netherlandsvisascost of living
IND sets 2026 study income requirement at €1,131
International students applying for a Dutch student residence permit must prove they can cover a fixed monthly living-cost amount. For 2026, the IND sets this at €1,130.77 a month for university and HBO (higher professional education) students, and €928.58 a month for secondary or MBO (vocational) students. The figures apply for the whole calendar year and matter to anyone applying for, or renewing, a study residence permit in 2026.
What changed
- The IND publishes a fixed monthly income norm for study residence permits, revised each 1 January to cover the following twelve months.
- For 2026 (1 January to 31 December), the amount is €1,130.77 a month for university and HBO-level students, and €928.58 a month for MBO and secondary-level students.
- This figure is what a student — or whoever is financially responsible for them — must show is available to cover living costs. It sits alongside first-year tuition, which must also be paid or guaranteed separately before a permit is issued.
- If someone else in the Netherlands is financing the student instead of the student financing themselves, that person faces a materially higher income threshold, because they need to support themselves as well as the student.
Who it affects
- Prospective non-EEA/EFTA students applying for a first study residence permit at a Dutch university or university of applied sciences.
- Students renewing an existing study permit partway through their programme.
- Parents, family members, or scholarship bodies acting as financial guarantors for a student.
- MBO and pre-university applicants, who fall under the lower threshold.
What you should do
- Confirm the exact figure that applies to your programme level directly on the IND income requirements page before submitting evidence — older blog posts and forums often quote outdated amounts from previous years.
- If a sponsor or family member is funding your studies, check their required income separately; it is not the same figure as the student norm.
- Budget beyond the minimum. The IND figure is a compliance threshold for visa purposes, not a realistic living-cost estimate in expensive cities. See our cost of living guide for a fuller picture.
- Keep evidence — bank statements, scholarship letters, sponsor declarations — dated to the period covered by your application, since assessors check against the amount valid on the application date.
What hasn’t changed
The requirement to separately demonstrate first-year tuition funds, the role of your institution as an IND-recognised sponsor, and the overall study residence permit process are unchanged. For the full permit conditions, see our Netherlands visas guide.