Your responsibilities
If you need a Dutch visa and/or residence permit for study, Maastricht University (UM) must apply for one on your behalf.
UM is recognised by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) as a sponsor for international students. This recognised sponsorship comes with responsibilities for both UM and for you as a student.
For this reason, admission to a study programme does not automatically mean that UM will apply for a visa and/or residence permit for you. Before we submit an application, we assess whether you meet all requirements and whether UM is willing and able to act as your recognised sponsor. The IND makes the final decision on your visa and/or residence permit.
What we expect from you
Before UM can apply for your visa and/or residence permit for study, you must:
- have paid the full institutional tuition fee in one lump sum;
- have deposited €15,000 in the UM bank account to demonstrate sufficient funds for living expenses, or have provided proof of an acceptable scholarship for this amount;
- have paid the €254 fee for your visa and/or residence permit application;
- have met all other applicable admission and enrolment requirements, except for providing the required hard copy of your diploma;
- have submitted all required documents and forms for the legal visa and/or residence permit procedure;
- provide complete, accurate and timely information when requested by UM.
Please note: if applicable to your programme, any outstanding deficiencies must have been resolved and, for a numerus fixus programme, you must have accepted the place offered to you.
As a recognised sponsor, UM must also be satisfied that your main purpose for coming to the Netherlands is to study in the programme for which you have been admitted. We may therefore ask you additional questions about, for example, your motivation to study, your choice of UM and your personal circumstances.
Meeting deadlines and providing complete and accurate information is essential.
If you do not meet the requirements, provide incomplete or inaccurate information, or miss the applicable deadlines, UM may not be able to apply for your visa and/or residence permit. As a result, you may not be able to complete your enrolment or start your study programme at UM.
What you can expect from us
If you meet the requirements and UM agrees to act as your recognised sponsor, we will:
- guide you through the visa and/or legal residence procedure;
- tell you which documents and information you need to provide;
- assess whether the requirements for sponsorship have been met;
- submit the application for your visa and/or residence permit to the IND on your behalf;
- keep you informed about the progress of your application and any action required from you.
The IND makes the final decision on your visa and/or residence permit.