Practical Information


When you decide to spend a study period at Erasmus University Rotterdam it is important to start preparing your stay well in time. There are many practical matters that you need to take care of prior to departure. 

Housing

When you’re coming from abroad, Erasmus University offers help in finding you a place to live in Rotterdam for your first year in the Netherlands.

Visa

If you hold citizenship of any country within the European Union or Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the USA, you don’t need a visa or so-called Authorisation for Temporary Residence (in Dutch: MVV) to enter the Netherlands. You may apply for a Residence Permit (Vergunning tot Verblijf or VTV) after your arrival.

If you have another country’s nationality, you need an Authorisation of Temporary Residence (MVV) to enter the Netherlands.

After you’ve been accepted to the ERIM Research Master programme, we’ll start the accelerated visa procedure for you. This procedure takes approximately four to six weeks.

With the Authorisation of Temporary Residence (MVV), you need to apply for a Residence Permit (VTV) at the Alien Registration Office in the Netherlands after your arrival.

  • For more information on visa requirements and residence permits visit Erasmus University's immigration page

Health care & insurance

Medical and dental care can be quite expensive in the Netherlands. To obtain your residence permit, you need to have adequate health insurance.

Most national health insurance packages within the EU are valid in the Netherlands. It’s important to ask your health insurance company for a statement, confirming that your medical expenses in the Netherlands will be covered during your stay.

Next steps

Please note that on arrival you need to follow certain other procedures as well. For example, you might need to open a bank account and apply for a social fiscal number. Once you have taken care of these matters, you can gradually start settling in. Erasmus University offers some tips that can accelerate this process.