How to apply for a visa in the Netherlands?

• You don’t need a visa if you come from:

  • European Union
  • European Economic Area (EEA)
  • Swiss Citizens 

• If you come from outside of those above, you have to apply for both:
  

  • Provisional Residence Permit: (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblifj) which will allow you to stay in the country for 6 months.
  • Residence Permit: If you have been accepted in a Dutch university and you have applied for the Provisional Residence Permit, your host university will have to apply for the Residence Permit on your behalf. This will allow you to stay for the whole duration of your studies.

• Documents you’ll need: 
  

1. Official letter from the educational institution you will be studying at
2. A complete study plan
3. Proof of financial support (around €900 per month)
4. Travel and Health insurance for the duration of your stay
5. Tuberculosis test (if applicable to your case)
6. University registration (Full daytime course)
7. Proof of income

All the documents should be provided in Dutch, English, French or Spanish – if they are not, they have to be translated. Some documents will also have to be authenticated by your local government authority. This might be a lengthier process, so make sure to start well in advance.  For every document, you have to provide the original and a copy. 

• Cost:
  

The cost of the MVV (long-stay visa) is €171.

• Timing:
  

It is strongly recommended to start the application process for the long-stay at least 3 months before the arrival date in the Netherlands. 

 Who to contact:

For more information about visa and specific country requirements visit the website: 

Immigration to the Netherlands | Government.nl

Make sure you do not try to get your long-stay visa through a certified agency, it should be directly through the respective government authority (embassy, consulate, etc.), double check, always!

What now?

If you will be living in the Netherlands for more than 4 months, you need to register at the town hall of the city’s municipality. Make an appointment and bring the following documents: 

• Valid Passport or ID (AND a copy)
• Residence Permit (if applicable)
• Rental contract (Both the original AND a copy)
• Complete registration form (downloadable from city hall’s website)

After your registration you will receive your BSN number, which will be necessary for opening bank accounts, receiving your salary, accessing health care, and applying for benefits.

How to open a bank account in the Netherlands?

• Should you even open one?
  

If you are a European citizen, you won’t need an extra bank account for the Netherlands. 

Most of the payments in the Netherlands are made with cards and sometimes cash is not even an option. Even if you have a European bank account, it is very useful to open a Dutch one (which in most banks is free for students). You will receive a contactless debit card that can be used with Apple Pay and will have access to the online iDeal portal to make quick online purchases (Strongly recommended). The account will also be necessary if you want to get a Dutch SIM card. 

Documents required:

• Valid passport or ID
• Copy of registration at Dutch educational institution (proof of enrollment)
• Personal Records Database (BRP) for international students without Dutch ID, not older than 3 months
• BSN number (received upon registration at city hall or when registering for BRP)

Which bank?

The two most used banks are:

ING: free for students (16 to 30 yo), office in the city center, excellent services, internet banking, insurance policies

ABN Amro: free for students, excellent services, internet banking, available insurance policies 

How to apply for insurance in the Netherlands?

For what do I need an insurance in the Netherlands?

• Health:
  

Health insurance is mandatory for everyone who lives or works in the Netherlands for more than 4 months. 

International students are not obliged to take out Dutch Health insurance given that their stay is probably temporary. But once you start working in the Netherlands alongside your studies, whether for a paid internship or a part-time job, you are going to have to take out one. You will be able to apply for partial or total governmental reimbursement. 

• Personal Insurance:
  

If you are from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you can apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The card is free and with it, you will get free or discounted medical treatment in all of Europe. It doesn’t cover private healthcare or planned treatments. 

If you are non-EU/EEA, and you are not working alongside your studies, you cannot take out Dutch public health insurance so you should take out a private one. Most insurance companies offer special packages for international students.

Check out:

Students – Loonzorg.com

Aon Student Insurance

• Renters Insurance:
  

 Habitation insurance is not mandatory to rent a flat in the Netherlands, so you won’t need to worry about this unless you plan on buying a house by taking out a Dutch mortgage. 

Do I need a new SIM card for the Netherlands?

As in the rest of Europe, if you have a European SIM you can continue using that with the roaming plan you had back in your home country. If you instead feel it is necessary or useful to make a Dutch one, there are many providers which offer SIM cards at an average price of 15 Euros per month:

• Best providers
  

– T-mobile

– KPN

– Vodafone

• WIFI
  

Most houses will already have WiFi included, but if not the average contract will cost you 30 Euros per month:

– T-mobile

– Youfone

– Ziggo

• Apps
  

– Unidays and Knaek: amazing product discounts for university students

– 9292: Best public transport app, allows you to get the best travel options between two places and is always up to date with cancellations or changes

– Buienradar: You will need to get used to avoiding the rain when possible and this is the perfect weather app to do so. It gives you an extremely close indication of when it will rain so you can make a run for it during the breaks

Emergency services contacts

Any Emergency: 112  (Fire/ Ambulance)