Make appointment within 3 months of decision
You will have to make an appointment at the Dutch representation. This is the embassy or consulate that you filled in on the application form. You have to make the appointment within 3 months after the IND has taken a decision on your application.
Biometrics
You must provide biometric data during the appointment at the Dutch representation. You will put a signature and the Dutch representation will take fingerprints. You also needs to bring 1 new passport photo. Go to netherlandsworldwide.nl for information on requirements for ID photos.
Valid passport required
Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months when the Dutch representation places the MVV visa sticker in the passport. The MVV is valid for 90 days.
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7. Collect residence permit open minusWhen your student residence permit is ready at the IND desk, your educational institution will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect your residence document.
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8. Collect residence permit open minusWhen your student residence permit is ready at the IND desk, your educational institution will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect your residence document.
Application forms
Your educational institution submits the application for you and uses one of these application forms:
Written application forms
Written application forms
The residence permit
Find out what else you need to know about the student residence permit:
TB test
Did the educational institution indicate at the time of the application that you will take a TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment with the public health service (in Dutch: Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD. Do this within 3 months after you have received the residence permit. Take with you to the appointment:
Working with the residence permit
On the back of your residence permit, it says´Work permit required for additional work, other work as an employee not permitted´ (in Dutch: Tewerkstellingsvergunning (TWV) vereist voor arbeid van bijkomende aard, andere arbeid in loondienst niet toegestaan).
Working as an employee
You may work as an employee if your employer has a work permit (TWV) for you. If you want to work, then you must choose: up to 16 hours a week; or fulltime during the months of June, July and August.
The Netherlands Labour Authority (in Dutch: Nederlandse Arbeidsinspectie) checks whether your employer has a TWV, and whether you are not working more than is allowed. Are you working more than is allowed or without a TWV? Then the Netherlands Labour Authority will report this to the IND and give your employer a fine. The IND will contact your educational institution.
Working as a self-employed person
As long as you still meet the requirements for the residence permit, you may work as a self-employed person. You do not need a TWV and you may work as much as you want as a self-employed person. You must, however, register with the Chamber of Commerce (in Dutch: Kamer van Koophandel or KvK) and pay tax. You may also need to arrange for Dutch healthcare insurance.
Traineeship
You may follow a traineeship if this is part of your study programme. Then a TWV is not needed. Visit the website of Nuffic for more information.
Temporary study outside the Netherlands
During your study in the Netherlands, you are allowed to study abroad up to 12 months.
Legal obligations
Your educational institution has as a recognised sponsor for study purposes an obligation to provide information, an obligation to keep records and a duty of care. If you are a student, you only have an obligation to provide information.
Find out more about the legal obligations of the recognised sponsor and the foreign national’s obligation to provide information.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. If you do not, you may get an administrative fine.
Validity of residence permit
The student residence permit for study is valid for 3 months longer than the duration of your study. The permit will remain valid as long as you meet the requirements for study. The IND will issue the residence permit for a maximum of 5 years.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
Other applications
Replacement of the residence permit
Has your residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Visit the web page residence permit damaged or change of personal details or residence permit lost or stolen.
Extend the residence permit
Will your residence permit expire soon? Then you can extend your residence permit.
Apply for a different residence permit
Have you completed your studies? Then you can apply for a different residence permit, for example for working in the Netherlands.