Extending the residence permit
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR DEGREE SEEKING STUDENTS
From 1 June 2013 onwards a new law, modern migration policy, will be enforced. This entails that if you do not reach 50% of your 60 yearly study credits your residence permit for study purposes may be revoked. As the practical implications of this new law are not fully known yet, we will publish updated information on our website as soon as this becomes available.
Extension or change of purpose?
A residence permit can only be extended when your residence situation does not change. The slightest change in your personal situation, may require a change of residence permit: For example:
- You have a residence permit for family reunion ("gezinshereniging"), but the legal residence of your parents in the Netherlands ends. This means that your residence permit has to be changed.
- You wish to continue to study at another university. This also means that your residence permit has to be changed.
- You have graduated and wish to look for a job or internship. This also means that your residence permit has to be changed.
An application for a change to or within the purpose of “study” at Maastricht University can only be done by Visa Office. Please consult the Visa Office of Maastricht University at least 2 months prior to the date the change will take place at visa@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Extending the easy way at the end of the academic year
Maastricht University degree students who have a residence permit for study will receive an email during the month of April, offering a collective and easy way to extend the existing residence permit for the next academic year.
The only 3 things you have to do are:
- provide a copy of the current residence permit
- pay the legal fees of € 150 in cash or through bank transfer
- fill out the statement on sufficient financial means
The extended residence permit cards will be issued at Maastricht University late May or early June.
For those that do not yet know whether they need an extension (e.g. because they are not sure whether they will graduate before or receive a negative binding study advice), the offer will be repeated early June. In that case, however:
- the new card will not be available before the end of August
- you will probably have to travel to the Immigration Front Office in Eindhoven to pick it up
- you will not be able to stay abroad after August 31st because you do not possess a valid residence permit to return later than that date.
After early June you will have to apply for the extension yourself.
Extending the difficult way
If you cannot make use of any of the options above, you must take care of the extension yourself. You should do this at least 2 months before the expiration date of your current permit.
The steps are the following:
- First complete the extension form; it is bilingual and self-explanatory. You can find the form and its explanatory notes here.
Please do not forget to:- complete all sections
- stick a new passport photograph on the photo card that meets the requirements of the photo matrix
- add a copy of your passport (make sure it is still valid)
- make a copy of all pages and enclosures
- Send the application to the address in Zwolle as mentioned in the explanatory notes. After 2 or 3 weeks you will receive an invoice to pay the legal fees of €150. Pay it at through your Dutch bank account as soon as possible.
- You will receive the decision on your application between 6 to 12 weeks after you have paid (if anything should be wrong, you will be contacted earlier).
- Upon receipt of the decision, it will take another 3 to 4 weeks before your final residence card is ready and you can pick it up at the Immigration Front Office in Eindhoven.
As much correspondence from Dutch Immigration is in Dutch, we strongly advise you to consult a Dutch-speaking person on its contents to prevent fines, or even worse, arrest and deportation.
Also, please make sure that you have a reliable address to avoid delays due to poor mail delivery.
