Moving to the Netherlands
Coming from abroad the Dutch culture can be both inspiring and surprising. This page is for first orientation, but also offers helpful information about requesting new, or extending and changing current visas or residence permits.
A brief introduction
Coming from abroad the Dutch culture can be both inspiring and surprising. A lot of practical information about the Netherlands can be found on the website The Netherlands and you.
Wageningen city
Wageningen is situated centrally in the Netherlands. It takes 25 minutes by train from Utrecht Central Station to Ede-Wageningen and from there the Campus is a 12 minute bus ride away.
There are historic and modern buildings, high-rise student flats, works of art and botanical gardens, adding to the diversity of Wageningen. About 10.000 students study at Wageningen University & Research, accounting for 20% of the population. The many international students, professors and researchers contribute to the vibrant atmosphere.
Wageningen has a thriving cultural and social life. Bars, restaurants, a cinema and a theatre create the elegance of a small city, in a beautiful rural setting. The nearby floodplains of the river Rhine and national park ‘de Veluwe’ are ideal for those who enjoy nature or like hiking, running or cycling.
Wageningen campus
Our campus is a centre where expertise and talent come together. Research, studying and business unite here and the iconic building in the middle of it all is called Forum. The main library is located here and is open 14 hours per day.
There are several places on the campus where one can relax and have a drink with friends and colleagues. For example, 'the Spot' in Orion offers drinks, dinners and different forms of indoor recreation (table tennis, pool, table soccer), whereas lunch and dinner can be enjoyed at one of the restaurants of Campus Plaza
Nearby sports centre ‘De Bongerd’ offers over 60 different sports ranging from tennis, squash and indoor biking to football, rugby and athletics. A membership of the sports centre costs only € 20 per month.
Visas and residence permit
At least 3 months prior to the intended date of arrival in Wageningen a candidate should be registered in the Wageningen PhD Programme via the Graduate School. See the timetable for all the steps of the PhD Programme.
Employed by Wageningen University & Research
Are you employed by Wageningen University & Research or do you bring your family to the Netherlands? Welcome Center Food Valley assists PhD candidates, or those that bring family members with the visa application procedure. Should a PhD candidate wish to come to the Netherlands with a spouse or partner and/or children, this needs to be discussed beforehand with the supervisor from the WUR.
Non employed by Wageningen University & Research
Are you non employed and are you coming to The Netherlands without a family? Then the following information applies to you.
Who can apply for a visa and residence permit?
The Doctoral Service Centre can arrange a visa and residence permit for a PhD candidate if:
- The PhD candidate has been admitted to the WU PhD programme (diplomas or qualifying exam have been approved and proficiency in the English language is considered sufficient);
- The PhD candidate comes without a family;
- The PhD candidate has a scholarship or own financing for living allowances of at least the amount that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service requires. This amount is adjusted twice a year on 1 January and 1 July and is € 1698,-/month between 1 July 2025 and 1 January 2026;
- The PhD candidate is not employed by WUR;
- The PhD candidate stays for a period longer than 3 months.
When to apply for a residence permit (and entry visa)
The Doctoral Service Centre can apply for a residence permit (and entry visa) if a contact person from the chair group sends a request to the Doctoral Service Centre at the latest 11 weeksbefore the intended start of the visa. ATTENTION: the procedure for chair groups of the Social Sciences Group is different. They must first contact the SSG Liaison Office (phd-liaisonoffice.ssg@wur.nl) who will start the application procedure.
Costs
The visa costs are € 243,-. These and any other additional costs related to the migration will be passed on to the chair group.
How to apply
A contact person from the chair group (or from SSG Liaison Office) sends a request (through an online form) to the Doctoral Service Centre. Find the link to this online form here and on the Intranet group page of Doctoral Service Centre.
After receiving the request form the Doctoral Service Centre will contact the PhD candidate for the documents needed.
During the course of the application procedure, the PhD candidate and the applicant will receive information and instructions from the Doctoral Service Centre.
Requested documents
(NOTE: all signed documents must have the same signature as on the passport).
- The Doctoral Service Centre will contact the PhD candidate to request the completed and signed antecedents certificate, permission to use personal details, information form PhD candidate and income statement;
- A clear scan of the passport (with signature, personal details page and stamped pages). The passport must still be valid for at least 6 months when the Doctoral Service Centre submits the application to the IND. The passport can either be uploaded into the online form or will be requested from the PhD candidate by the Doctoral Service Centre;
- The signed form: Hosting agreement Doctoral Service Centre. Please see the instruction. The hosting agreement must be drawn up by the chair group ( or by SSG Liaison Office ) and can be uploaded into the online form;
- One of the following proofs of sufficient finances for the period of residence:
- When a scholarship is paid directly to the PhD candidate by the scholarship provider: we need the scholarship letter (specifying the costs of living and period);
- When the PhD candidate receives the living allowances from the grant provider via WUR through the "kassiersfunctie", we need:
- the letter of agreement
- the grant award letter
- a reference in the hosting Agreement at point 5: The university fulfills the financial administration role for the grant. The living allowances of the PhD candidate will be received by WUR from the grant provider and transferred from WUR to the PhD candidate. Read more information about the “kassiersfunctie” here;
- When the PhD candidate finances the stay him-/herself: we need an recent bank statement (with an amount of at least the amount that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service requires) for each month of the requested stay in the Netherlands. This amount is adjusted twice a year on 1 January and 1 July and is € 1698,-/month between 1 July 2025 and 1 January 2026
Who can apply for an extension of the residence permit?
- The PhD candidate has a scholarship or own financing for living allowances of at least the amount that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service requires. This amount is adjusted twice a year on 1 January and 1 July and is € 1698,-/month between 1 July 2025 and 1 January 2026;
- The PhD candidate is not employed by WUR;
When to apply for an extension of the residence permit?
The Doctoral Service Centre can extend your residence permit if a contact person from the chair group sends a request to the Doctoral Service Centre at the latest 6 weeks before the current residence permit ends. ATTENTION: the procedure for chair groups of the Social Sciences Group is different. They must first contact the SSG Liaison Office (phd-liaisonoffice.ssg@wur.nl) who will start the application procedure.
If you have the plan to travel immediately after the start date of the extension of the residence permit, please note that the application must be submitted to DSC at latest 12 weeks before the start date, otherwise it could be that the residence permit card is not ready before departure.
Costs
The costs for extension of the residence permit are € 243,-. These costs will be passed on to the chair group.
How to apply
A contact person from the chair group (or from SSG Liaison Office) sends a request (through an online form) to the Doctoral Service Centre. Find the link to this online form here and on the Intranet group page of Doctoral Service Centre.
After receiving the request form, the Doctoral Service Centre will contact the PhD candidate for the documents needed.
During the course of the application procedure, the PhD candidate and the applicant will receive information and instructions from the Doctoral Service Centre.
Requested documents
(NOTE: all signed documents must have the signature as on the passport).
- The Doctoral Service Centre will contact the PhD candidate to request the completed and signed antecedents certificate, permission to use personal details, information form PhD candidate, income statement and a copy of the front and back of the current residence permit pass;
- A clear scan of the passport (with signature, personal details page and stamped pages). The passport must still be valid for at least 6 months when the Doctoral Service Centre submits the application to the IND. The passport can either be uploaded into the online form or will be requested from the PhD candidate by the Doctoral Service Centre;
- The signed form: Hosting agreement Doctoral Service Centre. Please see the instruction The hosting agreement must be drawn up by the chair group ( or by SSG Liaison Office ) and can be uploaded into the online form;
- One of the following proofs of sufficient finances for the period of residence:
- When a scholarship is paid directly to the PhD candidate by the scholarship provider: we need the sholarship letter (specifying the costs of living and period);
- When the PhD candidate receives the living allowances from the grant provider via WUR through the "kassiersfunctie", we need:
- the letter of agreement
- the grant award letter
- a reference in the hosting Agreement at point 5: The university fulfills the financial administration role for the grant. The living allowances of the PhD candidate will be received by WUR from the grant provider and transferred from WUR to the PhD candidate. Read more information about the “kassiersfunctie” here;
- When the PhD candidate finances the stay him-/herself: we need an recent bank statement (with an amount of at least the amount that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service requires) for each month of the requested stay in the Netherlands. This amount is adjusted twice a year on 1 January and 1 July and is € 1698,-/month between 1 July 2025 and 1 January 2026.
Who can apply for a change of purpose of a residence permit?
The Doctoral Service Centre can arrange the change of the purpose of a residence permit for a PhD candidate if:
- The PhD candidate has a scholarship or own financing for living allowances of at least the amount that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service requires. This amount is adjusted twice a year on 1 January and 1 July and is € 1698,-/month between 1 July 2025 and 1 January 2026;
- The PhD candidate is not employed by WUR;
When to apply for a change of purpose of a residence permit?
The Doctoral Service Centre can assist to change the purpose of your residence permit if a contact person from the chair group sends a request to the Doctoral Service Centre at the latest 6 weeks before the current residence permit ends. ATTENTION: the procedure for chair groups of the Social Sciences Group is different. They must first contact the SSG Liaison Office (phd-liaisonoffice.ssg@wur.nl) who will start the application procedure.
If you have the plan to travel immediately after the start date of the change of purpose of the residence permit, please note that the application must be submitted to DSC at latest 12 weeks before the start date, otherwise it could be that the residence permit card is not ready before departure.
Costs
The costs for extension of the residence permit are € 243,-. These costs will be passed on to the chair group.
How to apply
A contact person from the chair group (or from SSG Liaison Office) sends a request (through an online form) to the Doctoral Service Centre. Find the link to this online form here and on the Intranet group page of Doctoral Service Centre.
After receiving the request form the Doctoral Service Centre will contact the PhD candidate for the documents needed.
During the course of the application procedure, the PhD candidate and the applicant will receive information and instructions from the Doctoral Service Centre.
Requested documents
(NOTE: all signed documents must have the same signature as on the passport).
- The Doctoral Service Centre will contact the PhD candidate to request the completed and signed antecedents certificate, permission to use personal details, information form PhD candidate, income statement and a copy of the front and back of the current residence permit pass;
- A clear scan of the passport (with signature, personal details page and stamped pages). The passport must still be valid for at least 6 months when the Doctoral Service Centre submits the application to the IND. The passport can either be uploaded into the online form or will be requested from the PhD candidate by the Doctoral Service Centre;
- The signed form: Hosting agreement Doctoral Service Centre. Please see the instruction. The Hosting agreement must be drawn up by the chair group ( or by SSG Liaison Office ) and can be uploaded into the online form;
- One of the following proofs of sufficient finances for the period of residence:
- When a scholarship is paid directly to the PhD candidate by the scholarship provider: we need the scholarship letter (specifying the costs of living and period);
- When the PhD candidate receives the living allowances from the grant provider via WUR through the "kassiersfunctie", we need:
- the letter of agreement
- the grant award letter
- a reference in the hosting Agreement at point 5: The university fulfills the financial administration role for the grant. The living allowances of the PhD candidate will be received by WUR from the grant provider and transferred from WUR to the PhD candidate. Read more information about the “kassiersfunctie” here;
- When the PhD candidate finances the stay him-/herself: we need an recent bank statement (with an amount of at least the amount that the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service requires) for each month of the requested stay in the Netherlands. This amount is adjusted twice a year on 1 January and 1 July and is € 1698,-/month between 1 July 2025 and 1 January 2026.
Expats & new international staff
Find more information about living in the Netherlands on our expats and new international staff webpage.
Immigration office
Do you have questions about moving to The Netherlands? Contact the immigration office of the Doctoral Service Center.