Bangladesh is pressuring the Netherlands to streamline student visa processing and reduce rejection rates for its citizens. While Dutch officials have agreed to review documentation and apostille requirements, recent policy shifts toward stricter intent screening and finite visa limits in both the Netherlands and the United States indicate a more challenging environment for international students seeking long-term stays through education.
- Bangladesh requested the Netherlands resolve student visa delays and high rejection rates during a meeting in Manila.
- The Dutch government agreed to review apostille documentation issues impacting Bangladeshi students with active admission offers.
- Foreign enrollment in the Netherlands dropped for the first time in twenty years as visa protocols tightened.
Bangladesh pressed the Netherlands on July 24, 2026, to clear "prolonged processing times" and an "increasing rate of rejections" for a student visa pipeline affecting Bangladeshi applicants. Dr. Khalilur Rahman raised the matter with Dutch Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen. It took place in Manila.
Berendsen said the concerns would receive "due consideration." He also said the Dutch government would "review the issues surrounding student visas and apostille documentation" to reach a satisfactory solution. The reply kept the door open. It did not promise a fix.
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Bangladesh said the delays were already hitting students who have admission offers from Dutch universities. Rahman asked the Netherlands to lift limits on Bangladeshi apostille documents, which officials described as a hurdle in the application process. The pressure is practical. Students need clearance before they can travel.
The complaints were not new. On January 30, 2026, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel said the embassy was tightening scrutiny because many applicants were using "education as a cover to stay long-term" rather than for genuine study. The same hard line has also raised more "non-genuine intention" questions for Bangladeshi applicants. That has left families waiting.
That broader shift is visible in both systems. One uses fixed admission periods. The other uses stricter document checks and intent screening. Both add friction for students already admitted.
On July 16, 2026, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced a final rule ending "duration of status" for international students. He said:
"For nearly half a century, the outdated 'duration of status' system has compromised national security and created an environment ripe for immigration fraud. By implementing clear, finite limits on these visas, the United States is reclaiming its ability to properly screen, vet, and monitor individuals within our borders. This final rule ensures that foreign students remain focused on their primary purpose: completing their studies and returning home."
DHS published the rule on July 17, 2026. It limits admission to four years for F-1 and J-1 students, who must seek an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS if they need more time.
Dutch universities are already feeling the squeeze
Foreign enrollment in the Netherlands fell for the first time in 20 years in June 2026, and stricter visa protocols were among the reasons cited. That happened before the Manila meeting. The timing matters.
The tension now sits between two kinds of checks. One is paperwork, including apostille recognition. The other is scrutiny of intent. Both can slow a file. Both can stop it.
Students admitted for the Fall 2026 semester face the sharpest risk. A backlog now can still push them past their start dates. The Dutch side said it would review the applications and apostille issues. Time is short.
