Document checklist
NetherlandsVisa Checklist
Prepare your documents with confidence
To study at a Dutch university or university of applied sciences (HBO), your institution applies to the IND for your entry visa (MVV) and residence permit on your behalf. You must show enough money for 12 months, and students living in Nepal collect the MVV sticker in India.
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To apply to Dutch universities, we require the following documents:
For 2026 the IND study living-funds requirement for university and HBO students is shown below. This is for living expenses and is separate from tuition fees. Your university will tell you how the funds should be demonstrated or transferred.
IND study norm (2026)
- Per month (university / HBO)
- €1,130.77
- 12 months
- €13,569.24
Your institution's amount
Many institutions round this up slightly — to €1,140 or €1,150 a month — to cover bank charges and exchange rates. Follow the exact amount and instructions in your institution's letter.
No Objection Letter (NOC) for paying your fees
You must obtain a no-objection letter from Nepal's Ministry of Education to pay your tuition fees and leave the country. You need the following documents when applying for the NOC:
Money in your own bank account
Deposit to your institution
Sponsor abroad (parents or relatives)
Scholarship
Education loan
The loan amount must be in your own account and freely withdrawable.
Provide the university with everything required for the immigration application. Depending on the institution, these may include:
Official foreign documents may need to be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
The Dutch institution submits the student residence permit application to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Where an MVV is required, the university normally applies for the MVV and residence permit together.
Fees and timing (2026)
- IND application fee
- €254, normally paid through the institution
- Legal decision period
- Up to 60 days
- Target for complete applications
- About 2 weeks (recognised sponsor)
For applications submitted by recognised sponsors the IND usually needs less time, but the legal decision period is 60 days.
After a positive IND decision, follow the instructions in the decision letter to obtain the MVV sticker.
Where students living in Nepal apply
Nepal does not issue MVV stickers. The IND decision will normally direct you to apply in India, at one of:
- Dutch Embassy — New Delhi
- Dutch Consulate-General — Mumbai
- Dutch Consulate-General — Bangalore
At the appointment you may need
The exact procedure and biometric requirements can depend on your individual case. Once processed, the MVV sticker is placed in your passport.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Apply only in the country named in your IND decision letter.
- You have 3 months from the IND decision to apply for the sticker, and appointments fill quickly.
Once the MVV sticker has been issued
After arriving in the Netherlands
Keeping your permit
You must earn at least half of the credits each academic year. Your institution checks this every year.
Take the whole checklist with you
Download the full Netherlands checklist as a PDF and tick documents off on paper, or share it with whoever is helping you collect them.
Netherlands Student Visa Checklist
20 October 2026
Netherlands
To study at a Dutch university or university of applied sciences (HBO), your institution applies to the IND for your entry visa (MVV) and residence permit on your behalf. You must show enough money for 12 months, and students living in Nepal collect the MVV sticker in India.
Step 1 — Offer Letter Checklist
To apply to Dutch universities, we require the following documents:
- Passport (all pages)
- All academic documents and GAP evidence
- SEE transcript and certificate
- NEB | Diploma | A Levels | IB transcript
- Bachelor transcript, certificate and individual mark sheet
- Master transcript, certificate and individual mark sheet
- English proficiency test result
- CV (if any)
- Work experience, training and salary statement (if any)
- Council registration certificate (if any)
- Application form and statement of purpose for the university or college
- Motivation letter
- Letters of recommendation (if required)
Step 2 — Arrange Tuition and Living Funds
For 2026 the IND study living-funds requirement for university and HBO students is shown below. This is for living expenses and is separate from tuition fees. Your university will tell you how the funds should be demonstrated or transferred.
IND study norm (2026)
Your institution's amount
Many institutions round this up slightly — to €1,140 or €1,150 a month — to cover bank charges and exchange rates. Follow the exact amount and instructions in your institution's letter.
No Objection Letter (NOC) for paying your fees
You must obtain a no-objection letter from Nepal's Ministry of Education to pay your tuition fees and leave the country. You need the following documents when applying for the NOC:
- Unconditional letter of offer (must show your name, subject, program level, duration and student ID)
- Citizenship certificate
- Passport copy
- Academic documents
- Invoice letter from the university or college showing payment details
- Degree awarded certificate (if you studied in a foreign country)
- Equivalency letter from Tribhuvan University (if you studied at a foreign university)
- Common Entrance Exam mark sheet (if applying for a health program)
- Previous NOC copy (if one has been issued before)
- Licence from the relevant authority
Money in your own bank account
- Bank statement in your name — Shows 12 × the study norm, freely withdrawable. Not older than 3 months, showing the date, your name, account number, balance and the bank's contact details.
- Statement for a joint account — Only if the account is shared: a statement that you may use the money.
Deposit to your institution
- Transfer of 12 × the study norm to the institution's account — Must be received before the institution submits your application.
Sponsor abroad (parents or relatives)
- Appendix “Statement of financial support (private person)” — Signed by your sponsor, not older than 3 months.
- Copy of your sponsor's passport or identity document
- Sponsor's bank statement — Shows 12 × the study norm, not older than 3 months.
Scholarship
- Scholarship declaration — Shows the date, the granting institution, your name and date of birth, start and end dates, and the amount.
Education loan
The loan amount must be in your own account and freely withdrawable.
- Education loan sanction letter
- Loan disbursement letter
- Loan account statement covering the period from loan approval to now
- Lalpurja including owner details, where property is used as collateral
- Land tax receipts from the VDC or municipality for the three fiscal years before the loan was approved
Step 3 — Submit Documents to the University
Provide the university with everything required for the immigration application. Depending on the institution, these may include:
- Passport valid for your whole stay
- Passport photo meeting Dutch requirements
- Proof of admission
- Financial documents
- Academic documents
- Antecedents certificate — IND appendix about any criminal record. Required for everyone over 12.
- Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test — Signed IND form. Nepal is not TB-exempt; the test is done at the Municipal Health Service (GGD) within 3 months of receiving your residence permit.
- Other immigration forms
- Legalised or translated documents, where required
Official foreign documents may need to be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
Step 4 — University Applies to IND and IND Decides
The Dutch institution submits the student residence permit application to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Where an MVV is required, the university normally applies for the MVV and residence permit together.
Fees and timing (2026)
For applications submitted by recognised sponsors the IND usually needs less time, but the legal decision period is 60 days.
Step 5 — MVV Sticker, Appointment and Biometrics
After a positive IND decision, follow the instructions in the decision letter to obtain the MVV sticker.
Where students living in Nepal apply
Nepal does not issue MVV stickers. The IND decision will normally direct you to apply in India, at one of:
- Dutch Embassy — New Delhi
- Dutch Consulate-General — Mumbai
- Dutch Consulate-General — Bangalore
At the appointment you may need
- Passport
- IND decision letter
- Photograph
- Fingerprints
- Signature
- Other documents requested by the Dutch diplomatic mission
The exact procedure and biometric requirements can depend on your individual case. Once processed, the MVV sticker is placed in your passport.
Step 6 — Travel, Register and Start Studying
Once the MVV sticker has been issued
- Check the details on the sticker
- Confirm its validity period
- Arrange accommodation
- Carry your university documents
- Keep your passport and immigration documents safe
- Make your travel arrangements
After arriving in the Netherlands
- Collect your student residence permit
- Register with your municipality
- Obtain your BSN (Citizen Service Number)
- Complete the required TB examination
- Complete university registration
- Attend orientation
- Arrange appropriate health insurance
- Open a Dutch bank account, if required
- Start your studies
Keeping your permit
You must earn at least half of the credits each academic year. Your institution checks this every year.
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