Every application to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) — whether it’s a work permit, a study permit, or a family reunification application — carries a government fee on top of any costs charged by an employer, university, or immigration adviser. IND publishes an official fee schedule that it updates every 1 January, and the amounts below are the confirmed 2026 rates, sourced directly from IND’s fees page and IND’s own 2026 fee announcement.
IND confirmed that 2026 fees rose by 4.4% overall compared with 2025, tracking wage and price indexation used across Dutch government fee schedules.
2026 IND fee schedule by permit type
Highly Skilled Migrant (kennismigrant)
- First application or change of purpose: €423
- Extension of an existing permit: €423
- Application by an EU long-term resident permit holder: €254
Study (higher education / MVV combined)
- First application or change of purpose: €254
- Extension: €254
Orientation year for highly educated persons (zoekjaar)
- First application: €254
- Application by an EU long-term resident permit holder: €254
Family reunification (nareizen/gezinshereniging)
- Partner or spouse joining a sponsor in the Netherlands: €254
- Child under 18 joining a parent: €85
- Turkish nationals (association-agreement rate, both with and without MVV): €85
Permanent residence and long-term EU residency
- Permanent residence permit application: €254
- Long-term EU resident permit application: €254
- Renewal of an existing residence document (no new assessment): €85
These are the IND government fee only. They do not include the separate MVV visa sticker cost charged by the Dutch embassy or consulate handling your travel authorisation, legalisation/translation of civil documents, or any fee charged by an immigration lawyer or relocation agency.
Why the fee sometimes surprises applicants
A few patterns catch first-time applicants off guard:
- MVV nationals pay once, not twice. If your nationality needs an MVV, IND runs the MVV and residence-permit assessment as a single combined (TEV) procedure — one fee, not a stacked charge for each step.
- Reduced fees exist for dependent children and Turkish nationals. The €85 rate for children under 18 and for Turkish nationals under the EU-Turkey Association Agreement is materially lower than the standard €254/€423 rates — check which bracket actually applies before assuming the highest fee.
- Fees are non-refundable. IND does not return the fee if your application is refused, so it is worth confirming eligibility (salary threshold for a highly skilled migrant, CoE from a recognised sponsor, proof of enrolment for study) before submitting.
- The fee is reviewed annually. If you are budgeting an application that will actually be filed in early 2027, confirm the rate hasn’t changed again — IND’s fee page is updated every January.
Budgeting beyond the IND fee
For a realistic total cost, also plan for:
- Legalisation and certified translation of civil documents (birth/marriage certificates) not issued in Dutch, English, French or German.
- The IND-mandated minimum salary threshold your employer must meet for a Highly Skilled Migrant sponsorship — this doesn’t cost you money directly but determines eligibility.
- Health insurance that meets Dutch requirements from your arrival date.
- Municipal registration (BRP) at your local gemeente, which is free but required before you can open a bank account or get a BSN.
If you’re comparing the Netherlands against other Northwestern European options for skilled migration, see our Netherlands Highly Skilled Migrant visa guide for eligibility and sponsor requirements, or the orientation year guide if you graduated from a Dutch or top-ranked non-Dutch university and want a lower-cost route to work authorisation.
Fee schedules and eligibility rules change; always confirm the current amount on ind.nl before you pay, and treat this guide as preparation support rather than legal advice.
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