How to Apply for a Netherlands Student Visa from India: Step by Step

The steps below follow the IND and NetherlandsWorldwide rules as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15. The MVV is the long-stay entry visa; the residence permit is what lets you live and study in the Netherlands. Unlike a Schengen tourist visa, you do not book a VFS appointment to start the process. For the wider picture of Dutch visas, see our Netherlands visa guide for Indians.

Who applies for a Netherlands student visa: you or your university?

Your institution does. The IND student route is open only to people registered for a full-time daytime course at an educational institution that the IND recognises as a sponsor. That institution files the MVV and residence permit application together on your behalf, and it tells you which documents to send.

This changes how you should plan. Your work in India is to give the institution a complete, accurate set of documents quickly, then handle the MVV appointment once the IND says yes.

Steps 1 to 3: what do you prepare before the institution applies?

Step 1, admission. Accept a full-time place at an IND-recognised sponsor. If the school is not a recognised sponsor, this route is not available.

Step 2, documents. The IND names a copy of your passport and proof of sufficient funds as typical examples; the institution may ask for more. You also need a valid passport, no criminal convictions and insurance for healthcare costs in the Netherlands.

Step 3, the fee. You pay the EUR 254 IND fee to the institution, which pays the IND. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused, and no rupee amount is published.

While the file is with the IND, arrange a legalised and translated birth certificate. It is not needed for the visa decision, but you need it to register with the municipality after arrival.

How much money must you show in 2026?

The IND sets standard monthly amounts. You must have enough to support yourself for at least one year, and tuition fees are not counted in these figures.

Ask your institution how it wants the funds shown, because it is the party declaring the application to the IND.

Step 4: how long does the IND take?

The IND's legal decision period for a student residence permit is 60 days. If the application is complete and filed by a recognised sponsor, which your institution is, the IND aims to decide within 2 weeks. Once the IND approves, the institution's email with your V number is the document you need for the next step.

Steps 5 to 7: how do you collect the MVV in India?

MVV appointments are booked online and fill up quickly. NetherlandsWorldwide advises trying again later if nothing is free, because slots open through cancellations and rescheduling. Book as soon as you have the V number rather than waiting for a convenient date near your course start.

The Embassy in New Delhi is at 6/50 F Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, and works by appointment only. The Mumbai consulate-general's area is Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Goa, and the Bengaluru consulate-general covers the southern states, but for MVV collection you may use whichever of the three offices suits you.

Step 8: what happens after you land?

You must travel to the Netherlands within 90 days of receiving the MVV and then collect your residence permit there. Register at the municipality using the legalised birth certificate, and take a TB test at the Municipal Health Service within 3 months of the permit being issued, unless your nationality is on the IND exemption list.

The permit is valid for the length of your course plus 3 months, up to a maximum of 5 years. You must earn at least half the required credits each academic year, or the permit can be withdrawn. Paid work is allowed for up to 16 hours a week, or full time in June, July and August, but only if your employer holds a work permit (TWV) for you. After graduating, an orientation year permit for looking for work costs EUR 254 in 2026.

Mistakes Indian students make in this process

• Booking a VFS Schengen appointment for study: the long-stay route starts with the institution and the IND.
• Letting the 3-month MVV booking window run down while waiting for a preferred date.
• Arriving at the MVV appointment with a passport that has under 6 months' validity or fewer than 2 empty pages.
• Leaving the birth certificate legalisation until after arrival.
• Taking a part-time job without checking that the employer has a TWV for you.

For the travel side, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for the full set. Reach us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or via our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay the Dutch student visa fee in rupees?

The IND publishes the student fee only in euros: EUR 254 for 2026. You pay it to your educational institution, which pays the IND, so follow the institution's payment instructions. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused.

How long is a Netherlands student residence permit valid?

It runs for the length of your course plus 3 months, with a maximum of 5 years. If you earn less than half the required credits in an academic year, the permit can be withdrawn.

Can I work part-time while studying in the Netherlands?

Yes, up to 16 hours a week, or full time in June, July and August. Your employer must hold a work permit (TWV) for you before you start.

Which document proves my IND approval at the MVV appointment?

The email from your institution containing your V number is enough. Bring it with your passport, a photocopy of the photo page, one Dutch-standard passport photo and any other documents named in the IND letter.