VISA and Housing
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Visas and permits
Moving to a new city and beginning a new study should be a happy and exciting experience. The University of Amsterdam has a number of services and support facilities to ensure this is the case.
Among the first things the UvA can help you with, is finding somewhere to live and finding out what papers you will need to live there legally.
We advise candidates from countries outside the EU, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA, Japan and South Korea to apply two months before the deadline as these candidates need an entry visa (MVV) and residence permit for the Netherlands.
MVV visa requirements
A student has to prove that he/she has at least 833,22 EUR monthly allowance for duration of their studies in the Netherlands. This can be done in the following way's:
- Student needs to provide a copy of the bank statement on his/her name showing at least 10 000 EUR ( 833,22 X 12 ).
- Student has a sponsor ( parents, uncles, partner, etc. ). In that case a sponsor has to write the letter stating that he/she will be supporting student with at least 833,22 EUR during duration of their studies at the ABS. Further the sponsor needs to attach a copy of his/her passport and their bank statement showing sufficient means.
- Student has a financial aid or a study loan, in that case a copy of it has to be provided.
Necessary documents:
- A valid passport
- Proof that you have health and liability insurance coverage
- Proof of your ability to finance your study. Please note, this is the amount required for daily expenses, and does not include you tuition fees.
- If you are from China: a Nuffic certificate
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Housing for international students
- To assist international students in finding accommodation, the University has agreements with various housing corporations. These corporations offer furnished accommodation to students for one or maximum two semesters. In total, the UvA has more than 1,700 rooms to allot to international students.
- The rent for these rooms varies according to type, size and location. Students cannot apply for rooms themselves, but must be invited by their faculties. Not every faculty guarantees student housing, but in the last few years we have been able to offer nearly all first-year international students a room. You can read all about the application and room reservation procedure here.
- Of course, students are free to search for accommodation on the private market. Look here for more information and advice on finding a room on your own.
Student housing locations
- The university accommodations are located in different areas of Amsterdam and Diemen. Room types and locations range from a flat with other students in the South East of the city to small scale accommodation in the city centre.
- All student buildings can be reached easily by public transport or by bike. You cannot apply for a specific location, but you will either receive a room offer, or you will be invited to search the housing corporation’s databases for available rooms.
- For more information on rooms at specific locations, you can visit the websites of the housing corporations.
- Read more about Amsterdam neighborhoods in general here.
Housing corporations
- De Key, DUWO and Ymere are non-profit social housing corporations located in Amsterdam.
- De Key owns more than 33,000 rental units, 6,000 of which are rented to (mainly Dutch) students. Around 1,500 rooms with different types of facilities are made available for short-term leases to international students at the UvA.
- DUWO is the oldest and biggest student accommodator in the Netherlands, and rents out approximately 16,000 units, mainly to (Dutch) students. In Amsterdam, the UvA reserves approximately 400 rooms to accommodate international students.
- The UvA rents 12 rooms from housing corporation Ymere.
- The department at De Key that handles international student housing is called Short Stay Facilities, and the department at DUWO is called Accommodate.
Click on the link below for more information: