2016-2017 INTERNATIONAL OFFICE Immigration Booklet For ExchangevStudents from Australia, Canada, New Zealand www.tilburguniversity.edu/immigration International Office 1 Version 1.0-February 2013 CONTENTS FOREWORD ............................................................................................................................................. 3 1. 2. THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE ............................................................................................................. 4 1.1 Introduction of Immigration Officers ...................................................................................... 4 1.2 Contact details......................................................................................................................... 4 IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES .......................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service ....................................................................... 5 2.2 Countries ................................................................................................................................. 5 2.3 WHP/WHS application process ............................................................................................... 5 2.3.1 WHP/WHS application process step by step ................................................................... 6 2.3.2 Immigration fee ............................................................................................................... 7 2.3.3 Documents required........................................................................................................ 7 2.3.4 Approval of your WHP/WHS-application ........................................................................ 8 2.3.5 How long will the process take? ..................................................................................... 8 2.4 Residence permit..................................................................................................................... 8 2.4.1 3. ADDITIONAL IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS............................................................................... 10 3.1 4. Validity of your residence permit .................................................................................... 9 Registration at Municipality .................................................................................................. 10 3.1.1 Documents required for registration ............................................................................ 11 3.1.2 Deregistration at Municipality....................................................................................... 11 ADDITIONAL ISSUES ON STUDYING AT TILBURG UNIVERSITY....................................................... 12 4.1 Arrival in Tilburg .................................................................................................................... 12 4.2 Insurance ............................................................................................................................... 12 4.2.1 Health insurance............................................................................................................ 12 4.2.2 Personal liability insurance............................................................................................ 12 4.2.3 Other insurance ............................................................................................................. 12 4.3 Travelling after arrival in the Netherlands ............................................................................ 13 4.4 Visas/Residence permits for family members....................................................................... 13 5. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS .................................................................................................. 14 6. SHORT SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................... 16 7. SCHEMATIC REPRODUCTION OF WHP/WHS-APPLICATION PROCESS .......................................... 17 FOREWORD Congratulations on making Tilburg University your choice for further education, as a non-degree seeking student on one of our many exchange programs with our partner universities worldwide. Tilburg University provides high quality education and research, and is recognized as one of Europe’s best universities. In addition, we welcome more than 750 international students from more than 60 countries each year, which gives our campus and our programs a very diverse flavor. Over recent years, the Dutch government has encouraged the growth of international students through both its education and immigration policies. Although the Netherlands has the reputation for having complicated immigration procedures for international students, this is not the case and the government continues to make immigration procedures simpler, putting the administrative load on the university rather than our students. This means that it is now easier than ever for international students to choose to study at Tilburg University. We, at the central International Office have created this booklet to explain the procedures in general terms and as they apply to international students coming to study at Tilburg University specifically. More information will be given to you personally at each stage of the process by our Immigration Officers at the central International Office. The central International Office includes amongst its staff a number of non-Dutch employees who have had to go through the procedures detailed in this booklet. This combined with the wide experience we have built up in assisting our international students, gives us both an understanding and experience of both sides of the processes. We have dedicated employees who will help you through every step of the process, dealing with your application on an individual basis, taking into account your personal circumstances. We are committed to making the immigration processes simpler for you and enabling your applications to be dealt with quickly, efficiently and, most importantly, successfully. Students, who have been through the process, agree that we are successful in what we do. Once every two years, our international students take part in a questionnaire, giving their views on all aspects of student life at Tilburg University. Our students consistently rate our Immigration Office as one of the top 1 in the Netherlands and, according to the results of our own questionnaire in August 2013, more than 85% of students are either satisfactory or highly satisfactory with our service. However, we are constantly looking for ways to improve the service we offer and will contact you at various stages in the process to ask for your feedback. Please read this booklet carefully to see what requirements apply to you and do not hesitate to contact one of our Immigration Officers with any queries you may have as soon as you receive an email from them. We look forward to contacting you all over the coming months and welcoming you to Tilburg University. Roos Hogenkamp Director International Office of Tilburg University 1. THE IMMIGRATION OFFICE 1.1 Introduction of Immigration Officers Daphne Galekop Having grown up as an Expat’s daughter in Belgium I have always had a fascination for different languages and cultures. After having studied in the Netherlands I returned to Belgium where I worked for an international law firm specialized in corporate immigration. At the end of 2013, I moved “back” to the Netherlands, becoming an expat in my own country of nationality. I started working for Tilburg University’s Central International Office in April 2014. Seen both my personal and professional experience I am looking forward to assisting you in obtaining the necessary paperwork in order to study in the Netherlands and making your stay here as pleasant as possible. My working days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Coordinator Immigration Office Hülya Koçak I have been working as an Immigration Officer at the central International Office since January 2009. Originally, from Turkey I have spent the majority of my life in the Netherlands, benefiting from the best that both cultures have to offer! I really enjoy my work here at the Immigration Office. The best part of my job is the contact I have with all the different nationalities we welcome to the University each semester. It is also satisfying when we receive feedback from students, confirming how easy the visa and residence permit applications have been for them and thanking us for our help and support. I am very much looking forward to contacting you over the coming months and ensuring that your visa and residence permit applications are dealt with quickly and efficiently. My working days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday morning, Thursday and Friday morning. Marja Bluekens I have always been fascinated by other cultures and foreign languages. This is one of the reasons that I decided to study in Belgium. And I really had a great time there! After that, I started working at the International Office of Tilburg University. Looking for a new challenge, I began working as Immigration Officer in January 2012. What I like most about my work is the contact with international students. I am always happy to answer your questions or help you out in case you have a problem. I look forward to welcoming you and I hope you will have the time of your life here! My working days are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 1.2 Contact details Telephone E-mail Website Walk-in hours Location International Office : : : : : + 31 (0)13 466 4166 immigration@tilburguniversity.edu www.tilburguniversity.edu/immigration Every Tuesday from 10 am to 12 pm & Thursday from 2 pm to 4 pm Academia building, Student Desk, 3rd floor 4 Version 1 / 2016 2. IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES As an international student coming from one of the countries listed below, you are required to apply for a Dutch residence permit since your stay will exceed the time limit of 90 days. This document will be proof of your legal stay during your period of study at our university. 2.1 Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service The Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (known as the IND) has an important government task. The IND is responsible for implementing immigration and naturalization policies in the Netherlands. The IND issues decisions on applications for residency and naturalization in accordance with Dutch law. In order to do so, the IND has to clearly set out the rules that apply to foreign nationals in the Netherlands. The IND applies those rules as objectively and consistently as possible. 2.2 Countries If you are a passport holder from one of the countries listed below, you must apply for a residence permit which proves your legal residency during your studies at Tilburg University: Australia Canada New Zealand Exchange students (NO degree seeking students!) from Australia, Canada and New Zealand have the possibility to apply for the Working Holiday Program (for Canadian nationals) or Working Holiday Scheme (for Australian and New Zealander nationals) instead of a residence permit for study purposes. These cultural programs offer students the opportunity of a ‘working holiday’ (with the possibility of paid work). However, work cannot be the main purpose of your stay in the Netherlands; the chief purpose must be for you to learn about Dutch society and culture. The IND has opened Working Holiday Program/Working Holiday Scheme to Exchange students as well. 2.3 WHP/WHS application process What conditions do you have to meet? You wish to come to the Netherlands for longer than three months as part of a Tilburg University exchange program. You must: have a valid passport be a minimum of 18 years and a maximum of 30 years of age (both inclusive at the time of application (you must enter the Netherlands in time to register at the local town hall before your 31st birthday) have health insurance with cover in the Netherlands have a return ticket or sufficient funds to purchase one have no criminal conviction International Office 5 Version 1 / 2016 Please note that you are only allowed to apply for WHP/WHS once and are not eligible if you have been granted one before. If you meet these conditions and if you want to apply for a residence permit through the Working Holiday Program (WHP) or the Working Holiday Scheme (WHS), please read this Immigration booklet for exchange students from Australia, Canada and New Zealand. If you do not meet these conditions please read the Immigration Booklet for passport holders from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, United States of America and Vatican City. Below you will find the application process in steps for the residence permit through the WHP/WHSprocedure. 2.3.1 WHP/WHS application process step by step 1. You will receive a letter/email of acceptance from the School of Tilburg University. 2. The School will send your dossier to Immigration Office of central International Office. 3. After the Immigration Officer has received your dossier, you will receive an email. 4. In this email you will be asked for certain required documents (see paragraph 2.3.3) Next to these documents you will also need to complete the application form for the residence permit, which will be attached to the email 5. Once you have arranged all the required documents, you must upload all of them in the online system and click on ‘submit’. The Immigration Officer will check and will give you feedback. 6. When the documents have been approved by the Immigration Officer, she will inform you via email. 7. You must bring all the approved original documents with you to the Netherlands. 8. After your arrival at Tilburg University, you must register with local municipality and go to IND ‘s-Hertogenbosch for submitting your WHP/WHS-application. At the IND desk your biometric data* will be taken and a sticker in your passport will be placed. You will receive more detailed information about the submitting part after arrival. * International Office Biometric data: As of January 2014 you have to have your photograph and fingerprints taken for your Dutch residence permit. This means that you no longer have to enclose your passport photo with your application. Including fingerprints on a residence permit is compulsory under a European regulation. This increases the security of a residence permit and helps to combat fraud and misuse. 6 Version 1 / 2016 2.3.2 Immigration fee Tilburg University does not charge students for the assistance you receive from our Immigration Officers at the central International Office. However, the IND does charge for the processing of applications. Students should therefore pay as follows: Dutch residence permit € 50 You will have to pay the fee in cash during your appointment at the IND. Information about your appointment will be given after arrival at Tilburg University. 2.3.3 Documents required Passport Your passport must be valid for the duration of your program (until at least 31 January 2017 if you start your studies in the first semester of the academic year OR 31 August 2017 if your start your studies in the second semester of the academic year). You will need to include copies of the pages with your personal details and signature and those with any stickers or stamps on them for your application. Copies of blank pages with nothing on them do not have to be included in the application. NOTE: If you have already had a Dutch residence permits application refused for any reason, it will also be helpful to send us copies of any letters you have received at that time, indicating the reason for refusal. Financial Proof The IND requires proof that you are able to support yourself financially in the Netherlands during your period of study. For this residence permit application, you have to proof that you have a return ticket to your home country. You will need to attach a copy of your return ticket to your application. Although you are not required to provide proof of sufficient means of support, we strongly recommend that you have at least € 875 per month available (plus return ticket) in the Netherlands, as employment is not assured. Health insurance For the residence permit application you have to proof that you have health insurance with cover in the Netherlands. You will need to attach a copy of your insurance policy or your insurance card to your application. International Office 7 Version 1 / 2016 2.3.4 Approval of your WHP/WHS-application 1. You will receive approval of your WHP/WHS-application from the IND at your registered Dutch address. 2. The IND will send a letter to us confirming that the residence permit card can be collected. 3. You will have to collect the residence permit card. 2.3.5 How long will the process take? This process may take as long as three months. It may also take less than three months. However, we cannot guarantee when you will receive your Dutch residence permit card. The IND puts a sticker in your passport, confirming that you have applied for a residence permit. This sticker confirms that you have an immigration procedure in progress and confirms your legal residency in the Netherlands. 2.4 Residence permit Your residence permit allows you to live legally in the Netherlands. It also acts as a travel document, allowing you to travel to other Schengen1 area and to return to the Netherlands after your travels. This permit is entitled as a residence permit type 1, regular limited period. Example of a Dutch residence permit card Front of Dutch residence permit Purpose of stay (working holiday program) will be mentioned here. Back of Dutch residence permit 1 Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland International Office 8 Version 1 / 2016 When you collect your card, it is important that you check if the information on the card is correct. Please note that you will only receive the card on showing your original passport. We strongly advise you to make a photo of front and back of your residence permit card and send it to your personal email address so you can have access to it whenever you might lose it. 2.4.1 Validity of your residence permit Your residence permit will be valid for one year from the date you have submitted your application to the IND. International Office 9 Version 1 / 2016 3. ADDITIONAL IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS 3.1 Registration at Municipality Different countries have different ways of recording their population, e.g. some countries choose to carry out a census every 10 years. However, the Netherlands has a system whereby a live database (BRP) is maintained, recording the most important information about the population. Dutch law therefore requires all those living in the Netherlands (both Dutch nationals and non-Dutch nationals) to register at the municipality in the area in which they live in order to keep this database up-to-date. Registration is free of charge. If you will be living in Tilburg and you are an Exchange student who applies for a residence permit through the WHP/WHS, the Immigration Office will block appointments with the Municipality for all Non-EU students in September (first semester) and in February (second semester). More information will be given to you after your arrival at Tilburg University. Registration at the local municipality is mandatory for: Degree students. Exchange students who will be enrolled for more than one semester at Tilburg University. Exchange students who apply for a residence permit through the Working Holiday Program or Working Holiday Scheme. Students who will be studying at Tilburg University for only one semester, but who wish to work during their time here. Students who will be accompanied by their spouse irrespective of their length of study at Tilburg University. Between four and six weeks after your registration at Municipality, you will receive confirmation of your registration trough a letter which will be sent to your Dutch home address. You must check that the information is correct and keep the document safe. The document also has your Citizen Service Number (in Dutch it is called: burgerservicenummer (BSN)) on it. This is a unique identifier and must be used: if you have a part time job, you must give it to your employer who will use it to ensure that you are employed legally in the Netherlands. you must also use this whenever you have any dealings with e.g. banks, insurance companies, police etc. based in the Netherlands. to open a Dutch bank account, if you do not choose to do it through Tilburg University. International Office 10 Version 1 / 2016 3.1.1 Documents required for registration Generally, the following documents are required for registration with your municipality of residence: Passport and a copy thereof; Signed rental agreement, confirming your address in the Netherlands and a copy thereof; Proof of legal residence (can be obtained from the Immigration Office in case required); Translated (into Dutch, English, French or German in case not issued in one of these languages) and legalized ‘long form’ (i.e. mentioning the names of the parents) birth certificate not older than 6 months. * * In case you will be living in the municipality of Tilburg AND you register with town hall during the time slots reserved by Tilburg University’s Immigration Office, you are in principle NOT required to submit a birth certificate. Special arrangements between the municipality and the Immigration Office have been made in this respect. Should you register with town hall outside the reserved time slots then you may be required to submit your legalized and translated birth certificate. The municipality will then inform you accordingly. If you will be living somewhere other than Tilburg, you must contact your local municipality yourself to arrange for your registration. Please keep in mind that those other municipality may require also an original certified birth certificate for your registration 3.1.2 Deregistration at Municipality If you registered as a resident at the local municipality upon your arrival in Tilburg, you must deregister before you leave the Netherlands. If you live in Tilburg, you can download the form ‘Notification of move abroad’ on the website of Tilburg Municipality. At the appropriate time the Immigration Office will inform you. International Office 11 Version 1 / 2016 4. ADDITIONAL ISSUES ON STUDYING AT TILBURG UNIVERSITY 4.1 Arrival in Tilburg We would strongly recommend that all students arrive at Tilburg University on the Arrival Days and attend the full Tilburg Orientation Program (TOP). Your School will inform you on the exact dates. Tilburg Orientation Program is the introduction week for all Tilburg students: Dutch and foreign. In addition to providing useful sessions introducing you to Tilburg University, Tilburg and the Netherlands, the Immigration Officers will give a presentation about the immigration processes for students who have just arrived in the Netherlands. For more information about the Arrival Days and the Tilburg Orientation Program, please look at the following link: http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/exchangeprogrammes/practicalissues/afterarrival/arrivaldays/ 4.2 Insurance It is extremely important to have the correct insurance for your period of study in the Netherlands. Below are the most important types of insurance. These types of insurance can either be bought in one package, or in separate parts taking into account your individual circumstances and any existing insurance cover you may already have. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate insurance cover for every day of your stay in the Netherlands. For further information, please click here. 4.2.1 Health insurance Your policy must cover you for the following: repatriation on medical grounds urgent medical care emergency hospital treatment (including admission and treatment costs for a period of stay in a hospital or psychiatric institution) If you have private health insurance in your own country, please check with your insurance company before your arrival in the Netherlands to check whether or not the coverage of your insurance meets these requirements. 4.2.2 Personal liability insurance We also strongly recommend you to take out personal liability insurance for the duration of your studies in the Netherlands. Personal liability insurance covers costs if you should accidentally injure another person or accidentally cause damage to someone else’s property. 4.2.3 Other insurance Tilburg University advises you to take out insurance to cover loss or damage to your possessions during your period of study (household content insurance) and travel insurance to cover your belongings and medical care when you are travelling. However, some of this insurance cover may be included in your current insurance package, particularly packages offered to international students. Please therefore check with your insurance company to confirm details of the cover offered. International Office 12 Version 1 / 2016 4.3 Travelling after arrival in the Netherlands With your Dutch residence permit, you will be able to travel to the Schengen countries2. Tilburg University’s Immigration Officers are not able to keep updated with the travel requirements for other countries in Europe and we would therefore strongly recommend that you check requirements with the embassy of the country to which you wish to travel, either in your own country before you come to the Netherlands or with the appropriate embassy in the Netherlands after your arrival to make sure that your travel plans will not be disrupted. 4.4 Visas/Residence permits for family members Tilburg University does NOT apply for visas and residence permits for family members. If you wish to bring your family member(s) with you to the Netherlands, you can contact the Dutch Embassy/Consulate in your home country or the IND in the Netherlands. The IND brochure ’Enabling a family member or relatives to come to the Netherlands’ can be found through this link: https://ind.nl/EN/Documents/3085.pdf. On page 9 you will find the contact details of the IND in case you need more information about the requirements. For details of the Dutch Embassies/Consulates, please see the following website: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Please take into account that the procedure for your family will take a maximum of 90 days. The costs for the application fee and how much funds you must have to sponsor your family member(s), can be found here: https://ind.nl/EN/individuals/family/costs-income-requirements The application form which you need to complete, can be collected from the Dutch diplomatic post. Please be aware that Immigration Officers of Tilburg University are not up-to-date with the requirements for visas/residence permits for family members. Therefore we strongly recommend you to contact the IND when you have specific questions regarding this application process. 2 Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland International Office 13 Version 1 / 2016 5. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. I have more than one nationality. Do I have to apply for a residence permit? It depends on which nationalities you hold and what the requirements are for those nationalities. Please contact the Immigration Officer for advice at immigration@tilburguniversity.edu. If you are an exchange student, you must also check with your home institution whether they have specific requirements regarding the nationality under which you are registered at Tilburg University. 2. Do I have to apply for a residence permit by a certain date? In the first email you receive from the Immigration Office, there will be a deadline by which you should email any required documents for approval. This deadline is given to ensure that you have time to arrange the documents which meet the requirements of the IND. It is therefore important that you meet this deadline. But, the sooner you send the documents via email to the Immigration Officer, the better. But not before you have been contacted by the Immigration Office about what documents are required! 3. Can I start to prepare the documents now for my WHP/WHS-application? No! There are several reasons for this. Firstly, until your details have been given to the Immigration Officer, it is not certain exactly which documents you will need to provide, if any. In addition, the IND requires that documents are less than three months old when you hand in your application. Preparing documents too far in advance may mean that you have to request new documents later in the year. When you receive the first email from the Immigration Office, you will be given internet links which will provide you with all the information you need and examples of the documents required. The process is therefore as simple as we can make it. We would therefore ask you to wait until you receive that email. 4. Do I have to have any medical/physical checks before I come to the Netherlands? No. The IND requires no medical/physical checks or certificates before you enter the Netherlands. 5. What happens to me if I don’t apply for my residence permit? If you do not fill out the residence permit application form and meet the appointment with the Municipality and the IND after arrival at Tilburg University, your WHP/WHS-application will not be complete. If you do not have a Dutch residence permit, you do not meet all the requirements of enrollment at Tilburg University, which means we cannot enroll you as a student. Since your stay exceeds the time limit of 90 days you will be an illegal immigrant. International Office 14 Version 1 / 2016 6. What do I do if I lose my residence permit card? Firstly, we would strongly advise you to make a photo both the back and front of your residence permit AND email it to yourself so that you have access to it anywhere in the world. If you lose your residence permit card or it is stolen, you should contact the Immigration Office. You may also check the website of the Immigration Office, which is: https://www.tilburguniversity.edu/education/immigration/noneu/currentstudent/#residence_p ermit_card_lost_or_stolen . Please be informed that IND charges 259 Euros for a new residence permit card, which you must pay yourself. 8. What do I do if I change my address in the Netherlands? If you move accommodation during your period of study in the Netherlands, you must always inform: Tilburg University. This can be done online via the University’s website. Go to http://www.tilburguniversity.edu/students/ and click on ‘Change of address’ The Municipality where you are registered. This should be done as soon as possible after you have moved. For those who will be living in Tilburg, can use the form ‘Notification Change of Address’. This can be collected from the Immigration Office. The Municipality of Tilburg details can be found via http://www.tilburg.nl/contact/ International Office 15 Version 1 / 2016 6. SHORT SUMMARY The process of applying for your residence permit is a joint effort between you and the Immigration Officers. We need your help and cooperation to ensure your application is dealt with quickly, efficiently and successfully. We would therefore ask you to do the following: 1. Check your email regularly The Immigration Officers will contact you directly via email about your application. In order to avoid delay, we need you to respond quickly if we have any additional requests. When you change your email address during the process, please inform the Immigration Office and your school. 2. Follow the instructions given to you by the Immigration Officers Our expertise will ensure that, if you follow the instructions given, there should be no problems with your application. 3. Contact the Immigration Officer if you do not understand the instructions given to you We are more than happy to explain what is required because it is important that you understand what the requirements are. 4. Attend the immigration session during TOP-week You will get additional immigration information. 5. Attend your appointment at Municipality and IND You will get more information on that during immigration session. International Office 16 Version 1 / 2016 7. SCHEMATIC REPRODUCTION OF WHP/WHS-APPLICATION PROCESS WHP/WHS-application for Dutch residence permit You will receive a letter/email of acceptance from your Tilburg University School After the Immigration Officer has received your dossier, you will receive an email from the Immigration Office You must email the required documents and the completed application form to the Immigration Officer for approval. When the documents have been approved by the Immigration Officer, you are required to bring the original documents with you to the Netherlands. You travel to the Netherlands. You attend the immigration session during TOP-week. You go to your appointment at the IND ‘s-Hertogenbosch to hand in your WHP/WHS-application and to have your photograph and fingerprints taken for your Dutch residence permit card. You go to your appointment to register at Municipality. After your residence permit card is ready to be collected, the Immigration Officer will inform you when and where to collect your card. International Office 17 Version 1 / 2016