Immigration · Updated 13 Sep 2026 · ~9 min read

Netherlands student visa (study residence permit) in 2026

Studying in the Netherlands from outside the EU means a residence permit that your university applies for. This guide covers the requirements, the money you must show in 2026, the fee and timeline, how much you may work and what comes after graduation.

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See the requirementsWorking rules

Rules from the IND and Netherlands Worldwide · Checked 13 September 2026

Short answer

A Netherlands student visa is a residence permit for study, and your university or college applies for it: you cannot apply yourself, and the institution must be recognised by the IND. You need admission to a full-time course, at least €1,130.77 a month for 12 months in 2026 (university or HBO), health insurance and, for some nationalities, a TB test. The IND fee is €254, and the IND aims to decide within 2 weeks. Alongside your studies you may work 16 hours a week, or full-time in June, July and August, if your employer has a work permit.

Key facts for 2026

  • €1,130.77 a month for 12 months is the money a university or HBO student must show in 2026; €928.58 for secondary or MBO.
  • €254 is the 2026 IND fee, paid through your educational institution.
  • 2 weeks is the IND’s target for a complete application from a recognised institution; the legal limit is 60 days.
  • 16 hours a week is the most you may work in paid employment during the year, or full-time in June, July and August.
  • 3 months is the time you have to collect your MVV sticker, and the TB test deadline after your permit is issued.
  • 5 years is the longest a study permit lasts: your course plus 3 months.
  • 50% of the credits of each academic year is the minimum study progress you need to keep the permit.

This is general information about Dutch law, not legal advice for your situation. Rules change; figures are for 2026. No rights can be derived from this text.

The basics

Who needs a Netherlands student visa

Anyone from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland who studies in the Netherlands for more than 90 days needs a residence permit for study. Students with a study permit from another EU country who come for part of their programme, for up to 360 days, follow separate mobility rules (IND brochure 3087).

Most students also need an MVV (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf), the entry visa, unless they are from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States or Vatican City. Our MVV visa guide explains the sticker, and our Netherlands visa guide covers every other route.

Requirements

Netherlands student visa requirements

The IND checks admission, money, identity, insurance and, for some nationalities, a TB test; your institution collects the proof.

RequirementWhat it means
AdmissionRegistered for a full-time daytime course at an institution recognised as a sponsor
Money€1,130.77 a month for university or HBO in 2026, €928.58 for secondary or MBO, enough for 12 months; tuition not included
Proof of moneyFor example your own bank account with statements no older than 3 months, a deposit on the institution’s account, or a scholarship
Passport and recordA valid passport, and no convictions for a criminal offence
Health insuranceInsured for healthcare costs in the Netherlands
TB testAt the Municipal Health Service within 3 months of the permit being issued, unless your nationality is exempt
Birth certificateLegalised and translated, to register with your municipality

Sources: IND study amounts 2026, IND income requirements for study and IND brochure 3087. The amount changes every 1 January.

Keep up your studies. You must obtain at least half of the credits of each academic year. Your institution checks this every year, and the IND can withdraw your permit if your progress is not good enough.

Costs and timing

Fee and timeline

The IND fee for study is €254 in 2026; you pay it to your institution, which passes it to the IND. It is not refunded if the application is refused (IND fees); if that happens, read our guide to objecting.

  • The decision. The legal decision period for study is 60 days. For a complete application from a recognised institution, the IND’s target is 2 weeks (IND).
  • The MVV. Your institution tells you when it is approved. Collect it at the Dutch embassy within 3 months, then travel within 90 days. At the sticker appointment, students may show the email from their institution with their V-number instead of a copy of the IND letter (Netherlands Worldwide).
  • Your residence permit. Collect it within 2 weeks of arrival. In 2026 the IND Student Days in Utrecht fall on Saturday 29 August and Saturday 19 September; you book through the notification your institution sends (IND).

IND refused, asked for more evidence, or missed its decision date?

Whether you are the applicant or the person sponsoring them in the Netherlands, tell Finn what happened and the dates on the letters. We prepare the case and introduce you to an independent immigration lawyer who works in English. Most clients are introduced to a lawyer within one business day.

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Work

Working while you study

You may work up to 16 hours a week in paid employment, or full-time in June, July and August only, and your employer must apply for a work permit. Our Netherlands work permit guide explains the TWV.

  • Your own business. Working as an independent entrepreneur alongside your course is allowed.
  • Internships. An internship for your course needs no work permit, but it needs an internship contract between you, the company and your institution.
  • Health insurance. Once you work or do an internship, you must take out Dutch public health insurance; with no job, or an internship allowance below the minimum wage, your foreign insurance is enough.
  • Benefits. Applying for benefits can cost you your permit, but housing benefit, healthcare allowance, childcare and supplementary child benefit do not affect it (IND brochure 3087).

Next step

After you graduate

Your study permit lasts for your course plus 3 months, up to 5 years, and after that you need another permit to stay.

  • The orientation year. After a Dutch bachelor’s or master’s degree, you can get a year to look for work; our orientation year visa guide explains who qualifies and the lower salary it unlocks.
  • A job. If you find work, you may be eligible for a different residence permit.
  • If your institution loses its recognition and it was not your fault, you get 3 months to find another institution that can sponsor you.

Family

Bringing your partner or children

Your institution can apply for residence permits for your family members too; if they travel with you, it helps to apply for all the permits at the same time. The institution is only responsible for you. You are the sponsor of your family, with your own duty to inform the IND and keep records.

You will need documents that prove the family ties, such as passports, birth certificates and marriage certificates. Our family reunification guide covers the rules for partners and children.

Keep reading

Related guides

Guides for international students moving to the Netherlands.

Visas

Which Netherlands visa you need

Study is one route; see all the others and their 2026 fees.

 Entry

MVV visa sticker

Who needs the entry visa, and how to collect it after the IND approves.

 Work

Orientation year visa

A year to find work after your degree, with a lower salary threshold.

 Work

Netherlands work permit

The TWV your employer needs before you work alongside your studies.

 Applying

Book a visa or IND appointment

The MVV sticker appointment abroad and the IND desks here.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Netherlands student visa?

Not if you are a citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland. Everyone else who studies here for more than 90 days needs a residence permit for study, applied for by the university or college. You also need an MVV entry visa unless you are from Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States or Vatican City; the institution applies for both at once.

How much money do I need for a Netherlands student visa in 2026?

For university or higher professional education (HBO), €1,130.77 a month in 2026, and you must show enough for 12 months; for secondary education or MBO it is €928.58. Tuition is not included, and the amount changes every 1 January. You can show it with your own bank account, a deposit on the institution’s account or a scholarship, among other ways.

Can I apply for a student residence permit myself?

No. The educational institution where you are registered applies for you, and only an institution recognised as a sponsor by the IND can do so. It tells you which documents it needs, such as a copy of your passport and proof of money, and passes on your fee to the IND. You can check an institution in the IND public register for study.

How many hours can international students work in the Netherlands?

In paid employment, no more than 16 hours a week, or full-time in June, July and August only, and your employer must apply for a work permit. You may also work as an independent entrepreneur. An internship that is part of your course needs no work permit, but needs an internship contract between you, the company and your institution.

How long does a Netherlands student visa take?

If the application is complete, the IND usually decides within 2 weeks; the legal limit for study is 60 days. With an MVV, you then have 3 months to collect it at the Dutch embassy and 90 days to travel. After arrival you collect your residence permit within 2 weeks, often at the IND Student Days in Utrecht.

What happens if I do not pass enough courses?

You must obtain at least half of the credits of each academic year. Your institution checks this at the end of every study year and must report insufficient progress to the IND, which can then withdraw your residence permit. The institution must also report it if you stop your course or no longer study full-time.

Can I stay in the Netherlands after my studies?

Your study permit runs for the length of your course plus 3 months, up to 5 years. After a Dutch bachelor’s or master’s degree you can apply for the orientation year, which gives you a year to find work. You can also switch to another residence permit, for example once you find a job.

Can my partner come with me while I study?

Yes, your institution can also apply for residence permits for your family members; if they travel with you, ask it to apply at the same time. The institution is only responsible for you: you are responsible for their legal stay. You will need documents proving the relationship, such as passports, birth certificates and a marriage certificate.

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Official sources, checked 13 September 2026

Final notes and legal disclaimer

  • This article provides general information and is not tailored to your personal circumstances.
  • It does not cover all situations, exceptions, or recent legal changes.
  • Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship with findlawyer.nl or any associated entity.
  • No guarantee is given that this information is complete, accurate, or up to date.
  • No rights can be derived from this article.
  • For decisions about a student residence permit, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.

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