Netherlands Proof of Funds Requirements for International Students 2026

By Olami, AbroadPilot · Reviewed September 2026

Quick summary: The Dutch immigration service (IND) sets a “study norm” of €1,130.77 per month for higher professional education (hbo) or university students in 2026 — €13,569.24 for a full year. A lower figure applies for secondary or vocational (mbo) study: €928.58/month. Confirmed directly against the IND’s own published amounts page.

The published figures

These figures are valid from 1 January to 31 December 2026 and change every 1 January. The study norm equals the maximum amount Dutch students themselves could receive in study benefits while living in a dorm — it does not include tuition or college fees, which are separate.

What actually counts as proof

The IND recognizes six distinct ways to show sufficient income, and you only need one:

• Your own bank account: the full year’s study norm (12 × the monthly figure) sitting in an account in your own name, freely withdrawable, shown with a bank statement no older than 3 months.
• Deposit with your educational institution: the full year’s amount paid directly into your school’s account before they submit your application.
• A scholarship: a formal scholarship declaration stating the granting institution, your details, the start/end dates, and the amount.
• Funds from a company: the company holds the study norm for at least a year and provides a signed statement plus a recent bank statement confirming it.
• A financier abroad: a sponsor outside the Netherlands holds the study norm for at least a year in their own name, evidenced with a signed statement of financial support plus their own bank documentation.
• A financier in the Netherlands: someone already in the Netherlands who can show independent, sustainable, and sufficient income themselves — this route requires additional documents, including an extract from the Personal Records Database (BRP).

Whichever route you use, all documents must be in Dutch, English, German, or French, and no older than 3 months at the time of application.

What this means practically

• The figure is a strict multiple — 12 months of the study norm, not a lump sum you can round down. If your programme runs longer than a year, your institution or the IND will expect the same annual math repeated for each year.
• A joint bank account works, but only with a signed statement confirming you can actually use the money — a joint account alone isn’t sufficient evidence on its own.
• If a sponsor is financing you from abroad, their funds must be genuinely free to withdraw — the same restriction on certificates of deposit and locked accounts applies to a sponsor’s funds as to your own.

Frequently asked questions

Does the €1,130.77 figure include tuition?

No. The study norm is a living-cost figure only — it’s explicitly described as not including school or college fees, which you show separately as part of your admission and enrollment process.

Is the amount different for vocational or secondary study?

Yes. Secondary education or senior secondary vocational education (mbo) uses a lower monthly figure — €928.58 rather than €1,130.77 for hbo or university study.

Can my parents show the funds instead of me?

Yes, as a “financier abroad” — your sponsor needs the full year’s study norm in their own name, evidenced with a signed statement of financial support and their own recent bank documentation, alongside a copy of their passport or ID.

How often does this figure change?

The study norm is set annually on 1 January. The 2026 figures (€1,130.77 and €928.58) are valid through 31 December 2026 — re-check the IND’s page before budgeting for a later intake year.

Official sources

Checked directly against the official source as of September 2026:

• IND — Income requirements study
• IND — Required amounts income requirements (2026 study amounts)

Proof-of-funds figures can change without much notice, and the study norm updates every 1 January. Re-check the live page above before finalizing any budget or application based on this article.

Explore more on our Proof of Funds Requirements by Country hub.