Dutch residence permit 2026: which one you need and how to apply
Every common route, who applies for you, and what the IND charges
How do you get a Dutch residence permit?
If you are not an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and want to stay longer than 90 days, you need a residence permit for a specific purpose: work, living with a partner, study, looking for a job after graduating, or self-employment. For most purposes your sponsor applies for you (your employer, your partner or your school). The IND has 90 days to decide, and charges €254 or €423 in 2026 depending on the permit.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens do not need a permit at all. They only register in the BRP at their municipality when staying longer than 4 months, and get their BSN there.
Which residence permit do you need?
The IND grants a permit for one purpose of stay at a time. Find yours below; each row links to our detailed guide with the requirements for that route.
| Purpose of stay | Who applies | IND fee 2026 | Full guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work as a highly skilled migrant | Your employer (an IND-recognised sponsor) | €423 | Highly skilled migrant salary guide |
| Work: EU Blue Card and other work permits | Your employer | €423 (EU Blue Card) | Work permits guide |
| Live with your partner | Your partner in the Netherlands (the sponsor) | €254 | Partner visa guide |
| Family members (children, family reunification) | Your family member in the Netherlands | €254 | Family reunification guide |
| Study | Your school or university | €254 | Student visa guide |
| Job search after graduating (orientation year) | You | €254 | Orientation year guide |
| Self-employment (including DAFT for Americans) | You | €423 | DAFT visa guide |
| Permanent residence after 5 years | You | €254 | Permanent residency guide |
Fees for a first application, valid until 31 December 2026. Source: IND, fees: costs of an application.
How the application works, step by step
- Check whether you need an MVV. An MVV is an entry visa for stays over 90 days. Whether you need one depends on your nationality; the IND publishes the list of exempt nationalities. If you need one, the MVV and residence permit are applied for together in one procedure (the TEV procedure).
- Your sponsor applies, or you do. For work, your employer applies; for the highly skilled migrant route the employer must be an IND-recognised sponsor. For a partner or family member, the person living in the Netherlands applies. For study, your school applies. For self-employment and the orientation year, you apply yourself.
- The IND decides. The legal decision period for a regular temporary residence permit is 90 days. The IND can extend it, for example when documents are missing, up to a maximum of 6 months.
- Collect your permit and register. After approval you collect your residence card, register at your municipality in the BRP and receive your BSN. From then on you can sort out Dutch health insurance, a bank account and your payslip.
Source: IND, decision periods.
Income requirements in 2026
Several routes require a minimum income. The main IND amounts for 2026, gross per month and excluding holiday allowance:
| Route | Required amount 2026 |
|---|---|
| Highly skilled migrant, 30 or older | €5,942 |
| Highly skilled migrant, under 30 | €4,357 |
| Highly skilled migrant, reduced criterion (for example after the orientation year) | €3,122 |
| Sponsor of a partner | €2,337 |
Source: IND, fees and required amounts for 2026. Use our 30% ruling calculator to see what a salary means net.
After five years: permanent residence or Dutch citizenship
A temporary permit is tied to its purpose, so changing jobs, ending a relationship or finishing a study can affect it. After five years of uninterrupted lawful residence you can usually apply for permanent residence (€254 in 2026) or, if you want a Dutch passport, for naturalisation (€1,139 for one person). Both have conditions beyond the five years, including a civic integration requirement.
Read the details in our permanent residency guide and our Dutch citizenship guide. If you lose your job on a work permit, see what happens to your residence permit.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a residence permit in the Netherlands?
First work out your purpose of stay: work, living with a partner, study, looking for a job after graduating, or self-employment. For most purposes the application is made by your sponsor in the Netherlands: your employer for work, your partner for family reunification, your school for study. Self-employed people apply themselves. The IND then has 90 days to decide, which it can extend. Fees in 2026 are €423 for highly skilled migrants, the EU Blue Card and self-employment, and €254 for partner, study, orientation year and permanent residence.
Do EU citizens need a residence permit in the Netherlands?
No. Citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland do not need a residence permit to live in the Netherlands; a valid passport or ID card is proof of lawful residence. If you stay longer than 4 months, you do need to register at your municipality, which puts you in the Personal Records Database (BRP) and gives you a BSN.
How long does the IND take to decide on a residence permit?
For a regular temporary residence permit the IND has a legal decision period of 90 days. It can extend that, for example when an application is incomplete, up to a maximum of 6 months.
What is an MVV?
An MVV (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf) is an entry visa for a stay of more than 90 days. Whether you need one depends on your nationality: the IND publishes the list of nationalities that are exempt. When you need one, the MVV and the residence permit are usually applied for together in one procedure, called the TEV procedure.
How much does a Dutch residence permit cost in 2026?
The IND fees for a first application in 2026 are €423 for a highly skilled migrant, the EU Blue Card and self-employment, and €254 for living with a partner or family member, study, the orientation year and permanent residence or long-term EU residence. Naturalisation costs €1,139 for one person. The fees apply until 31 December 2026.