Netherlands Student Visa 2026: Funds, Fees and Work
You do not apply for a Dutch student residence permit yourself. Your university or university of applied sciences does it for you, because only institutions recognised as sponsors by the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) are allowed to. Your job is to be admitted, show the money and keep earning credits once you arrive. This guide sets out the 2026 amounts, fees and work rules from the IND and Study in NL, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
For 2026 you must show €1,130.77 a month for 12 months for higher professional education or university, on top of tuition. The permit costs €254. Your institution submits the application and the IND usually decides within 2 weeks. The permit is valid for the length of your studies plus 3 months, up to 5 years, provided you obtain at least 50% of your credits each year. You may work up to 16 hours per week, or full time in June, July and August.
Who needs what
- Students from outside the European Union who want to study at a university of applied sciences or academic university need a residence permit for study.
- An entry visa (MVV) is always needed as well, unless you come from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, the United Kingdom, the United States or South Korea. The institution applies for it together with the residence permit.
The conditions
| Condition | Detail |
|---|---|
| Institution | You are registered with an educational institution that is recognised as a sponsor |
| Course | A full-time daytime course |
| Money | Enough to support yourself for at least one year: 12 times the study norm |
| Health | A tuberculosis test within 3 months of the permit being issued, unless your nationality is exempt |
| Progress | At least half of the credits of each academic year |
The money: the 2026 study norm
| Type of study | Monthly amount, 1 January to 31 December 2026 |
|---|---|
| Higher professional education (hbo) or university | €1,130.77 |
| Secondary education or senior secondary vocational education (mbo) | €928.58 |
The IND explains that the study norm equals the amount Dutch students can maximally receive in study benefits when they live in a dorm. It does not include school or college fees, and it changes every year on 1 January.
Ways to prove it
- Your own bank account: the study norm for 1 year in an account in your name from which you can withdraw freely. Statements must not be older than 3 months.
- A deposit with your institution: you pay the year's study norm into the institution's bank account.
- A scholarship: a declaration showing the granting body, the dates and the amount.
- A company: a statement of financial support with the monthly amount and the period.
- A person in the Netherlands: a financier whose salary meets a separate, higher income requirement.
Documents must be in Dutch, English, German or French, or be translated.
Tuition fees for 2026-2027
| Student | Fee per year |
|---|---|
| EEA, Swiss and Surinamese students (statutory fee) | €2,694 |
| Other nationalities, bachelor's programme | Between €9,000 and €20,000 |
| Other nationalities, master's programme | Between €12,000 and €30,000 |
Some institutions also charge non-EEA applicants an application or handling fee, ranging from €75 to €100.
How the application works
- You register at the institution where you want to study.
- The institution checks whether you meet the requirements, including the money. If you do not, the process stops there.
- The institution submits the application to the IND, with the MVV if you need one.
- The IND decides, usually within 2 weeks. The legal decision period is 60 days.
- You collect your residence document. In the summer peak the IND organises central collection days; about 14,000 students picked up their cards that way in 2023.
The card matters on day one. The IND notes that without it students cannot take out health insurance or open a bank account.
Fees
| Application | Fee in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Study, first application or change of purpose | €254 |
| Study, extension | €254 |
| Orientation year after study | €254 |
Working while you study
- Paid employment: no more than 16 hours per week, or full time in June, July and August only.
- Work permit: for paid employment your employer must apply for one.
- Self-employment: you may work as an independent entrepreneur alongside your course.
- Internships: no work permit is needed for an internship that is part of your course; the company, you and the institution sign an internship contract.
Keeping the permit
The permit is valid for the duration of the studies plus 3 months, with a maximum of 5 years, and only as long as you meet the requirements. The main one is progress: you must obtain at least 50% of your credits each year. Your institution checks this at the end of every study year, and if progress is inadequate the IND can withdraw the permit. If you switch to another institution, you must notify the IND, and the new institution must also be a recognised sponsor.
What student life costs
Study in NL estimates that students spend an average of €1000 - €1,500 a month. An average room costs between €450 and €1000 a month, with Amsterdam more expensive than smaller towns such as Enschede. Its monthly overview, sourced from the budget institute Nibud for 2024:
| Item | Per month |
|---|---|
| Rent | €561 |
| Groceries | €244 |
| Leisure and sports | €239 |
| Basic Dutch health insurance, when working in the Netherlands | €133 |
| Transportation | €67 |
| Study books and materials | €41 |
After graduation
Graduates can apply for a residence permit for an orientation year to look for work. If an employer then hires you as a highly skilled migrant, the reduced salary criterion applies: €3,122.00 gross a month in 2026, instead of €4,357.00 or €5,942.00. The reduced criterion also applies if the application is made within 3 years of your graduation date.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for a Dutch student visa?
€1,130.77 a month for higher professional education or university in 2026, for 12 months. The amount does not include tuition fees.
How much does a Dutch student residence permit cost?
€254 for a first application in 2026, and €254 for an extension.
Can international students work in the Netherlands?
Yes: up to 16 hours per week in paid employment, or full time in June, July and August. The employer must apply for a work permit. Self-employment is also allowed.
Can I apply for a Dutch student visa myself?
No. Only an educational institution that is a recognised sponsor can apply to the IND on your behalf.
How long does the Dutch student visa take?
The IND usually decides within 2 weeks of the institution's application. The legal decision period is 60 days.
How long is the student residence permit valid?
For the duration of the studies plus 3 months, up to a maximum of 5 years, as long as you obtain at least 50% of your credits each year.
What are tuition fees in the Netherlands for non-EU students?
On average between €9,000 and €20,000 a year for a bachelor's programme and between €12,000 and €30,000 for a master's, according to Study in NL.
Official sources
- Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) — Required amounts income requirements (study amounts 2026)
- IND — Income requirements study (last update 15 June 2026)
- IND — International students and the IND
- IND — Coming to study in the Netherlands (brochure)
- IND — Fees: costs of an application
- IND — Decision periods
- Study in NL — Tuition fees
- Study in NL — Daily student expenses and cost of living
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Amounts change on 1 January each year, so confirm them with your institution and on ind.nl. Information, not legal advice.