Student visa for Netherlands: documents, fees and steps

Documents requested

Valid passport, still valid for at least six months at the time the MVV visa is affixedConditions and details
The IND requires a valid passport or other travel document. For affixing the MVV sticker, the passport must remain valid for at least six months when the Dutch representation affixes the sticker. The MVV sticker is valid for 90 days.
Proof of registration, or provisional proof of registration, as a student at a recognised university or higher professional education institution (HBO)Conditions and details
To obtain the residence permit for study, the student must have proof of registration or provisional proof of registration at a university or higher professional education institution (HBO). Their study programme must be accredited (NVAO in the Netherlands or EQAR in Europe), the institution must be a sponsor recognised by the IND and the student must register for a full-time programme. Only this institution can apply for the residence permit for them.
Proof of resources for twelve months: the study norm of 1 130,77 euros per month in 2026 for a university or HBO studentConditions and details
The student must prove that they have sufficient resources to live and study for 12 months. The amount, the study norm, corresponds to the maximum that Dutch students in collective housing receive as support; it does not include tuition fees and changes every 1 January. For 2026, it is 1 130,77 euros per month for university or HBO, i.e. approximately 13 569,24 euros for 12 months. The institution requests the proof; each year of study, the student also completes the annex “personal declaration of the foreign national: resources in the context of study”. Six modes of proof exist: funds in their own bank account, deposit in the institution's account, scholarship certificate, funds from a company, funds from a person abroad, funds from a person in the Netherlands. Statements must not be older than three months.
Annex Antecedents Certificate (declaration of antecedents), to be completed by every person older than 12 yearsConditions and details
The IND requires that every person older than 12 years fully complete the annex Antecedents Certificate and attach it to the application. The person concerned states therein whether they have previously committed an offence or a crime; they must not constitute a danger to public order or national security.
Documents requested by the educational institution, which submits the application, before the file is submittedConditions and details
The educational institution has a list of the necessary documents. All of them must be gathered before it submits the application for the MVV and the residence permit for study. Official foreign documents must be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
Positive decision letter from the IND, to make an appointment at the Dutch representation and obtain the MVV stickerConditions and details
The MVV sticker can only be applied for if the letter from the IND announcing the positive decision has been received. This letter indicates the representation (embassy or consulate general) where the sticker is to be applied for; the IND addresses the decision to the educational institution. The appointment is made within three months following the decision.

Depending on your situation

Official foreign documents, legalised and, if necessary, translated into Dutch, English, French or GermanConditions and details
The IND neither legalises nor translates documents. Legalisation makes an official document usable in another country; it can take time, so it is necessary to start early. A document drawn up in a language other than Dutch, English, French or German must be translated, in the Netherlands by a translator sworn in before a Dutch court, or abroad, usually with legalisation of the document and of the translation. For most documents, the IND does not check the date of issue and of legalisation.
Tuberculosis test referral annex (form 7604), if the institution has reported it to the INDConditions and details
After arrival in the Netherlands, a tuberculosis test is mandatory except for exempt nationalities and situations. If the institution has indicated to the IND, at the time of application, that the student will undergo this test, an appointment must be made with the public health service (GGD) within three months following receipt of the residence permit, bringing the referral annex.

Official fees

Application for MVV and residence permit for university or HBO studies, paid through the institution 254 €

Steps

Be enrolled in an accredited, full-time study programme at a university or HBO institution that is a sponsor recognised by the IND; only this institution can apply for the residence permit.
Gather the documents requested by the institution, including proof of resources, and have foreign official documents legalised and translated.
The institution submits the application for the MVV and the residence permit for studies to the IND at the same time, and pays the fee of 254 euros.
Wait for the IND decision, which is taken within 60 days, with the possibility of extending this period; the institution receives it by letter and the application can be tracked in “My IND”.
Make an appointment at the Dutch representation indicated in the file within three months following the decision, and submit the passport there for the MVV sticker to be affixed.
Travel to the Netherlands within 90 days following the issuance of the MVV sticker and collect the residence permit at the IND desk, by appointment.
If a tuberculosis test is planned, make an appointment at the public health service (GGD) within three months following receipt of the residence permit.

Where to apply

Recognised educational institution sponsor, which submits the application for the MVV and the residence permit for the student to the IND (form 7504)
Embassy or consulate-general of the Netherlands indicated in the IND letter, generally in the country of residence, for the MVV sticker
IND desk in the Netherlands, by appointment, to collect the residence permit for studies after arrival

Good to know

Progress in studiesConditions and details
Each year, the student must obtain at least 50% of the credits of the academic year. The institution assesses the progress; if it is insufficient, it checks whether the student has good reasons within the meaning of the Higher Education Act (WHW). Without a good reason, it must report this to the IND, which then examines whether the conditions of the residence permit are still met.
Preparatory periodConditions and details
If the institution imposes additional courses or a language test for admission, or preparation for a master's after the bachelor's (pre-master), the residence permit for study also grants the right to stay during a preparatory period, usually of one year. If the student subsequently does not meet the admission conditions, the institution deregisters them with the IND.
Working during studiesConditions and details
The residence permit bears the endorsement Work permit required for additional work, other work as an employee not permitted. The student may work as an employee if their employer has a work permit (TWV) for them, within the limit of 16 hours per week or full-time in June, July and August. They may also work as a self-employed person, without a TWV, by registering with the chamber of commerce (KvK) and paying taxes. An internship provided for by the study programme does not require a TWV.
Duration and type of residence permitConditions and details
The IND issues the residence permit for no more than 5 years. The permit for study is valid for three months longer than the duration of the studies, including the preparatory period, and remains valid as long as the conditions are met. It is a temporary regular residence permit of type I.
Family membersConditions and details
The institution may also apply for a residence permit for the student's family members; if the family travels with the student, the institution must be asked to submit all applications at the same time. The institution is only responsible for the student: the student is responsible for their relatives' lawful stay. A family member is not allowed to work in the Netherlands, and both the student and their relative must meet the conditions specific to this residence permit.
After the studiesConditions and details
Once the studies are completed, one may apply for another residence permit: to look for a job (orientation year), to work as a highly skilled migrant (with a lower income threshold) or to start an innovative enterprise (start-up).
Changing institutionConditions and details
During the studies, one may transfer to another institution without losing one's residence permit. The new institution must be a recognised sponsor, and both the student and the new institution must inform the IND of the change.
Students exempt from MVV: residence permit without a stickerConditions and details
Nationals of Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, the Vatican, the United Kingdom, the United States, South Korea, Switzerland or an EU or EEA state do not need an MVV. The MVV exemption does not exempt them from the residence permit (except for EU, EEA and Swiss nationals), which they apply for according to another procedure, without a sticker. This MVV entry procedure is therefore not intended for them.
Mobility within the EU during the studiesConditions and details
With a Dutch residence permit for studies, one may study in other EU countries for no more than 360 days (intra-EU mobility, Directive (EU) 2016/801), if the studies abroad are part of a programme providing for mobility measures or of an agreement between two or more higher education institutions. An internship alone does not fall within this framework. The Dutch institution must inform the IND in time. Without intra-EU mobility, one may study abroad for no more than 12 consecutive months, with sufficient progress in the studies.
MVV sticker processing time and fees at the representationConditions and details
The MVV sticker may take up to 10 working days after the passport is submitted at the representation, with some representations being faster. The MVV and residence permit fees are paid to the IND, not to the Dutch embassy or consulate-general.
Refusal: objectionIn the event of a negative decision, the student obtains neither an MVV nor a residence permit for studies; he may lodge an objection against this decision.

Nationalities covered

This procedure applies to 203 nationalities.

Afghanistan
Åland Islands
Albania
Algeria
American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Anguilla
Antarctica
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Bouvet Island
Brazil
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Caribbean Netherlands
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Christmas Island
Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Colombia
Comoros
Congo
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Cuba
Curaçao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Djibouti
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
Fiji
French Polynesia
French Southern Territories
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Grenada
Guam
Guatemala
Guernsey
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Honduras
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Isle of Man
Israel
Jamaica
Jersey
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Macao
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Montserrat
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
Nepal
New Caledonia
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
North Macedonia
Northern Mariana Islands
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Palestine
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Puerto Rico
Qatar
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Helena
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
São Tomé and Príncipe
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Sint Maarten
Solomon Islands
Somalia
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Sudan
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Türkiye
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu
U.S. Outlying Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Western Sahara
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

Official links

Student residence permit for university or higher professional education | IND (new tab) ind.nl
Income requirements study | IND (new tab) ind.nl
Requirements that apply to everyone | IND (new tab) ind.nl
Translation and legalisation of documents | IND (new tab) ind.nl
Where can I apply for an MVV visa sticker for the Netherlands? | NetherlandsWorldwide (new tab) www.netherlandsworldwide.nl
Provisional residence permit (MVV) | IND (new tab) ind.nl
How long does it take to get an MVV visa sticker for the Netherlands? | NetherlandsWorldwide (new tab) www.netherlandsworldwide.nl
How long is my MVV visa sticker for the Netherlands valid? | NetherlandsWorldwide (new tab) www.netherlandsworldwide.nl

Free, with or without an account

Free, no account needed

The entry rule for your nationality
The list of documents for your situation

Get my document list

With a free account

Your saved cases
Your documents to tick off: to prepare, in progress, declared available
A summary to print or save as a PDF

Create a free account