Moving to the Netherlands in 2026: Official Guide
A move to the Netherlands from outside the EU usually runs through a sponsor: an employer, a university or a partner who applies to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) on your behalf. The IND publishes the salary you need, the fee and the decision period for each route. This guide puts the steps in order, from the entry visa to permanent residence, using the IND, the Dutch government and Statistics Netherlands, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no entry visa. Most others staying more than 90 days need an entry visa (MVV) and a residence permit, applied for together, usually by a sponsor. A highly skilled migrant must earn €5,942.00 gross a month in 2026, or €4,357.00 if under 30; a student must show €1,130.77 a month; a partner's sponsor must earn €2,337.00. Permit fees are €423 for work and €254 for study or family. After arrival you register in the population register and receive a citizen service number. Permanent residence is possible after 5 consecutive years.
Step 1: Do you need an entry visa?
The MVV is the Dutch entry visa for stays of more than 90 days. It is a type D sticker in your passport, valid for multiple entries and for the whole Schengen Area. You do not need one if you hold the nationality of:
- an EU or EEA member state, or Switzerland;
- Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, the United Kingdom, the United States or South Korea.
Everyone else generally does. The MVV and the residence permit are applied for at the same time. Your sponsor in the Netherlands usually submits the application; if you have no sponsor, you can apply from abroad yourself. The IND does not recommend staying in the Netherlands while the procedure runs.
Step 2: Choose your route
| Route | Who applies | Key 2026 figure | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highly skilled migrant | An employer that is a recognised sponsor | €5,942.00 gross a month at 30 or older; €4,357.00 under 30; €3,122.00 on the reduced criterion | €423 |
| European Blue Card | An employer | €5,942.00 gross a month; €4,754.00 on the reduced criterion | €423 |
| Study | The educational institution | €1,130.77 a month for 12 months, for university or hbo | €254 |
| Stay with a partner | The partner in the Netherlands | Sponsor's income of €2,337.00 gross a month without holiday allowance, from 1 July to 31 December 2026 | €254 |
| Self-employed or start-up | — | — | €423 |
| Orientation year after study | — | — | €254 |
A child under 18 joining a parent pays €85. Fees change each year on 1 January.
Step 3: Know how long it takes
| Application | Decision period |
|---|---|
| Highly skilled migrant | Legal period of 90 days; the IND aims to decide within 2 weeks |
| European Blue Card from a recognised sponsor | 30 days |
| Study | Legal period of 60 days; target of 2 weeks when a recognised sponsor applies |
| Paid employment | Legal period of 90 days |
Step 4: Arrive and register
- Collect your residence document. With the MVV you travel to the Netherlands and pick up the residence permit.
- Register in the Personal Records Database (BRP) at your town hall. The BRP is the Dutch population register.
- Receive your citizen service number (BSN). Everyone who registers with the BRP is automatically given one. You use it for every government service, and care providers and health insurers must use it too.
- Take the tuberculosis test if your nationality is not exempt. Students must do so within 3 months of the permit being issued.
The residence document matters immediately. The IND notes that without it, students cannot take out health insurance or open a bank account.
Step 5: Budget
| Item | Official figure |
|---|---|
| What students spend | An average of €1000 - €1,500 a month |
| An average room | Between €450 and €1000 a month |
| Groceries, student budget for 2024 | €244 a month |
| Basic health insurance, when working in the Netherlands | €133 a month |
| Average rent increase in July 2026 | 4.4 percent |
| Minimum wage, 21 and older, from 1 July 2026 | €14.99 per hour |
Step 6: Working
- Highly skilled migrants work for the recognised sponsor that applied. The permit does not transfer: a new employer must file a new application.
- Students may work no more than 16 hours per week, or full time in June, July and August, and the employer needs a work permit for them.
- Permanent residents are free to work, and their employer needs no work permit.
Step 7: Stay for good
| Status | Main conditions | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residence or long-term EU resident | 5 consecutive years on a valid permit, a non-temporary purpose of residence, civic integration exam at level A2, income of €1,635.90 gross a month, registration in the BRP | €254 |
| Naturalisation | Applied for at your town hall; the decision period is 12 months | €1,139 for one person |
Not every year counts. Permits for temporary purposes, such as an orientation year, an au pair stay or an intra-corporate transfer, do not qualify you, and only half of the years on a study permit count towards long-term EU resident status.
What is changing
The government has announced stricter rules for the highly skilled migrant scheme. Income thresholds are expected to rise by more than the usual annual indexation in 2027, and requirements for recognised sponsors will tighten. Parliament has not yet passed the proposals.
Frequently asked questions
Can I move to the Netherlands without a job?
Yes, as a student, with €1,130.77 a month in funds, or to stay with a partner whose income is at least €2,337.00 gross a month. Graduates can also use the orientation year permit to look for work.
What salary do I need to move to the Netherlands for work?
As a highly skilled migrant in 2026, €5,942.00 gross a month at 30 or older, €4,357.00 if you are younger than 30, or €3,122.00 on the reduced criterion for recent graduates.
Do I need an MVV for the Netherlands?
Not if you are a citizen of an EU or EEA state, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, the United Kingdom, the United States or South Korea. Most other nationalities do.
What is a BSN and how do I get one?
The citizen service number is a unique personal number. You receive it automatically when you register in the Personal Records Database at your town hall.
How much does a Dutch residence permit cost?
In 2026, €423 for a highly skilled migrant, Blue Card or paid employment application, €254 for study or to stay with a family member, and €85 for a child under 18.
How long does a Dutch residence permit take?
The legal period is 90 days for work and 60 days for study, but with a recognised sponsor the IND aims to decide within 2 weeks.
When can I get permanent residence in the Netherlands?
After 5 consecutive years on a valid permit, if you hold a permit for a non-temporary purpose, meet the income requirement and have passed the civic integration exam at level A2.
Official sources
- Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) — Provisional residence permit (MVV), last update 22 July 2026
- IND — Required amounts income requirements
- IND — Fees: costs of an application
- IND — Decision periods
- IND — Permanent residence permit
- Government of the Netherlands — Citizen service number (BSN)
- Business.gov.nl — Residence permit for highly skilled migrant
- Government of the Netherlands — Minimum wage amounts
- Statistics Netherlands (CBS) — Housing rents up by an average of 4.4 percent
- Study in NL — Daily student expenses and cost of living
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Amounts are set for fixed periods and fees change on 1 January, so confirm them on ind.nl before you apply. Information, not legal advice.