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! A positive advice on your motivational interview is required to be considered eligible for a study visa and/or residence permit. Additionally, students need to have paid their tuition fees for the first year in full by bank transfer before June 15. If you fail to meet this 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.
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 ‘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
- Submit a completed and signed ‘Antecedents Certificate’ form
- Submit a copy of your valid passport, including copies of all the stamps
- If applicable: 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).
- Chinese students must also apply for a NESO certificate at Nuffic in the Netherlands. Nuffic will subsequently send this certificate to Avans on your behalf.
You start your application by sending the above documents as individual PDF files to [email protected].
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. After transferring, please send us proof of payment via email to [email protected].
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
Response from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) may take between 3 and 6 weeks. Once the Avans International Office receives a notice from the IND, we will inform you of the IND’s decision. In case of visa approval you will receive the information needed to schedule an appointment with the Dutch embassy/consulate in your country to collect this visa.
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.