Netherlands Student Visa Proof of Funds: How Much to Show and How

TL;DR: For a Netherlands student residence permit, you must show enough money to live for 12 months. The IND sets the amount at €1,130.77 a month for university and university of applied sciences students in 2026, so €13,569.24 for a year. Your university checks the proof, not you directly with the IND. There are six accepted ways to show it, and bank documents must be less than three months old.

If you are planning a February start in the Netherlands, the money question comes up fast. Your Dutch university applies for your residence permit on your behalf, and it will not start that application until your proof of funds is in. Whether you apply from Sri Lanka or anywhere else outside the EU, the rule is the same: show the study norm for 12 months, in a form the university accepts.

Get this right the first time and your permit moves on schedule. Get it wrong and the university sends it back, which can cost weeks you may not have before a February intake. Proof of funds is also the first step toward your MVV, the entry visa most students need, so a delay here delays everything after it.

Planning a February master's in the Netherlands and unsure your funds will pass? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

How much money you must show

The IND, the Dutch immigration service, publishes a monthly amount called the study norm. For students at a university or university of applied sciences, it is €1,130.77 a month, valid from 1 January to 31 December 2026.

This covers living costs only. Tuition is separate, and many universities ask you to pay it, or a first instalment, before they apply for your permit.

The amounts change every year on 1 January. If your university files your permit application in January or later, expect the new figure. Plan for a small increase rather than the exact number above.

Not sure which of the six routes suits your family's situation best?

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Six ways to prove your funds

The IND accepts six routes. Your university will tell you which ones it prefers.

1. Your own bank account. An original bank statement or printout showing the full 12-month amount.
2. A deposit with the university. You transfer the money to the university's account, and the university releases it to you after you arrive. Many universities offer this route.
3. A scholarship. A letter from the organisation giving the grant, showing the amount and period.
4. A company. A company that holds the 12-month amount in a bank account and commits to support you.
5. A financier abroad. A private person outside the Netherlands, such as a parent, who holds the funds and signs the required documents.
6. A financier in the Netherlands. A person living in the Netherlands who can show independent, sustainable and sufficient income.

You can combine routes, for example a partial scholarship plus your own savings, as long as the total reaches the 12-month amount.

What the documents must show

The IND sets clear rules for the paperwork:

• Language. Documents must be in Dutch, English, German or French. Anything else needs a translation.
• Age. Financial statements may not be older than three months when you submit them.
• Whose name. The account holder's name must match the person who is funding you. If a parent pays, the documents show the parent's account and a signed statement of support.
• Full amount. The balance must cover the whole 12-month figure, not most of it.

Each study year, you also sign a form confirming your own income for that year. So the check does not end on arrival.

After approval: the MVV entry visa

Most students from outside the EU also need an MVV, a long-stay entry visa. Only nationals of a short list of countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, the UK and the US, are exempt. You do not apply for it separately. Your university applies for the MVV and the residence permit together, in what the IND calls the entry and residence procedure.

Until your proof of funds is accepted, step 1 cannot start, and every later step moves back with it.

Why the deposit route is often the smoothest

When you deposit the money with the university, it already holds the proof, so there is no question about statement dates, names or translations. The trade-off is cash flow: the full amount leaves your account before you travel. A clean bank statement that meets every rule above works just as well.

See our guide to the Netherlands February intake deadlines for how this fits your application dates.

Applying from Sri Lanka

• Sri Lankan bank statements are usually issued in English, which the IND accepts. Ask the bank for a statement or balance letter in euros or with the exchange rate shown, dated within three months of submission.
• If a parent in Sri Lanka is funding you, that is the "financier abroad" route: the parent's statement plus the signed support documents your university sends.
• Sri Lankan nationals need an MVV. You apply for the sticker in person at the Dutch embassy in Colombo, by online appointment, and issue can take up to 10 working days, so book as soon as the IND letter arrives.
• For a deposit, allow time for an international transfer from a Sri Lankan bank to reach the university's account before its permit deadline.

FAQ

How much money do I need for a Netherlands student visa?
For university and university of applied sciences students, €1,130.77 a month in 2026, so €13,569.24 for 12 months. Tuition is extra.

Who checks my proof of funds?
Your Dutch university. It acts as your recognised sponsor and applies to the IND for your residence permit.

Can my parents' money count?
Yes. A parent can fund you as a financier, with their bank statement and the signed support documents.

How old can my bank statement be?
No older than three months when you submit it.

Can I use a bank statement from Sri Lanka?
Yes, if it is in English or one of the other accepted languages, shows the full amount and is less than three months old.

Do I need an MVV to study in the Netherlands?
Most students from outside the EU do. Your university applies for it with your residence permit, and you collect the sticker at a Dutch embassy or consulate within 3 months of approval.

PS: The funds rule is simple once you see it laid out, but a statement in the wrong name or a month too old is enough to stall your permit and your MVV. If you want your funding plan checked against your intake dates, check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›