FAQ’s MVV & VVR

1. Do I need an MVV (entry-Visa)?

Students attending a study programme longer than three months with another nationality than one of the EU/EEA countries, Switzerland, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, Vatican City, Monaco or South Korea, need an MVV.

2. How do I apply for an MVV?

Dutch law requires that the institute where you will follow your study programme applies for your MVV. Once you have been accepted as a regular degree student or as an exchange student, you will receive an email from the institute’s Immigration Officer in which the procedure is explained and the requirements (documents and payment) are stated.

3. A friend and I applied to your institute at the same time. He/she has already received the MVV approval. Has something gone wrong with my application?

The IND simply cannot decide upon all applications at the same time, so not all the answers can be given at the same time. Nothing has gone wrong and there is no need to send us an email about it.

4. How long will it take before I receive the MVV approval?

It will take approximately two to five weeks.
During these weeks, there is nothing the Immigration Officer can do to speed up your procedure with the IND and we cannot inform you about your status. We have to wait for the decision. We will only contact the IND for further information, if after five weeks we have not yet heard from them.

5. What is the deadline for handing in my MVV documents?

The deadline for September entry is 1 May.
The deadline for February entry is 1 November.
All your documents and payment should be received before this date. If something is missing we cannot apply for your MVV and as a consequence you will not be able to start your studies.

6. How do I know if my documents & payment have reached you successfully?

Due to the large amount of documents and payments the Immigration Officer receives every day, we cannot confirm receipt of all that comes in. If something is wrong or if there are any documents missing, we will send you an email about it.

7. Do I need a Nuffic certificate and where do I apply for one?

Chinese students need a certificate from Nuffic in order to obtain an MVV. The whole procedure can take up to two months. The certificate will be sent directly to the Immigration Officer. A Nuffic certificate is the only document which we allow to arrive later then the deadline stated under question 5

Registration Link: Nuffic certificate
For more information contact Nuffic directly at: Nuffic contact form or telephone: +31 70 4 260 260

8. I transferred my proof of financial means. How will I get my money back?

During the introduction week you will have the opportunity to open a bank account. Once your Dutch bank account is activated, you will have to hand in a refund request form with the Immigration Officer. Please understand that it will take at least four weeks before you will have your money in your new Dutch bank account. Therefore, please make sure that you have enough spending money until that time.

9. When can I pick up my MVV at the Dutch Embassy or Consulate-General in my home country?

The Immigration Officer will receive the approval of your MVV and will inform you about it by email. This email will provide you with further details regarding finalising and picking up your MVV at the Embassy.

10. I do not yet have the MVV approval, however, can I book my flight already?

We recommend you wait to book your flight until you know for certain that your MVV is granted. If you want to make a booking before that, please ensure you have the option of cancelling or changing the date of your flight without any charges.

11. Can my proof of financial means be used for housing costs?

No. The proof is only valid for your MVV application.

12. Do I need a VVR (Residence Permit)?

All non-EU/EEA or Swiss, US, Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, Japanese, Vatican City, Monaco or South Korean citizens attending a study programme longer than 3 months must have a VVR. It is required by Dutch law that the institute where you will take your study programme applies for your VVR. Without a VVR you cannot legally stay in the Netherlands and therefore it would not be possible to study at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS/HvA).

13. How do I obtain a VVR?

Once you have been accepted as a regular degree student or as an exchange student, you will receive an email from the institute's Immigration Officer in which the procedure is explained and the requirements (documents and payment) are stated. The Immigration Officer will send your VVR application to the Dutch Immigration Service (IND) and keep you informed on their decision.

14. Can the AUAS/HvA apply for my VVR extension?

Yes, the AUAS/HvA can apply for an extension on your behalf. You can also do it yourself.
If you let the AUAS/HvA apply for you, you oblige yourself to pick up your new VVR in person on the pick-up day. The deadline and pick-up day will be put on the website once they are known.
Further information and an application form are available on our website at : extensions residence permit.

More information for international students is available on the Nuffic website at: Nuffic international students.