Study visa and study residence permit

If you want to study in the Netherlands, then you may need to apply for residency. This depends on the country of which you are a citizen.

Without legal residency you will not be able to study at the University of Amsterdam (UvA). 

Is your nationality: 

European Union / European Economic Area and Switzerland
You will not need a visa and/or residence permit. For more information, click on 'EU/EEA and Swiss students' below. 

Australia, Canada and New Zealand
You will need a residence permit. For more information, click on 'Australia, Canada, and New Zealand' below. 

USA, Japan, South Korea, Monaco or Vatican City
You will need a residence permit. For more information, click on 'USA, Japan, South Korea, Monaco or Vatican City' below.

Other nationalities
You will need an entry visa AND residence permit. For more information, click on 'Students with other nationalities' below. 

More than one nationality?
If you have more than one nationality, you may choose under which of your nationalities you want to stay in the Netherlands.

If one of these nationalities is EU/EEA or Swiss, we recommend you choose this nationality.

Immigration services

For students needing a residence permit and/or visa, the UvA offers immigration services for student residency. The resident permit and visa procedures will start around four months before the beginning of each semester.

Through the use of an online application form, the UvA will be able to help you with these procedures. Access to this online system is granted after having been admited as a student to the UvA.

Practical Matters

• The cost of a study visa and/or residence permit is €625. This fee is non-refundable.  
• While the UvA helps with residency formalities, your legal residency remains your own responsibility. 
• The procedure can take several months.
• During student residency, you may work a maximum of 10 hours a week and you will need a work permit. For more information, see www.uva.nl/work. 

The University of Amsterdam is required to inform the Immigration and Naturalisation Department (IND) about the duration of academic registration for enrolled international students. This means that if you do not apply for a residence permit but stay longer than three months, the IND will know that you are in the Netherlands illegally.

Other visa and residence permit types (also for family members)

You may also qualify for a different type of residence permit than student residency. For more information, visit the website of the IND: www.ind.nl. The UvA can, however, only assist with permits and visa for study purposes.

Extending your residence permit

If you are enrolled in a study programme which lasts more than one year, you will most likely need to extend your residence permit. For most students, residence permits will expire around 1 September. You must extend your residence permit before your current one expires. 

The cost for extending a residence permit is €150. 

For more information, see the link below.

Staying after graduation

When you graduate from the UvA, you may apply for a one-year residence permit in order to search for employment in the Netherlands. For more information, see the link below.