Visa and residence permit: steps to take

Source: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/international-students/prepare-your-stay/visa-and-residence-permit/visa-and-residence-permit-steps-to-take Parent: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/international-students/studying-at-leiden-university/career/career-service

Have you checked the visa and residence permit requirements for your nationality? And do you need a visa and residence permit for your upcoming studies at Leiden University? Follow the steps below to submit your application.

Deadline

The deadline for submitting your visa/residence permit application and paying the required fee is:

• 1 June: programmes starting in September
• 1 December: programmes starting in February

Applying for a visa/residence permit for accompanying family members? Contact Leiden University before 15 April (Sept start) or 15 Sept (Feb start) for info on additional requirements. Then apply by the earlier deadline of 1 May (Sept start) or 1 Oct (Feb start).

Steps to take

1. Meet your admission conditions

We can only apply for your student visa and residence permit once you have met your admission conditions for a full-time* study programme, if applicable.

* part-time study is not permitted for student residence permit holders.

Where to find your conditions

• Exchange students: check in your online application (uSis) if any conditions apply.
• Degree students: check your decision statement.

How and when to meet your conditions

On the Meet your admission conditions page you can find out how and when to meet your conditions, and what to do if you cannot meet your conditions before the visa/residence permit deadline.

Not yet admitted?

Check the admission and application procedures.

1. Await your visa invitation email

This will invite you to start your visa and residence permit application in the uSis visa portal.

• Joining us in September: you will receive this email 24 hours after you have been (conditionally) admitted, but not earlier than 1 April. \

• Joining us in February: you will receive this email 24 hours after you have been (conditionally) admitted.

• Indicate where you will collect your visa

In the uSis visa portal, you will be asked to select the country and embassy where you will collect your entry visa (MVV). You must collect your entry visa in your home country. 

You can only collect your entry visa outside your home country in the following situations:

• You have legal residency in another country. Contact the Dutch embassy in that country to check if you can collect your entry visa there.

• Your home country does not have a Dutch embassy or consulate that can issue entry visas. In this case, your country will be served by a Dutch embassy in a neighbouring country. Visit NetherlandsWorldwide to find the location of the embassy that serves your country.

• Upload the required documents

You will be asked to upload the following documents in the uSis visa portal.

• Copy of your valid passport:
• Include all pages with personal information, visas and entry/exit stamps.
• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the start date of your study programme. If it will expire earlier, you must renew your passport before applying for your visa and residence permit.\
• Completed and signed Antecedents Certificate:
• Signature must be hand-written (not digital) and match your passport signature.

• If you must answer yes to any of the questions, consult Leiden University before proceeding:

  • Exchange students contact form
  • Degree students contact form

• Upload proof of funds

Carefully read the information on the Proof of funds page, then upload the required items in the uSis visa portal.

Check criteria carefully!\ Make sure your proof of funds documents meet allthe stipulated criteria! Missing or incorrect documents will significantly slow down the processing of your residence permit application.

1. Upload other documents if applicable

If applicable, upload the following documents:

• Copy of both sides of your Dutch residence permit\
• Copy of your valid EU/EEA or Swiss residence permit\

• Documents required for your family visa/residence permit application. Contact Leiden University for instructions

• Pay the fee

Fee amount

• Student residence permit fee: €254*

*valid as of 2026 and subject to annual change

How to pay?

In the uSis visa portal you will see instructions on how to pay. This can be either by way of online payment or bank transfer. See bank transfer information.

1. Read the obligations for residence permit holders

Before submitting your application, read the obligations for student residence permit holders. Be aware that if you fail to meet these obligations, Leiden University is required to inform the Dutch immigration department (IND), which may result in the revocation of your permit.

1. Review by Leiden University

After you submit your application, Leiden University will check all information and documents are in order. Note that this may take 4 to 6 weeks in the busy period (June to August).

If anything is missing or incorrect, you will be notified via uSis. Check your emails and uSis notifications frequently and take action immediately if needed.

1. Await the decision of the immigration department

Once your application has been checked by Leiden University, we will forward it to the Dutch immigration department (IND). If your documentation is found to be in order, the IND will make a decision on your application within 2 to 4 weeks.

Leiden University will notify you by email as soon as the IND issues a decision. Keep a copy of this email as you will need it after arrival when registering at a Dutch town hall.

Do not enter the Netherlands or the Schengen area on a tourist or short-stay visa whilst awaiting the IND's decision. This can negatively impact your application.

1. Collect your entry visa

Once your application has been provisionally approved, Leiden University will send you an email inviting you to schedule an appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate.

• You can schedule your appointment via NetherlandsWorldwide.
• The embassy/consulate will let you know exactly which documents to bring to your appointment.\ Note: you do not need your letter of approval from the IND, even if the embassy requests this in their standard communication.
• During the appointment, your biometric data (finger prints, signature and digital photo) will be recorded.

Approximately two weeks after your appointment, your entry visa will be ready. The embassy will let you know how and when you can collect or receive your visa.

1. After arrival: collect your residence permit

You will collect your student residence permit after arrival in the Netherlands.

Once your permit is ready, Leiden University will send you an email with instructions and a link to schedule a residence permit collection appointment.

1. Complete other arrival formalities

Make sure to complete all the procedures that are relevant to you as soon as possible after arrival.

• Town hall registration\ As a residence permit holder, you must register with your local Dutch town hall as soon as possible and at least within one month of arrival. Failure to do so can result in the cancellation of your residence permit. Schedule your appointment and check the required documents on the Town hall registration page. Remember to arrange housing well in advance as you will need proof of your Dutch address for your appointment.\
• Check if you need to open a Dutch Bank account \ If you do not have a bank account in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), you are highly advised to open a Dutch bank account after arrival. This is particularly important if you have transferred funds to Leiden University for your visa/residence permit application, or have been awarded a scholarship by Leiden University. These funds will be transferred to your Dutch bank account. Find out more on the Banking in the Netherlands page.\
• Refund of living expenses\ Did you transfer funds for living expenses to Leiden University as part of your visa/residence permit application? Send an email to fa@sea.leidenuniv.nl to request a refund. \

• Insurance\ If you haven't already done so, arrange health insurance coverage for the duration of your stay. This is compulsory for all residents of the Netherlands. See the health insurance page for details. Note that if you decide to work alongside your studies, you must take out Dutch public health insurance.

• Tuberculosis examination\ Nationals of some countries must undergo a tuberculosis (TB) examination after arrival in the Netherlands. Check in this list if you are exempted from a TB examination. You will receive details of your appointment by email shortly after arrival in the Netherlands.