VISA POLICIES

Work permit for PhD students: Any scientific research is seen as work under the Dutch law. If you are doing your PhD you are an employee of the university, not a student. This is regardless of whether or not a contract exists or a salary is paid.

PERMISSION TO WORK IN NETHERLANDS

You need a work permit to work in the Netherlands . The following academic activities are perceived as working: lecturing, doing a student internship or work placement, conducting research, and pursuing a doctorate or PhD from a paid position. The employer must apply for your work permit.

If you have a residence permit for study purposes you may earn money on the side. Such work must be either seasonal (in June, July and/or August) or less than ten hours a week. Your employer must apply for a work permit for you in this case as well.

PROCESSING OF VISA APPLICATION

Procedure : The procedure involves completing an application form and presenting all relevant documents. It will take about three to six months (and is some cases even longer) to process your application. Be sure to apply for your MVV as early as possible. When you apply for an MVV, the diplomatic representative submits a formal request to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Netherlands for authorization to issue the MVV to you. In some cases the local office of the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization department is consulted, and on the basis of the collected information a decision is taken. The embassy informs you of the decision.

Fee : When you apply for an authorization for temporary stay, you have to pay a handling fee (administration fee) of € 50.