Immigration procedures for new international students
International students who are participating in the central introduction activities in August are advised to arrive in Rotterdam beginning of August 2013. Please note that your faculty also organises orientation activities and that participation in these activities might be compulsory. So make sure to be there when they start!
Visa and residence permit
If you are an international student coming from outside the EU/EEA and you will be studying at Erasmus University for more than 90 days you will need to apply for an entry visa and/or Dutch residence permit.
Check the Study in Holland student visa wizard to find out if you need an entry visa and a residence permit, or only a residence permit.
Are you already a student at another education institute in the Netherlands and continuing your studies at EUR? In that case you will need to apply for a Change of Purpose.
What is an entry visa (Machtiging Voorlopig Verblijf or MVV)?
An MVV is a visa to enter the country; it is a sticker in your passport issued by the Dutch Embassy or Consulate. Note that it is NOT a residence permit. After your initial arrival in the Netherlands, your MVV will only be valid for 90 days, so you need to make sure you obtain your residence permit before this 90-day period has ended.
What is a residence permit (Vergunning Verblijf Regulier or VVR)?
A residence permit is a permit that allows you to (temporarily) reside in the Netherlands. It is issued for a specific purpose, in your case: study. Once your application is approved, you receive a residence permit card. This is an official government document that proves you are residing in the Netherlands legally. It also allows you to travel freely to other Schengen countries.
The residence permit is issued for max 1 year. In case you will continue your studies at EUR after your permit expires, you need to make arrangements for extending your permit well in time.
How do I apply for a visa and/or residence permit?
Erasmus University Rotterdam will apply for your visa and residence permit on your behalf, but you will need to submit a number of supporting documents and pay the immigration fees to your faculty before we can start the procedure.
After you have been admitted to one of our study programs, your contact person at the faculty or the admissions office will send you more information about the exact steps to take.
Important information for students who need both an entry visa and residence permit: Starting from 2011 onwards the visa and residence permit application is a combined procedure. This means we can apply for your visa and residence permit at the same time. You will not have to apply for the residence permit separately upon your arrival in the Netherlands. |
Important information for students who need a residence permit only: Although you do not need a visa for entering the Netherlands, you must start the residence permit application before you travel to the Netherlands! |
What are the conditions for a visa and residence permit?
The requirements for submitting an application are:
- You must be unconditionally accepted at Erasmus University Rotterdam, unless the condition is graduation from your current studies before start of the programme
- You need to send the complete application to your faculty before the deadline (please contact your faculty for details about the application deadline)
- Do not simultaneously apply for an entry visa at the Dutch Embassy or Consulate in your country of origin
- All documents that are not in Dutch, English, French or German must be translated by a certified translator (e.g. a notary)
- The visa and residence permit fee must be paid to the university in advance
- You must prove you have sufficient financial means to fund your studies
- If required, you must participate in a tuberculosis test upon arrival in the Netherlands and cooperate with treatment if necessary
- You have no criminal record
- For Chinese students: a Nuffic certificate
Tuberculosis Check
Depending on your nationality you might have to take a tuberculosis check upon your arrival in the Netherlands. You will receive a tuberculosis test form upon the approval of your visa and residence permit application.
International students need to undergo a tuberculosis check if they do not have one of the following nationalities: EU/EEA countries, Australia, Canada, Israeli, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Surinam, Swiss, the United States and Vatican City. Please follow this link to information about the tuberculosis check.
More information on the immigration procedures for international students
New international students can contact their contact person at the faculty for more information about the visa residence permit application procedures.
Current international students with questions regarding immigration issues may contact the EUR Immigration desk.
