Study In Netherlands
Netherlands (Residence Permit for Study + MVV)
Nepali students planning to study full-time in the Netherlands at a university (Bachelor, Master) or institute of higher professional education (HBO – Bachelor, Diploma) need a residence permit for study. Crucially, the Dutch educational institution acts as the sponsor and must apply for both the residence permit and the required entry visa (MVV – provisional residence permit) on the student’s behalf. The student provides the necessary documents to the institution.
Common Documents Required by the Institution (for the IND application):
Valid Passport: Must be valid for the duration of the intended stay.
Proof of Admission: Official letter from the recognized Dutch educational institution confirming full-time admission.
Proof of Financial Support: Evidence of sufficient funds to cover tuition fees and living expenses for the duration of the study. The required amount is set annually by the IND (check the IND website or with the institution for current figures). This can be shown via:
- Deposit into the institution’s bank account.
- Scholarship letter.
- Sponsorship declaration (if applicable).
Academic Documents:
- Official diplomas, degrees, and transcripts from previous education (e.g., Grade 12/ HSEB for Bachelors, Bachelor’s degree for Masters).
- These documents must often be legalized (e.g., by the Nepalese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch embassy/consulate) and translated into Dutch, English, French, or German by a sworn translator.
Birth Certificate: Often required, must also be legalized and translated.
Passport Photos: Recent passport-sized photographs meeting Dutch visa requirements.
English Language Proficiency: Proof of meeting the institution’s language requirements (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL scores).
No Objection Certificate (NOC): Required by the Nepal Ministry of Education.
Tuberculosis (TB) Test Declaration: Students usually need to declare they will undergo a TB test upon arrival in the Netherlands (unless exempt).
Application Forms: Completed forms provided by the educational institution.
Antecedents Certificate: A declaration concerning your criminal record.
Application Process Overview:
Admission: Secure admission to a full-time program at a recognized Dutch institution.
Document Submission: Provide all required (and often legalized/translated) documents to the institution.
Institution Applies: The institution submits the MVV and residence permit
application to the IND.
Fees: The institution usually pays the application fee (€243 as of April 2025, check IND for current fees) to the IND, often after receiving it from the student.
Decision: The IND decides on the application (usually within 60-90 days).
MVV Collection: If approved, the student collects the MVV sticker from the Dutch embassy/consulate in their region (e.g., New Delhi, as there is no embassy in Nepal handling MVVs).
Travel: Travel to the Netherlands.
Residence Permit Collection: Collect the residence permit card from an IND desk after arrival.
TB Test: Undergo a TB test if required.
Specific Considerations:
Diploma/HBO: Ensure the program is offered by a recognized institution and meets the requirements for a study residence permit.
Legalisation/Translation: This is a critical step. Check specific requirements with the Dutch embassy/consulate and the educational institution.
Sponsor: The educational institution must be a recognized sponsor by the IND.
Sources:
Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND – Study): https://ind.nl/en/ residence-permits/study
IND (Fees): https://ind.nl/en/fees-costs-of-an-application
Study in Holland (Nuffic): https://www.studyinholland.nl/
Netherlands Worldwide (Visa for Netherlands in Nepal): https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/ schengen-visa/apply-nepal (Note: This primarily covers Schengen short-stay visas, MVV process differs)
