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All international students over the age of 18 who enrol at an institution for higher education in the Netherlands for the first time must prove that they are residing in the country legally, before they may be admitted to the first day of classes. International students who will live and study in the Netherlands longer than four months also have to report to the Municipal Registry Office of the municipality (gemeente) in which they will be living.

A Dutch residence permit is not required for students who are national of an EU/EEA member state (or Switzerland). Their valid passport/national identity card is sufficient for their enrolment as a student and for registration with the municipality. For more details, please see ‘EU/EEA & Switzerland’, below.

Non-EU/EEA students can only report to the Municipal Registry Office for municipal registration after the Team International of the Royal Conservatoire has applied for their residence permit for study purpose. For more details, please see ‘Non-EU/EEA’, below.

In certain situations, EU/EEA nationals may be required to prove their legal residence in the Netherlands. For this purpose, their valid passport or national identity card is sufficient.

Please note that for nationals of an EU/EEA member state (or Switzerland) who wish to stay in the Netherlands longer than three months, a Dutch residence permit is not required. If they wish to stay in the Netherlands longer than four months, they should just register in the population records of the municipality in which they will be living (see: Upon arrival & during your studies, Registration with the municipality) and as a result, they will receive a Citizen Service Number (burgerservicenummer/BSN); see: 'Upon arrival & during your studies', 'BSN & DigiD'.

However, there is one exception: students who are not a national of an EU/EEA member state (or Switzerland), but are a family member of a national of an EU/EEA member state (or Switzerland), should apply to the IND for Verification against EU Community Law and for a residence document (proof of lawful residence).
For the application, they have to pay a handling fee of €76.
For more details, please visit IND: Verification against EU law for Union citizen family members.

More information for EU/EEA citizens is published in the online IND brochure Living (and working) in the Netherlands for EU citizens

Non-EU/EEA students who wish to stay in the Netherlands for a period longer than three months need a temporary residence permit (Vergunning tot Verblijf Regulier/VVR) for study purpose.

Since 1 June 2013, the Modern Migration Law (MoMi) has come into effect in the Netherlands. Some important consequences of this law are:

· Only higher education institutions can apply for entry visas and residence permits for their students, including renewals and changes. When applying for an entry visa (for more details, please read MVV), the residence permit application will be included.

· In principle, students will get a residence permit for study purpose for the relevant total duration of their study programme; possible options: for a preparatory year + Bachelor's programme (1+4=5 years), for a Bachelor's programme (4 years), for a preparatory year + Master's programme (1+2=3 years), for a Master's programme (2 years), for an Artist Certificate course (1 year) or for the Sonology Course (1 year). It means that yearly renewals within the same study programme won’t be necessary.

· After completion of every study year, higher education institutions are required to monitor that students with a Dutch residence permit for study purpose have made sufficient study progress (at least 50% of the required ECTS amount per study year) and that they still meet the formal conditions (for instance, financial) for such a residence permit. If not, higher education institutions must report this to the IND and consequently, the IND may cancel the residence permit!

Students with a valid residence permit for study purpose as issued by another EU member state have the possibility to follow part of their studies in the Netherlands in the framework of a European student mobility programme (such as Erasmus+).
For more information, please visit IND: Intra-EU Mobility student.

Please note that the applicant should not apply for an MVV in order to visit the Netherlands for a few days, for example, for a live audition: for some applicants, only a valid passport might be required for this. For applicants from other countries, a short stay visa (visum kort verblijf) type C might be required for any visit of up to 3 months. Students should apply for this short stay visa to the Dutch embassy or consulate in their country of origin or permanent residence.
For information on Dutch diplomatic missions abroad, please visit Government: Embassies, consulates and other representations.

With their application for a short stay visa, students will have to enclose some documents, such as an invitation letter, as issued by the Royal Conservatoire, confirming the day and time of their live audition.

For a complete list of visa required countries and for more information on the application procedure, please visit IND: Short stay.

Students not coming from the EU/EEA, Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the United States of America or Vatican City first need a Provisional Residence Permit (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf/MVV). This is an entry visa type D, required for travel to the Netherlands if a student plans to stay longer than three months. The combined MVV/VVR application procedure is called Entry and Residence (Toegang en Verblijf/TEV) procedure. During the application procedure for an MVV it will be determined whether the student meets all the requirements for a Dutch residence permit (VVR) for study purpose, before arrival in the country.

An MVV is a sticker that is placed in the passport and it allows the student to cross the border into the Netherlands.

Please note: if students need an MVV and they come to the Netherlands without one, they will have to go back to their country to get an MVV first!

The MVV allows students to enter and exit the Netherlands and other countries in the Schengen Area within a period of 90 days, starting from the date of issue of the MVV.
For more information, please visit IND: Travelling within the Schengen Area with a residence permit or visa.

Newly accepted students from relevant countries (as above) will receive information and instructions about the combined MVV/VVR application in the framework of their enrolment. For the application, students should upload & submit all the required documents to their online registration with Osiris Online Application.

The Royal Conservatoire will try to submit the combined MVV/VVR application several weeks before the planned arrival of the student in the Netherlands.

To contact the International Students Adviser in the Royal Conservatoire: international@koncon.nl

Students will have to pay the IND handling fee of €228 to the University of the Arts, The Hague in advance.

Suggestion: it may be practical to combine more than one payment (tuition/course fee, IND handling fee, cost of study and living) in one transfer.

Please note: based on the Benelux Treaty, citizens of San Marino and Israel are exempt from paying MVV fee.

For more details on the IND handling fees, please visit IND Fees: costs of an application.

If the student has met all the requirements and the application is approved by the IND, he/she can schedule an appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate for collecting the MVV.
For the residence document to be issued, the Dutch embassy/consulate will also register the biometric information of the student.

For information on Dutch diplomatic missions abroad, please visit Government: Embassies, consulates and other representations.

The requirements and necessary documents for a Dutch residence permit for study are:

· Scanned copies of a valid national passport (all pages, except empty pages) in one file.

· Biometric information (passport photo, fingerprints and signature) of the student, to be arranged at a nearby IND desk during regular opening hours upon the arrival of the student in the Netherlands.

· Scanned copy of an original completed & signed

IND Antecedents Certificate

(confirming that the student does not have a criminal record)

· Scanned copy of an original completed & signed

IND Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test

Once students have arrived in the Netherlands, they have to undergo a tuberculosis examination.
For this purpose, they have to schedule an appointment with the tuberculosis department of the local Municipal Health Service (GGD Haaglanden): TB Department of the GGD Haaglanden.
Students will have to pay a fee of €50 for the tuberculosis test (first screening) in advance. Follow-up screenings (if necessary) will be free of charge.

Some nationalities are exempt from the TB test requirement.
For more details, please visit IND: Exemption from the obligation to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test

· Sufficient financial means to pay for the cost of study and living: at least €1,217.96 per month/€14,615.52 per year (situation as of 1 January 2024), excluding tuition and IND handling fee, so to cover the cost of study and living only!

N.B. For the Preparatory Course, or a student mobility programme (such as Erasmus+ or ConNext), the same amounts apply. For more details, see ‘Dutch residence permit for study purpose: financial documentation’, below.

There are several ways to prove sufficient financial means to pay for the cost of study and living, depending on the financial situation of the student.
Students are strongly advised to use option a and to choose another option (b-g) only if option a is impossible:

a. The Royal Conservatoire has received an amount of money in its bank account, covering sufficient financial means to pay for the student’s cost of study and living for at least one academic year: €14,615.52 or more (preferably: €14,620).
Please note: to avoid that the Royal Conservatoire will receive a lower amount, the sender should cover the relevant transfer cost (use transfer option: Our cost/OUR).
A recent account specification as issued by the Royal Conservatoire’s bank will confirm receipt of the amount of money. In case of cancellation of study, the Royal Conservatoire will transfer back the amount of money in due time.

Upon their arrival in the Netherlands, the Royal Conservatoire will transfer the amount of money intended to cover his/her cost of study and living to the student’s bank account in the Netherlands, on condition that the student can show proof of his/her own bank account in the Netherlands. For this purpose, students should complete and submit a standard Declaration Form Living Fees (available online via the KC Portal).

b. The student has sufficient financial means for at least one academic year in his/her own bank account. In this case, a scanned copy of a recent original bank statement (not older than three months) is required, mentioning the following details:

• Date of issue
• The student’s name (at least surname and initials)
• Bank account number
• Current available balance (could be mentioned in another currency than Euro). In case of another than current of savings account, it must be explicitly stated that the amount is freely available to the account holder at all times
• Contact details of the bank (branch name, address, telephone number, e-mail and/or website)

As an alternative to an original bank statement, the student can provide a scanned copy of a recent account specification from the bank (not older than three months), mentioning recent transactions and the following details:

• Date of issue
• The student’s name (at least surname and initials)
• Bank account number
• Current available balance (could be mentioned in another currency than Euro). In case of another than current of savings account, it must be explicitly stated that the amount is freely available to the account holder at all times
• Contact details of the bank (branch name, address, telephone number, e-mail and/or website)

As another alternative to an original bank statement, the student could also provide a scanned copy of a recent internet account balance print (not older than three months), mentioning at least the following details:

• Date of print
• The student’s name (at least surname and initials)
• Bank account number
• Current available balance (could be mentioned in another currency than Euro). In case of another than current of savings account, it must be explicitly stated that the amount is freely available to the account holder at all times
• Original signature and stamp of the bank branch

In case of a joint bank account, a scanned copy of a signed statement of the second account holder must be added, confirming that he/she agrees that the available amount in the bank account will be used to cover the cost of study and living of the student.

In case of an internet account balance print of a foreign bank, a scanned copy of a recent original bank statement (not older than three months) should be added.

Please note that a Certificate of Deposit can’t be accepted, unless it clearly confirms that the amount of money is freely available to the certificate holder.

c. The student has been awarded a grant or scholarship. In this case, a scanned copy of an official scholarship statement is required, mentioning the following details:

⦁ Date of issue

⦁ Name of the person or legal entity awarding the scholarship

⦁ The student’s name (at least surname and initials)

⦁ Start and end date of the scholarship

⦁ Amount of money the student will receive

⦁ If relevant: name of the scholarship programme

d. A private person outside the Netherlands will provide sufficient financial means for the student. This person has to prove that he/she has sufficient financial means for the student for at least one academic year. The following documents from that person are required:

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent original completed IND Statement of financial support for private persons (not older than three months), mentioning the monthly amount of money to be transferred to the student and during which period; download the form here

⦁ Scanned copy of his/her valid passport (or national identity card)

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent original bank statement, or of a recent account specification from the bank, or of a recent internet account balance print; for required details, please see option 3b (above)

e. A private person employed in the Netherlands will provide sufficient financial means for the student. This person has to prove that he/she has sufficient financial means for both himself/herself (including own family, if relevant), and the student for at least one academic year. Following documents from that person in the Netherlands are required:

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent original completed IND Statement of financial support for private persons (not older than three months); download the form here

⦁ Scanned copy of his/her current employment contract

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent original recent employer's certificate (not older than three months)

⦁ Scanned copies of salary specifications (most recent three months)

⦁ Scanned copy of his/her valid passport (or national identity card)

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent original extract from the Personal Records Database/PRD (Basis Registratie Personen/BRP), also confirming the marital state of the guaranty person (not older than three months)

f. A private person, self-employed in the Netherlands, will provide sufficient financial means for the student. This person has to prove that he/she has sufficient financial means for both himself/herself (including own family, if relevant), and the student for at least one academic year. Following documents from that person in the Netherlands are required:

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent original completed IND Statement of financial support for private persons (not older than three months); download the form here

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent extract from the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (Kamer van Koophandel)(not older than three months)

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent original completed statement IND Verklaring omtrent inkomen zelfstandig ondernemer (not older than three months); download the form here

⦁ Scanned copy of an income statement (inkomensverklaring) as issued by the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration (belastingdienst), covering the previous year

⦁ Scanned copy of his/her valid passport (or national identity card)

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent original extract from the Personal Records Database/PRD (Basis Registratie Personen/BRP), also confirming the marital state of the guaranty person (not older than three months)

g. A company (in or outside the Netherlands) will provide sufficient financial means for the student. This company has to prove that it has sufficient financial means for the student for at least one academic year. Following documents from that company are required:

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent original completed IND Statement of financial support for companies (not older than three months), mentioning the monthly amount of money to be transferred to the student and during which period; download the form here

⦁ Scanned copy of a recent original bank statement issued on the name of the company (not older than three months); for important details, please see option 3b (above)

A combination of the financial options a-g (as listed above) could also lead to proof of sufficient financial means for at least one academic year.

Newly accepted students will receive information and instructions about the application for a residence permit (VVR) for study purpose in the framework of their enrolment. For the application, students should upload and submit all the required documents (as listed above) to their Osiris Online Application.

The Royal Conservatoire will submit the VVR application before the arrival of the student in the Netherlands.

To contact the International Students Adviser in the Royal Conservatoire: international@koncon.nl

Students will have to pay the IND handling fee (administration fee) of €228 to the University of the Arts, The Hague in advance. Paying the fee does not automatically mean that the application will be granted! The fee must be paid even if the application is turned down.

Changing the purpose of stay from a different purpose to study on a residence permit is regarded a new application and it also costs €228.

Renewal of a residence permit for study purpose (for instance, from Bachelor's to Master's studies) also costs €228.

Suggestion: it may be practical to combine more than one payment (tuition/course fee, IND handling fee, cost of study and living) in one transfer.
Please note: to avoid that the University of the Arts, The Hague will receive a lower amount, the sender should cover the relevant transfer cost (use transfer option: Our cost/OUR).

For more details on the IND handling fees
For more details on the income requirement

As soon as the VVR application is received by the IND, the Royal Conservatoire will receive a confirmation letter from the IND, as a proof of the application being in process. This letter will serve students as (provisional) proof of their legal stay in the Netherlands. By then, students should go to a nearby IND desk during regular opening hours, in order to have their biometric information registered. For this purpose, they have to schedule an appointment online.
For more information, please visit IND: Biometrics appointment: photo, signature and fingerprints.

If an applicant meets all the requirements, the IND will grant a residence permit, strictly for studying in the Netherlands.

As soon as the residence document is issued and delivered at the nearby IND desk The Hague, the Royal Conservatoire will receive a notification letter for the student from the IND. To collect the residence document from the IND desk The Hague, students have to schedule an appointment online.
For more information, visit IND: Appointment to collect residence document

IND desk The Hague
Rijnstraat 8
2515 XP Den Haag
IND: IND desks and locations

Central collecting days for students

To prevent an overcrowded appointment agenda at the IND desks for collecting a residence document, the IND offers three central collecting days for students at Jaarbeurs Utrecht on the following dates: Saturday 24 August 2024, Saturday 14 September 2024 and Saturday 5 October 2024.

Students are therefore strongly advised NOT to schedule their own appointment with the IND desk The Hague for collecting the residence document, but to accept an appointment to be scheduled on one of the three central collecting days for students at Jaarbeurs Utrecht!

The Royal Conservatoire will provide students with more details (appointment date & time, etc.) in due time.

More information

For more information on Dutch residence permits for study purpose, entry visas and related matters:

IND: Student residence permit for university or higher professional education

Online IND information brochure ‘Coming to study in the Netherlands’

Study in NL: Do you need a visa?

In order to finance their studies at the Royal Conservatoire, some students might wish to take out a student loan from their home country.

For several years, the Royal Conservatoire has participated in the US Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). However, as of 30 September 2007, the Royal Conservatoire’s participation in this loan program was terminated. For this reason, US students are advised to orientate on alternative financial aid.

Students from Canada who wish to apply to the National Student Loans Service Centre (NSLSC) for their student loans should know the Royal Conservatoire’s Institutional Code: QUHV.
Institutional Code assigned by the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Science in Québec: H9770A.

Students who need support from the Royal Conservatoire in the framework of their student loan application are advised to contact the International Students Adviser.