Immigration · Updated 15 Sep 2026 · ~9 min read

Netherlands visa for Pakistanis (2026): requirements, VFS centres, family income and documents

For many Pakistani families the income requirement decides whether a partner can come to the Netherlands. This guide covers that figure, VFS appointments, the MVV in Islamabad and your documents.

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Bringing a partner What do I need?

Rules from the IND, Netherlands Worldwide, Nuffic and the RDW · Checked 15 September 2026

Short answer

Yes, Pakistanis need a visa for the Netherlands. This Netherlands visa for Pakistanis guide covers both kinds: a Schengen visa for visits of up to 90 days, applied for at VFS Global in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore, and a residence permit with an MVV for longer stays, issued at the Dutch embassy in Islamabad. To bring a partner, the sponsor in the Netherlands needs a gross salary of at least €2,337 a month without holiday allowance in the second half of 2026. Pakistani documents must be legalised by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Key facts for 2026

3 VFS Global centres in Pakistan take Schengen visa applications: Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.
€2,337 gross a month, without holiday allowance, is the 2026 income requirement for bringing a partner.
3 working days is how long it can take before your MVV appointment in Islamabad is scheduled.
10 working days is how long the MVV sticker can take once you have handed in your passport.
€423 is the 2026 IND fee for a highly skilled migrant permit; study and family permits cost €254.
5 days after arrival is your deadline to register with your municipality.
185 days is how long you may drive on a Pakistani licence after you move.

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.

At a glance

Netherlands visa for Pakistanis: what you need at a glance

Pakistanis need a visa for any stay in the Netherlands, and a longer stay also needs an MVV and, in most cases, a TB test. Pakistan is on the EU list of countries whose nationals need a visa (EU visa regulation, Annex I).

Your situation	What applies to Pakistani citizens	Source
A visit of up to 90 days	A Schengen visa, applied for at VFS Global in Pakistan	Netherlands Worldwide
A stay of more than 90 days	A residence permit; your sponsor in the Netherlands usually applies	IND
The MVV entry visa	Required, issued at the Dutch embassy in Islamabad	IND
The TB test	Required after arrival: Pakistan is not on the exemption appendix	IND
The civic integration exam abroad	Required to join a partner, unless an exemption applies	IND
Your Pakistani driving licence	Valid for 185 days after you move; not on the exchange list	RDW

Our Netherlands visa guide compares every route.

Visiting

Short stays: applying for a Schengen visa in Pakistan

You apply at VFS Global in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore, and residents of Afghanistan apply there too (Netherlands Worldwide).

When and how: apply up to 6 months before the trip and at least 15 days before you travel. Book yourself, not through an intermediary, one appointment per person, and appear in person, even if you are under 18.
Fees: the fee list for Pakistan gives €90 as the normal fee, €45 for children aged 6 to 11 and nothing under 6, and also names a high fee of €120; ask VFS Global which applies to you. Consular fees are paid in cash in rupees (fees).
More detail: the 90/180-day rule and the documents are in our Schengen visa guide; booking tips in our visa appointment guide.

Family

Bringing a partner: the 2026 income requirement

To bring a partner to the Netherlands from 1 July to 31 December 2026, the sponsor needs a gross social security salary of at least €2,337 a month without holiday allowance, or €2,523.96 with it (IND).

The salary that counts is the SV salary on the payslip: the gross salary on which wage tax and national insurance contributions are calculated.
The fee for a permit to stay with a partner is €254 in 2026 (IND fees).
The exam abroad: before the MVV, a partner must pass the civic integration exam abroad, and Pakistan is not on the list of exempt nationalities (IND).
More detail: our family reunification guide explains the other conditions, from housing to the relationship itself.

Work and study

Work and study: the other long-stay routes

For work or study your sponsor in the Netherlands, the employer or the school, usually submits the application (IND).

Highly skilled migrant (kennismigrant): a sponsor recognised by the IND (IND brochure) must pay at least €5,942 gross a month at 30 or over, or €4,357 under 30, in 2026. The fee is €423. See our highly skilled migrant guide.
Study: the permit fee is €254. See our student visa guide.
The TB test: Pakistan is not on the IND appendix of exempt nationalities (appendix), so you are tested after arrival unless another exemption applies (IND).

Documents

Pakistani documents and degrees

A document from Pakistan must first be legalised by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad or one of its camp offices in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar or Quetta (Netherlands Worldwide).

Urdu documents must be translated into Dutch, English, French or German by a sworn translator, and the original and the translation are legalised together.
Birth certificates: you get an official copy through your local union council, which can request it online from NADRA.
Marriage certificates: a Muslim marriage certificate (nikah nama) comes through the union council that registered the marriage.
Your degree: Nuffic compares a Bachelor of Arts (Pass) to a VWO pre-university diploma, and a 4-year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) to an HBO bachelor’s degree or 2 years of WO (Nuffic). For the attestation of a diploma, ask the Dutch organisation that requests it what it needs.
Driving: a Pakistani licence is valid for the first 185 days after you move (RDW), and Pakistan is not on the list of licences that can be exchanged (RDW).

Step by step

Collecting the MVV in Islamabad, step by step

For a long stay, the IND decides in the Netherlands and you collect the MVV sticker at the Dutch embassy in Islamabad.

Wait for the IND letter You can only apply for the MVV sticker at the Dutch embassy in Islamabad if the IND letter says so. Our visa application guide lists what the sponsor sends first.
Email the embassy Use ‘Mvv appointment request’ as the subject and include your V number, your first and last name, your contact details and the IND approval letter.
Wait for the appointment The appointment is not scheduled immediately; it can take up to 3 working days.
Bring the documents Your passport, valid for 6 more months with 2 empty pages, and a copy of the photo page; a passport photo that meets Dutch requirements; a copy of the IND letter with your V number; and the documents that letter lists (Netherlands Worldwide).
Collect the sticker It can take up to 10 working days before you get your passport back with the MVV sticker.
Register and insure Register in person with your municipality within 5 days of arriving (Netherlands Worldwide), and take out Dutch health insurance no later than 4 months after arriving (Government.nl).

Scams

Scams: fees for jobs, fake contracts and paid agents

Under Dutch law, an intermediary that finds you work may not ask you for anything in return (Waadi, article 3).

Fake employment contracts and false or falsified documents are among the fraud the IND asks people to report (IND).
Check the employer: our sponsorship jobs guide shows how to search the IND register of recognised sponsors.
No agents needed: you book VFS Global yourself, and you email the embassy for the MVV appointment yourself.

Keep reading

Related guides

More of our guides for moving to the Netherlands from Pakistan.

Family

Family reunification

Income, housing and the other conditions for bringing a partner.

Visas

Which Netherlands visa you need

Short or long stay, and every residence permit route side by side.

Work

Highly skilled migrant visa

Salary thresholds, recognised sponsors and the IND procedure.

Study

Netherlands student visa

Admission, proof of funds and the permit for your studies.

Applying

The MVV entry visa

Who needs one, and how the sticker is issued abroad.

Jobs

Visa sponsorship jobs

Search the recognised sponsor register and spot fake offers.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do Pakistanis need a visa for the Netherlands?

Yes. Pakistan is on the EU list of countries whose nationals need a visa, so a visit of up to 90 days needs a Schengen visa from VFS Global in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore. A longer stay needs a residence permit and an MVV entry visa, which is issued at the Dutch embassy in Islamabad when the IND letter says so.

How much income do I need to bring my wife or husband to the Netherlands?

From 1 July to 31 December 2026, the sponsor in the Netherlands needs a gross social security salary of at least €2,337 a month without holiday allowance, or €2,523.96 including it. The IND fee for the partner permit is €254. The partner also has to pass the civic integration exam abroad first.

Where do I apply for a Netherlands visa in Pakistan?

For a Schengen visa, at VFS Global in Islamabad, Karachi or Lahore; residents of Afghanistan apply there too. Book the appointment yourself, not through an intermediary. For the MVV sticker, you email the Dutch embassy in Islamabad with your V number, your name, your contact details and the IND approval letter.

Do my Pakistani documents need to be legalised?

Yes. Documents from Pakistan must be legalised by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad or one of its camp offices in Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar or Quetta. Documents in Urdu must be translated by a sworn translator into Dutch, English, French or German. Birth certificates come through the union council, which requests them from NADRA.

Do Pakistanis need a TB test for the Netherlands?

Yes, in most cases. The IND exempts the nationalities on its appendix, and Pakistan is not one of them, so you are tested for tuberculosis after you arrive in the Netherlands. You are exempt if, for example, you already hold a valid Dutch residence permit and apply for a different one.

How does Nuffic compare a Pakistani bachelor degree?

It depends on the degree. Nuffic compares a Bachelor of Arts (Pass) or Bachelor of Science (Pass) to a Dutch VWO diploma, which is pre-university level, and a 4-year Bachelor of Arts (Honours) to an HBO bachelor degree or 2 years of WO. Check your own diploma before applying for a Dutch master programme.

How much is the Schengen visa fee in Pakistan?

The fee list for Pakistan gives €90 as the normal fee for adults, €45 for children aged 6 to 11 and nothing under 6. It also names a Schengen visa high fee of €120, so check with VFS Global which fee applies to you. Consular fees at the embassy are paid in cash in Pakistani rupees.

Can I work in the Netherlands as a Pakistani?

Yes, with a residence permit for work. For a highly skilled migrant permit, a Dutch employer that is a recognised sponsor applies, and in 2026 must pay at least €5,942 gross a month if you are 30 or over, or €4,357 if younger. The IND fee is €423. After approval you collect the MVV sticker in Islamabad.

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Official sources, checked 15 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 visa or residence permit application from Pakistan, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.

FindLawyer is a lawyer-matching and case-preparation service, not a law firm. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.

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