If you hold a nationality from outside the European Union and you want to reside in the Netherlands for a period exceeding 3 months, you must obtain a visa and/or residence permit prior to your departure to the Netherlands.
The visa is an authorisation to enter the Netherlands. It is an official sticker placed in your passport by the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your country. The residence permit is the physical proof of your (temporary) resident status in the Netherlands. You will receive it approximately 3 weeks after you have entered the Netherlands.
Note that you cannot apply for a visa and/or residence permit by yourself. Only the Avans International Office is authorised to apply for this document and does so on your behalf if you are eligible.
If you have a valid residence permit, which specifically states it is for study purposes, issued by another Member State of the European Union and you want to pursue part of your study programme in the Netherlands, then you may be eligible for Intra EU-mobility.
Applying for a visa and/or residence permit
The Avans International Office applies for the visa and/or residence permit on behalf of eligible prospective students. In order to start this procedure, you must be formally admitted to one of our study programmes beforehand. Note! For degree-seeking students a few extra conditions apply in order to be considered eligible for a study visa and/or residence permit: A positive advice on your intake (motivational interview + study check); you need to have paid your tuition fees for the first year in full by bank transfer before June 15.
If you fail to meet the conditions and requirement the International Office will not start the visa application procedure on your behalf. In that case, your application at Avans University of Applied Sciences will be canceled.
Documents for your visa/residence application
You will be asked to submit the following documents for your visa application:
- Submit evidence that you have access to sufficient financial funds.
- Submit a completed and signed ‘Antecedents Certificate’ form
- Submit a copy of your valid passport, including copies of all the stamps
- If applicable:
- Submit a completed and signed ‘Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test’ form. This applies to you if your country of origin is not on the IND exemption list
- Your EU residence permit. In case of Intra EU-mobility (explained above) a filled and signed version of this authorization form (name of the educational institute being Avans University of Applied Sciences/Avans Hogeschool).
The International Office will send you an email once you can start the process, asking you to provide the abovementioned documents. This email will have instructions on how to provide the documents to the International Office.
Watch this video by Study in NL to find out more:
Paying for your visa or residence permit application
The Avans International Office applies for the visa and/or residence permit on your behalf. This means you will need to transfer € 210 to the Avans bank account to cover the costs for your visa and/or residence permit application. This is regardless of the option you choose to prove you have sufficient funds.
Keep in mind that the net amount received by Avans must be € 210. You must therefore always ask your bank if it charges transfer fees.
Please transfer the amount to the Avans University of Applied Sciences bank account:
IBAN account number: NL31 RABO 0188 9177 64
Account holder name: Stichting Avans
BIC code: rabonl2u
Bank: Rabobank Breda
PO Box 3376
4800 DJ Breda
The Netherlands
Please note: you must always state your Avans student number and full name when transferring money to the Avans bank account.
We will not submit any application to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service before we have received the full amount (€ 210) from you.
Decision
We will start the application procedure on your behalf once we have received:
- the digital copies of the above-mentioned documents
- the application fee
- your tuition fees for the first year in full before June 15 (not applicable if you are a contract exchange student)
It can take 2-6 weeks for the IND to approve your application. Once you have received a notification from us that the application has been approved by the IND, depending on your nationality, you will have to collect your visa to travel to the Netherlands. An appointment at the Dutch embassy/consulate is necessary in order to collect your visa. It may take several days/weeks before you receive your visa.
After arrival in the Netherlands
Upon arrival in the Netherlands you will have to collect your residence permit card at the IND office in Den Bosch before your visa expires. It is necessary to schedule an appointment for this. This card proves your legal residency in the Netherlands, so it is obligatory to collect it!
For some students it may be necessary to first provide the IND with your biometric data in order for the card to be created.
Deadline
Make sure you send the required documents and transfer the money before the deadline, otherwise we cannot guarantee you will receive your visa in time and before your study programme is due to start.
Legal position and requirements to maintain your right to stay at Avans
Holding a residence permit for studying in the Netherlands gives you both rights and obligations. If you do not comply with the obligations, your entry visa may not be granted to you, or your residence permit may be withdrawn. This means you lose your right to stay in the Netherlands.
Your residence permit will be valid for the intended study period in the Netherlands plus 3 months. However, each year in October you must provide renewed evidence of sufficient available financial funds for that academic year and your stay in the Netherlands.
You must also pay your annual tuition fees, actively participate in your study programme and demonstrate sufficient study progress. Sufficient study progress is defined by the Dutch immigration authorities as: at least 50% of the study credits (=30 ECTS) for each year. However, Avans also requires you to successfully obtain 52 out of the 60 ECTS for your first year of study at Avans to be allowed to stay in the course and to progress to the second year of study.
Please note that if you fail to meet these requirements, Avans is obliged to inform the Dutch immigration authorities. They may subsequently withdraw your residence permit.
More information
Read more concerning your legal position. Or contact the Avans International Office at [email protected] or on +31 88 525 80 01.