Netherlands Student Visa Requirements for Indians: 2026 Checklist

This checklist draws on the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) and NetherlandsWorldwide, the Dutch government's consular service, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. The IND's study brochure used for some conditions is dated 2024, so confirm any detail with your institution. For short-stay Schengen visas, see our Netherlands visa guide for Indians.

Who applies for a Dutch student permit: you or the university?

The university. You cannot apply for a Dutch student residence permit yourself. Your educational institution must be recognised by the IND as a sponsor, and it applies for the MVV (provisional residence permit) and the residence permit together.

The route covers full-time study at a Dutch university or university of applied sciences (hbo). You must be registered for a full-time daytime course. The institution then tells you which documents to send, such as a copy of your passport and proof of sufficient funds.

The fee works the same way. You pay EUR 254.00 to the institution, and the institution pays the IND. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused, and no rupee amount is published.

What is on the 2026 student checklist?

Start the birth certificate early. Legalisation and translation take time in India, and you need the document soon after landing.

How much money must an Indian student show in 2026?

The IND standard amount for 2026, valid from 1 January to 31 December 2026, is EUR 1,130.77 a month for hbo and university students. Secondary and mbo students need EUR 928.58 a month. Both figures exclude tuition fees, and you must cover at least one year.

If a person in the Netherlands finances your study instead, their gross SV salary for hbo or university study must be at least EUR 3,467.77 a month if married or partnered, or EUR 2,766.67 if single, without holiday allowance. These sponsor amounts apply from 1 July to 31 December 2026.

Because the institution checks your funds before it applies, ask in writing which evidence it accepts and in what currency.

How long does the IND take, and when do you collect the MVV?

MVV appointments are booked online at the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate-General in Bangalore or Mumbai. You may use any of the three even if the IND letter names another. Appointments fill up quickly; if none are showing, check again, as slots open through cancellations and rescheduling.

For passport return, NetherlandsWorldwide offers an optional DTDC courier at INR 850, paid to DTDC for an Airway Bill number before the appointment.

What do you take to the MVV appointment in India?

• Passport valid for at least 6 more months, with 2 empty pages, plus a photocopy of the photo page.
• One passport photo meeting Dutch requirements (3.5cm by 4.5cm, colour, no more than 6 months old).
• The institution's email showing your V number; this is enough for the appointment.
• Any other documents named in the IND letter, with copies.

The MVV is a long-stay entry visa, so you do not need a separate Schengen visa or a VFS appointment for this trip. After arriving, you collect the residence permit in the Netherlands.

What conditions apply once you are studying?

• Validity: the permit lasts for the length of your course plus 3 months, up to a maximum of 5 years.
• Study progress: you must earn at least half the required credits each academic year, or the permit can be withdrawn.
• Work: up to 16 hours a week, or full time in June, July and August, and only if your employer holds a work permit (TWV) for you.
• After graduation: the orientation year permit, at an IND fee of EUR 254 for a first application, lets you look for work; a highly skilled migrant job then qualifies at the reduced salary criterion of EUR 3,122 a month in 2026.

Which mistakes delay a Dutch student file?

• Letting the 3-month window to collect the MVV run out after approval.
• Arriving with a passport that has less than 6 months' validity left at the MVV appointment.
• Leaving the birth certificate unlegalised or untranslated.
• Counting tuition money towards the living-funds requirement.
• Taking a job without checking that the employer holds a TWV.

For flight reservations and a cover letter for any related visa file, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram offers packages from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for a reservation, hotel booking, itinerary and cover letter. Contact us on WhatsApp at +91 95230 91018 or via the contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can I collect my MVV in Mumbai if my IND letter names New Delhi?

Yes. NetherlandsWorldwide says MVV sticker appointments can be booked at the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate-General in Bangalore or Mumbai, and you may use any of the three even if the IND letter names another.

Is the Dutch student permit fee refunded if the IND refuses?

No. The EUR 254.00 IND fee is paid when the application is submitted, through your institution, and is not refunded if the application is refused.

Does the 20.7% Dutch refusal rate apply to student permits?

No. The European Commission's 20.7% figure for 2025 is the refusal rate for short-stay Schengen applications lodged at Dutch consulates in India: 20,156 visas not issued; 97,650 applications lodged. Student residence permits are decided separately by the IND.

Can secondary or mbo students from India apply?

The IND sets a separate funds amount for secondary and mbo students of EUR 928.58 a month in 2026. As with university study, the institution must be an IND-recognised sponsor and applies on your behalf.