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“TO DO’S” AFTER ARRIVAL
There will be some practical matters that you will need to arrange shortly after your arrival. On the introduction day, you will hear about all the details, but here is some general information to give you an idea. Registration with the City of Utrecht municipality Everyone who stays in the Netherlands for more than four months is required to register with the local municipality. This will also allow you to be issued a BSN number (burgerservicenummer), a citizens’ services number which is required if you want to work, open a bank account, use any healthcare institution, or apply for study finance and other benefits in the Netherlands. The Nuffic organization has a page that describes the registration process and gives you further details about the municipal personal records database (Gemeentelijke Basis Administratie or GBA) and your BSN number. The International Office organizes a registration meeting with the municipality of Utrecht for all new international students. City of Utrecht Municipality, Utrecht City Hall (GBA), Administration Building, Arthur van Schendelstraat 500, Utrecht. Opening hours: from 9.00 to 15.00 Please check http://9292.nl for the bus lines to travel to Utrecht City Hall. Completing your enrolment with the university If you have not done so yet, please make sure that you complete your enrolment as soon as possible after arrival. If you do not do this, your HU e-mail and intranet accounts will be deactivated and you will have to discontinue your studies! The Enrolment Office can answer general questions about your enrolment. The Admissions Officers at the International Office can help you with any questions about the equivalency evaluation of your diploma and will also be there on the introduction day.
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Immigration for non-EU/EEA students After your arrival in the Netherlands, you will need to go to the immigration office to pick up your residence permit (VVR). The VVR is a small card that you will need to carry with you at all times and which also serves as your ID. At the international student introduction day, you will find out when and how to pick up the card from the local immigration office. Some nationalities are required by the immigration office to undergo a tuberculosis test as part of the residence permit application. If this applies to you, it is very important you have this test as early as possible, since your residence permit application cannot be completed without the results of your test. The immigration officer will inform you what exactly you need to do during the introduction day. Banking To open a bank account in the Netherlands, it is generally necessary to have a citizens’ services number (BSN). You will receive this BSN number a few days after you register with the municipality. To open a bank account, you will need an official declaration that you are a registered student at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, as well as your passport and your rental agreement. ING bank and ABN AMRO bank have special procedures for international students, which allow you to open a bank account without a BSN. You can open an account directly with ING on the introduction day if you wish. However, it is important to realize that you can choose any bank that you wish.