🇳🇱 Study in the Netherlands: The 2026 Journey, Step by Step
The full 2026 student journey to the Netherlands: a recognised sponsor, €1,130.77 a month in funds, a BSN and 16 hours of work a week. What visa officers check, what to pack to cut first-month costs, and how much part-time work really covers.
At a glance: the 2026 numbers
| What | Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Document you need from the school | admission from a recognised sponsor, which applies to the IND for you |
| Living costs to show | €13,569 (IND norm of €1,130.77 a month × 12 for higher education (2026)) |
| Work in term | 16 h/week or summer |
| Minimum wage | €14.99 an hour |
| Plugs and voltage | Type F plugs, 230 V |
| Cash to declare | €10,000 or more |
Step 1–9: the journey in order
Timings count back from your course start date. Start earlier if you need a scholarship or an education loan: both add months.
What the visa officer is looking for
✅ Your university's assessment
As a recognised sponsor it checks admission, funds and English before the IND sees your file.
✅ Funds for the full year
€1,130.77 a month (2026 IND norm).
✅ A genuine study plan
Programme fit with your background.
✅ Health and TB checks
A TB test on arrival for nationals of some countries.
✅ Honest history
Past refusals disclosed.
Before you leave: pack to cut your first-month costs
The first month abroad is the most expensive: deposits, bedding, a phone plan, transport cards and kitchen basics all land at once. Packing the right things from home, and leaving the wrong ones behind, saves real money and trouble at the border. The Netherlands runs on 230 V, so Indian appliances work with a Type F adapter.
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| ✅ Bring: A good rain jacket | you will cycle in the rain |
| ✅ Bring: Pressure cooker and one heavy pan | cooking at home saves the most |
| ✅ Bring: Ground, sealed spices | allowed for personal use |
| ✅ Bring: Prescription medicines in original packs | with the prescription |
| ✅ Bring: Type F plug adapters | Indian 230 V appliances then work |
| ✅ Bring: Certified document copies | for municipality registration |
| 🛒 Buy there: A second-hand bicycle | the cheapest transport by far |
| 🛒 Buy there: Bedding | discount stores are cheap |
| ⛔ Never pack: Meat or dairy from outside the EU | banned for personal import into the EU |
| ⛔ Never pack: Undeclared cash of €10,000 or more | seizure and fines |
| ⛔ Never pack: Working without a TWV | your employer and you can be fined |
💵 Declare cash of €10,000 or more when you enter the EU. Use a forex card or a low-fee multi-currency account for most of your money, and carry only enough cash for the first few days. Full the Netherlands customs rules →
Paying your fees by working, within the rules
| Rule | Netherlands in 2026 |
|---|---|
| During term | Up to 16 hours a week |
| Breaks | Either up to 16 hours a week all year, or full-time in June, July and August only; not both |
| Minimum wage | €14.99 an hour (statutory minimum wage for workers aged 21 and over from 1 July 2026) |
| Legal maximum in term | €9,594 a year (16 h × 40 weeks) |
Worked example. A realistic plan is fewer hours than the legal maximum, because shifts are not always available and grades matter. Here is what 12 hours a week in term and 0 in breaks earns:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Term: 12 h/week × 40 weeks × €14.99 | €7,195 |
| Breaks: 0 h/week × 0 weeks × €14.99 | €0 |
| Gross earnings a year | €7,195 |
| Tuition (example: a non-EU bachelor's fee) | €18,000 |
| Living costs (IND norm of €1,130.77 a month × 12 for higher education (2026)) | €13,569 |
| Share of living costs covered | 53% |
| Share of tuition + living covered | 23% |
The pattern is the same everywhere: part-time work can cover much of your living costs, but rarely tuition. Plan to pay tuition from savings, a loan or a scholarship, and use wages for rent, food and the second year's buffer. Never go over your hour limit: breaching visa conditions can lead to cancellation and refusals later.
Other ways to bring the bill down
- Holland Scholarship (€5,000 in the first year)
- University excellence scholarships
- Full-time summer work in June–August
- One-year orientation year (zoekjaar) after graduating
Try your own numbers below. The legal-maximum button fills the most you are allowed to work.
Your first two weeks after landing
| Task | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Municipality registration | gives you a BSN |
| Bank account | needed for rent and wages |
| Health insurance | Dutch basic insurance if you work |
| DigiD | log-in for government services |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the steps to study in the Netherlands?
1) Choose a programme at a recognised sponsor. 2) Take an English test. 3) Apply via Studielink. 4) Pay fees and transfer funds. 5) University applies for your MVV and VVR. 6) Collect the MVV and book housing. 7) Register with the municipality. 8) Get Dutch health insurance and a TWV. 9) Work 16 hours a week or full-time in summer.
What do visa officers look for in a Netherlands student visa application?
Your university's assessment: As a recognised sponsor it checks admission, funds and English before the IND sees your file. Funds for the full year: €1,130.77 a month (2026 IND norm). A genuine study plan: Programme fit with your background.
Can I pay my tuition by working part-time in the Netherlands?
Only partly. Working 12 hours a week in term and 0 in breaks at €14.99 an hour earns about €7,195 a year before tax, roughly 53% of the €13,569 living-cost figure. You must show the first year's funds before the visa is granted, so wages are for later years and living costs, not for getting the visa.
How many hours can international students work in the Netherlands?
Up to 16 hours a week during term. Either up to 16 hours a week all year, or full-time in June, July and August only; not both.
What should I pack to save money when moving to the Netherlands?
Bring: a good rain jacket; pressure cooker and one heavy pan; ground, sealed spices; prescription medicines in original packs; type F plug adapters. Buy there: a second-hand bicycle; bedding.
Can international students work full-time in the Netherlands?
Only in June, July and August, and only if you choose that instead of the 16-hours-a-week option. Your employer needs a TWV work permit, and you need Dutch health insurance once you work.
Sources
Figures on this page were checked against these sources on 31 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official site before you apply.