Netherlands Student Visa for Indian Students: 2027-28 Guide to MVV, VVR, Fees, and Process

Which visa you need depends on your program length.

• Short-stay Schengen visa (Type C): for courses or research under 90 days. You apply yourself through VFS Global; your university has no role in this route.
• Long-stay MVV + VVR (Type D): for bachelor’s and master’s programs, filed as one combined application called TEV (Toegang en Verblijf). The MVV is your entry sticker; the VVR is the residence permit card you collect after arrival.

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You do not file this application yourself. Your Dutch university is registered with the IND as a "recognized sponsor" and submits the TEV application once you accept your offer and pay your deposit.

For a full walkthrough of Dutch admissions before you reach this stage, see LeapScholar's guide to studying in the Netherlands.

Counselor insight: Nothing moves until the tuition deposit is paid. Students who wait to "confirm everything first" routinely lose two to three weeks off their TEV timeline for no reason.

• Confirmed admission at an IND-recognized WO (research university) or HBO institution; conditional offers are accepted for filing.
• Full-time enrollment only; IND does not process this visa for part-time programs.
• Proof of financial means must cover one year of living expenses plus first-year tuition.
• Valid health insurance covering treatment in the Netherlands from your arrival date.
• English proficiency proof (IELTS or TOEFL) for admission, though the test is a university requirement, not a formal IND visa condition. If you're weighing test options, Duolingo-accepted universities in Europe show which Dutch institutions accept it instead.

Dutch universities are phasing in enrollment caps on select English-taught bachelor's tracks (Political Science, Business Administration, and Psychology at some universities) under the government's Internationalization in Balance policy, with new numerus fixus arrangements effecting the 2027-28 academic year. This does not change the visa process itself, and it targets specific bachelor's programs far more than master's intake. But if you're applying to one of the affected tracks, confirm directly with the university that the English-taught version is still running and still open to non-EU applicants before you count on that program. 

Source: government.nl, University of Amsterdam 2026 policy announcement.

Counselor insight: Transcript verification is the step that delays the most Indian applicants. Students should start it the week they accept their offer, not after. Weak spots there usually come from a rushed statement of purpose too, so it's worth using a proper SOP structure rather than reusing one written for a different country's application.

The Netherlands does not use a blocked account like Germany. You prove funds through a university deposit, personal bank statement, scholarship letter, or sponsor declaration, and the money isn't locked into monthly releases.

Applying for 2027-28? The IND fee and study norm above are the confirmed 2026 rates (valid 1 January to 31 December 2026). The IND revises the study norm every 1 January and the application fee separately; 2027 figures are usually published on ind.nl in December. Re-check the required amounts page before you pay, especially if you're applying for the September 2027 intake.

Universities sometimes fold the €254 fee into your first tuition installment instead of billing it separately, so confirm with your admissions coordinator before you remit funds twice.

For a full cost breakdown beyond the visa itself, see LeapScholar's Netherlands cost of living guide, and check scholarships in the Netherlands for Indian students if you need to reduce this figure.

1. Accept your offer and pay the tuition deposit; this step triggers your university's TEV filing.
2. Submit transcripts, financial proof, and photographs through your university's portal.
3. University files the TEV application with the IND.
4. The IND reviews the application: 60 days as standard, up to 90 days from May to August.
5. Your university receives MVV approval and notifies you.
6. Book your biometrics appointment at VFS Global India.
7. Collect your MVV sticker; it is valid for 90 days from issue, so time your travel booking.
8. Travel to the Netherlands and register at the gemeente for your BSN within 5 days of your arrival.
9. Collect your VVR residence permit card via your university's international office.
10. Complete your TB test at the GGD within 3 months of receiving your VVR.

Counselor insight: If your offer lands after June for a September intake, you're inside the 90-day peak window with almost no buffer. Ask your university whether the next February intake is realistic before you panic-book flights.

• Academic year: maximum 16 hours per week for non-EU students.
• June, July, August: full-time work allowed, no cap.
• Work permit (TWV): Your employer applies, not you; takes about 5 weeks; costs roughly Rs.7,260 (€66).
• Minimum wage (from July 2026): €14.99/hour. At 16 hrs/week, expect roughly €960 Rs.1,05,530 gross per month.

Part-time income covers groceries and transport, not rent, so budget around your proof-of-funds figure rather than assumed earnings.

See part-time jobs in the Netherlands for international students for realistic job types and pay by city.

Counselor insight: Don't count on 16 hours a week as budget income. Most students who land a Werkstudent-style role only get consistent hours after their first semester, once they've built a track record with an employer.

• Delayed past 90 days: ask your university's international office to escalate with the IND directly; don't book non-refundable flights until MVV approval is confirmed.
• Financial proof rejected: usually a bank statement older than 3 months or an unexplained joint account. Resubmit with a fresh statement.
• Missed the intake: ask about deferring to the next intake rather than reapplying from scratch.
• MVV expiring before travel: it's valid for 90 days from issue; your university must request an extension if travel slips past this period.

The Orientation Year (zoekjaar) gives graduates 12 months of unrestricted work rights with no employer sponsorship needed, at a fee of €254 (Rs.27,940). Apply within 3 years of graduating. Securing a qualifying job during this year lets you switch to the Highly Skilled Migrant permit at a reduced graduate salary threshold; confirm the current figure on IND's salary requirements page since it resets twice a year.

• The university files this visa on the applicant's behalf, so paying the tuition deposit on time is what actually starts the TEV timeline; nothing else moves before that. 
• Budget Rs.14.93 lakh in provable funds plus tuition, and start transcript verification the day the offer is accepted, since that step delays the most Indian applicants.
• File dependent applications alongside the main one, and use the Orientation Year as the bridge into the Dutch job market after graduation, not as a fallback plan.

Have questions about your Netherlands student visa? Book a free session with a Leap Scholar counselor.