Residence Permit

All students who do not have the nationality of one of the EU/EER countries or Switzerland and are staying in the Netherlands for more than three months are only permitted to study in the Netherlands with a Residence Permit (VVR). Without a Residence Permit you cannot legally study in the Netherlands and you will be sent home. This is international legal practice; there is nothing the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (AUAS/HvA), can do about it, nor can they take any responsibility if this happens. Furthermore, the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences, is under legal obligation to notify the Immigration and Naturalisation Department (IND) once you have ended your studies at the AUAS/HvA.

Initial Residence Permit/VVR applications

-for students entering the Netherlands who do not have the nationality of the EU/EER countries or Switzerland

All students who do not have the nationality of the EU/EER countries or Switzerland and are staying in the Netherlands for more than three months need to apply for a VVR. The Immigration Officer at the International Office of the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences, prepares the VVR application on your behalf. There are different country categories. According to the category you belong to, you will need to send in information beforehand. All is described in the Visa & Residence Permit Guide. Please read this guide carefully and be sure to comply with all requirements. You will receive your VVR during the introduction week.
Download the Visa Residence Permit Guide

Extensions Residence Permit/VVR applications

A VVR with the purpose of study is only granted for the academic year you are studying in. If you wish to continue your studies the following academic year, your VVR needs to be extended. There are two procedures you can follow to extend your VVR.

1. You can authorise Hogeschool van Amsterdam to apply on your behalf. The International Office will undertake all necessary actions regarding the extension of your VVR with the purpose of study. You will need to fill out an authorisation form and pay the VVR extension fee of €150,- & AUAS/HvA handling fee of €50,- before the deadline of April the 27th. Should you choose this procedure then the IND guarantees to hand out your new valid VVR before the summer holiday.
2. You can also choose to apply for a new VVR yourself. The IND will send you an application form approximately 3 months before your current Residence Permit expires. If you do not receive this form, a copy can be asked via immigration@hva.nl. All actions in this application procedure, including the payment of €150,-, should be undertaken by yourself and the IND does not guarantee to have your new VVR ready before the start of the new academic year.

In either case it remains your own responsibility to extend your Residence Permit every year. Keep in mind that you are only allowed to reside a limited number of years in the Netherlands. 

Change of Purpose applications

A VVR with the purpose of study is always granted for a specific study programme at a particular University or University of Applied Sciences. In case of a study programme change or a change in institute at which you are studying, the new institute must apply for a Change of Purpose on your behalf. If your new institute is the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences, the Immigration Officer at the International Office is in charge of the application.

If you are a student at Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences and if you want to continue your studies at another institute, please contact the International Office of your new institute. They are responsible for your Change of Purpose application.

In case you are a student from an institute other than the Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences and wish to continue your studies at our institute, then our International Office is responsible for your Change of Purpose application. Once you are (provisionally) accepted, please contact, immigration@hva.nl. They will schedule an appointment with you to explain the procedure and make the applicaiton. After you have handed back in the application form with the required documents and have paid the fee, the International Office will send in your application to the IND.

Search Year upon Graduation applications

With a Residence Permit with “Search Year upon Graduation” purpose you have free access to the Dutch labour market. You can apply for this Permit once you have graduated and are in possession of a Bachelor’s (or Master’s) degree. You may search for a job as a highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant) for a period of twelve months.

Should you be interested in staying in the Netherlands after graduation to search for a job, you can take a look on the website of the Nuffic. Here you can find all relevant information as well as the application form. It is your own responsibility to send in this specific application form. The institute which you have graduated from has no role in this whatsoever.

Contact details:

Hogeschool van Amsterdam
Student Affairs
Immigration Office
Kohnstammhuis, Wibautstraat 2-4
1091 GM Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Telephone: +31 (0)6 2115 5831
Email: immigration@hva.nl