Netherlands – Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (Appendix 3)
Lists Netherlands qualifications exempt from NZQA assessment for Skilled Migrant Category residence and some work visa applications under Appendix 3.
- Status
- active
- Updated
- 2026-04-28
- Also known as
- Netherlands qualifications
- Sources
- N-netherlands
At a glance
The Netherlands‑specific list of qualifications exempt from assessment forms part of Appendix 3 and applies to applicants for residence under the Skilled Migrant Category (SM) and to certain work visa applicants under WI instructions who hold Dutch qualifications [N‑netherlands]. The list assigns a New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) level and points under SM for named qualifications awarded by specific institutions, provided all conditions are met. No International Qualification Assessment from NZQA is required when a qualification falls within the list, subject to the mandatory NZQA referrals described below [N‑netherlands].
Definition
A qualification from the Netherlands is exempt from assessment if all of the following are true [N‑netherlands]:
- The qualification appears in the Academic Qualifications Table.
- The awarding institution appears in the Awarding Institutions Table.
- The qualification abbreviation matches the right‑hand column in the Awarding Institutions Table.
- The qualification was awarded from or within the year range listed in the right‑hand column of the Awarding Institutions Table.
- The qualification is not excluded by the notes listed under the Academic Qualifications Table.
The list does not certify that the qualification is comparable to any similarly‑named New Zealand qualification; it only states the NZQF level for immigration points purposes [N‑netherlands].
Academic Qualifications Table
| Qualification | Abbreviation* | Level in NZQF terms | Points under SMC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Arts (speciality stated) | BA | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelor of Science (speciality stated) | BS | 7 | 50 |
| Doctorandus / doctoral (doctoraal examen / examination) | DX | 8 | 50 |
| Ingenieur (doctoraal examen / examination) | IR | 8 | 50 |
| Master of Arts (speciality stated) | MA | 8 | 50 |
| Master of Science (speciality stated) | MS | 8 | 50 |
| Meester in de Rechten / Meester (doctoraal examen / examination) | MR | 8 | 50 |
| Doctoraat (with title of doctor)** | D | 10 | 70 |
| Doctor of Philosophy | PhD | 10 | 70 |
| Professional Doctorate in Engineering | Requires assessment by NZQA | — | — |
* Abbreviations are for the purpose of this list only.
** A doctorandus / doctoral / doctoraal should not be confused with a doctoraat.
If an applicant believes their qualification may be higher than the level stated they should apply to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment [N‑netherlands].
Note:
Award certificates must be provided in their original language. Some are in Latin; in those cases translated copies from the university must also be presented. Translations should not be used to determine the name of the awarded degree [N‑netherlands].
The following must be referred to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment [N‑netherlands]:
- All honorary degrees
- All listed qualifications where study was completed at any institution outside the Netherlands, including overseas campuses of a listed awarding institution
- All listed qualifications containing cross‑credited courses or papers
- All initial teacher training degrees
- All qualifications awarded after 2017
Awarding Institutions Table
| Institution | Qualification awarded from or between dates |
|---|---|
| Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam | BA, BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1986–2006; MA, MS: 2004; MR: 1996–2006; D: 1980–2006 |
| Maastricht University / Universiteit Maastricht (Rijksuniversiteit Limburg 1985–1996) | BA, BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1985–2006; MA, MS: 2004; MR: 1996–2006; D: 1985–2006 |
| Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen / Radboud University Nijmegen (Katholieke Universiteit Nijmegen 1980–2004) | BA, BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1980–2006; MA, MS: 2004; MR: 1996–2006; D: 1980–2006 |
| Rijksuniversiteit Groningen | BA, BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1980–2006; IR, MR: 1996–2006; MA, MS: 2004; D: 1980–2006 |
| Technische Universiteit Delft / Delft University of Technology | BS, PhD: 2005; IR: 1996–2006; DX: 1990–2006; MS: 2004; D: 1990–2006 |
| Technische Universiteit Eindhoven / Eindhoven University of Technology | BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1986–2006; IR: 1996–2006; MS: 2004; D: 1986–2006 |
| Universiteit Leiden / Academia Lvgdvno‑Batava (Rijksuniversiteit Te Leiden/Academia Lvgdvno‑Batava 1980–2000) | BA, BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1980–2006; MA, MS: 2004; MR: 1996–2006; D: 1980–2006 |
| Universiteit Twente | BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1986–2006; IR: 1996–2006; MS: 2004; D: 1986–2006 |
| Universiteit Utrecht (Rijksuniversiteit Te Utrecht 1980–1992) | BA, BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1980–2006; MA, MS: 2004; MR: 1996–2006; D: 1980–2006 |
| Universiteit van Amsterdam / University of Amsterdam | BA, BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1980–2006; MA, MS: 2004; MR: 1996–2006; D: 1980–2006 |
| Universiteit van Tilburg / Tilburg University (Katholieke Universiteit Brabant 1990–2001) | BA, BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1990–2006; MA, MS: 2004; MR: 1996–2006; D: 1990–2006 |
| Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | BA, BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1980–2006; MA, MS: 2004; MR: 1996–2006; D: 1980–2006 |
| Wageningen University / Wageningen Universiteit (Landbouwuniversiteit Wageningen 1990–1998) | BS, PhD: 2005; DX: 1990–2006; IR: 1996–2006; MS: 2004; D: 1990–2006 |
Effective 27/08/2018.
Application in decisions
When assessing a Dutch qualification under SM or applicable WI instructions, an immigration officer must verify that:
- The qualification name, awarding institution, abbreviation, and award dates match those in the above tables [N‑netherlands].
- The qualification was awarded in the Netherlands (not at an overseas campus) [N‑netherlands].
- None of the mandatory NZQA referral triggers apply (honorary, completed outside the country, cross‑credited, initial teacher training, awarded after 2017) [N‑netherlands].
If all conditions are met, the officer awards the points indicated in the Academic Qualifications Table without referring the qualification to NZQA. The points are based solely on the NZQF level stated in the list, not on comparability to any New Zealand qualification [N‑netherlands].
Interpretation & edge cases
- Doctorandus/Doctoraal vs. Doctoraat: The abbreviations DX/IR/MR relate to the former Dutch doctorandus/doctoral degree (NZQF Level 8), not a doctorate. The Doctoraat (D) and PhD are Level 10 and yield 70 points. Confusing the two may lead to incorrect points claims [N‑netherlands].
- Professional Doctorate in Engineering: Must be assessed by NZQA; no automatic points [N‑netherlands].
- Honorary degrees and cross‑credited programmes: Always require NZQA assessment, even if the base qualification is listed [N‑netherlands].
- Overseas campuses: Qualifications from any campus outside the Netherlands (even if the awarding institution is listed) are not exempt [N‑netherlands].
- Post‑2017 qualifications: All Netherlands qualifications awarded after 2017 must be sent to NZQA, regardless of listing [N‑netherlands].
- Language of certificates: Certificates must be in the original language; Latin‑language certificates require a university translation, but the translation cannot be used to determine the degree name [N‑netherlands].
- Higher level claims: If an applicant asserts their qualification exceeds the listed NZQF level, they must obtain an IQA from NZQA [N‑netherlands].
Citations
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