The IND asks every student-permit applicant to show enough money to live in the Netherlands for 12 months. The amount is called the study norm. It is not the same as tuition, which you pay separately.

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. The IND decides on residence permits and your institution decides on admission.

What the study norm is

Per the IND’s income requirements for study (last updated 15 June 2026), the study norm equals the maximum Dutch students can get in study benefits while living in a dorm. It changes every year on 1 January, and it does not include school or college fees.

For 2026, IND’s table of required amounts gives €1,130.77 a month for higher professional education (HBO) or university. For a full year that is 12 x €1,130.77, which is €13,569.24. The secondary and senior vocational rate is lower. The 2026 amounts apply from 1 January to 31 December 2026, so check the IND for the figure that applies to your start date.

The ways to prove it

The IND lists six ways to show you have the money, and your institution will ask you for proof. The ones the page describes in detail are:

  • Your own bank account. You have 12 x the study norm in an account in your name that you can freely withdraw from. Bank statements must not be older than three months and carry details such as the balance and the bank's contact information. A foreign account needs an original bank statement.
  • A deposit with your institution. You deposit 12 x the study norm into the institution's bank account, and the money is there when the institution submits the application.
  • A scholarship. You show it with a scholarship declaration naming the institution granting it, your details, the start and end dates and the amount you receive.
  • Funds from a company, shown with a statement of financial support from the company and its bank statement.
  • Money from a person abroad or in the Netherlands, shown with a statement of financial support and the financier's documents. A financier in the Netherlands must show independent, sustainable and sufficient income.

Documents must be in Dutch, English, German or French, or be translated. Each study year you also complete the IND's form with your own statement about your income.

Why this matters for scholarships

A scholarship declaration is one accepted way to show money, but it only counts for the amount the scholarship actually pays. If your award is partial, check whether it reaches the full study norm, and if it does not, show the rest through one of the other methods.

Sources

Opened and checked on 5 October 2026. Figures that change from year to year are marked "as of October 2026"; check the source before you rely on them.