This change in policy comes in response to allegations that the Netherlands was specifically targeting Chinese students in its visa screening process. The Dutch government has denied these allegations and clarified that they are tightening the screening process for all foreign students.
The Dutch Immigration Service has announced that the Nuffic certificate is no longer mandatory for Chinese students applying for an MVV visa or long-stay visa in the Netherlands.
As a result, Chinese students no longer need to obtain this document from Nuffic and include it in their student visa application.
Previously, Chinese students were required to possess a Nuffic certificate to be eligible for a Dutch entry visa and enroll in an English-taught study program. However, this does not apply to nationals from Hong Kong (SAR), Macau (SAR), and Taiwan (ROC).
This change in policy comes in response to allegations that the Netherlands was specifically targeting Chinese students in its visa screening process. The Dutch government has denied these allegations and clarified that they are tightening the screening process for all foreign students from outside the European Union, not just Chinese students.
It is yet to be verified whether the removal of the Nuffic certificate is a direct response to the criticism and concerns raised by critics and education experts. However, this policy change is certainly a positive development for Chinese students who aspire to obtain a degree in the Netherlands.
In May, The Netherlands announced its intention to further restrict the number of international students entering the country. They stated their intention to implement specific measures to regulate the enrollment of foreign students.
During the same month, the government introduced a new tool aimed at simplifying the recognition of microcredentials required for screening Chinese students who wish to study in the country. However, this tool, along with the Nuffic certificates, will soon be discontinued following the decision made by IND.
The previous restrictions imposed by the Dutch government can be seen as a response to a report released in April by the Dutch intelligence service, which warned Dutch universities about Chinese espionage tactics, as they are considered an attractive target.
