Student residence permit — university or higher professional education

You want a residence permit to study in the Netherlands at a university or institute of higher professional education (in Dutch: hoger beroepsonderwijs or HBO).

The student residence permit also gives you a right of residence in the Netherlands during a preparatory period. This preparatory period usually lasts 1 year.

You have proof of registration or temporary proof of registration as a student at a university or institute of higher professional education (in Dutch: hoger beroepsonderwijs or HBO). Your study programme is accredited: this means that it has been recognised by Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders or NVAO (in the Netherlands) or the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education or EQAR (Europe). Your educational institution is a sponsor recognised by the IND.

Only this educational institution can apply for a residence permit for you.

You will enrol on a full-time study programme. You meet the income requirements. Every year you make enough progress in your studies. This means that you obtain at least 50% of the credits for each study year.

You may work as an employee if your employer has a work permit (TWV) for you. If you want to work, then you must choose: up to 16 hours a week; or fulltime during the months of June, July and August.

As long as you still meet the requirements for the residence permit, you may work as a self-employed person. You do not need a TWV and you may work as much as you want as a self-employed person.

If you study in the Netherlands, the educational institution can also apply for a residence permit for your family members.

Your family member is not allowed to work in the Netherlands.

The IND issues the residence permit for a maximum of 5 years. The residence permit for study is valid for 3 months longer than the duration of your study. A preparatory period is part of the duration of your study.

Will your residence permit expire soon? Then you can extend your residence permit.

Have you completed your studies? Then you can apply for a different residence permit to: look for a job after study. work as a highly skilled migrant. Then a lower income requirement will apply to you. work as a start-up entrepreneur (start-up).