Your moving budget depends on your route and housing
Your total depends on your residence route and housing. Our 2026 example for one adult joining a partner comes to €4,011, including a required exam and €2,200 held as a deposit. Documents, travel, shipping, temporary housing and furniture cost extra. Replace the example’s rent and insurance amounts with your own figures before deciding how much to save.
This guide is for newcomers planning a move to the Netherlands in 2026. It helps you plan how much money you need and when to pay. Official fees depend on your residence route. Deposits are money held until it can be returned under the contract rules. Use written quotes for flights, shipping, translations and furniture. For bills after arrival, use the cost of living guide.
Check your residence route and who pays
Check the IND (Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst, Immigration and Naturalisation Service) fees page (External site, opens in a new tab). The table gives common 2026 fees; some routes have reduced or zero fees. Ask an employer or educational institution whether it pays the fee and whether it expects you to repay it.
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| Common route | Official 2026 fee | Who applies and when the fee is collected |
|---|---|---|
| Adult partner or family member | €254 | The applicant or referent (sponsor, the partner or family member they will join) pays online when applying, or follows the payment letter for a paper application. If needed, the MVV (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf, provisional residence permit) and residence permit form one application. |
| Child under 18 joining a parent | €85 | The parent or sponsor pays online when applying, or follows the payment letter for a paper application. Use the child rate when budgeting for a family. |
| Highly skilled migrant | €423 | Normally the IND-recognised employer applies and pays by direct debit. If you have Turkish nationality, employer recognition is not required and you can apply yourself. Confirm who pays and which fee applies before budgeting. |
| Study, all education levels | €254 | The recognised educational institution applies; payment goes through it. Confirm its invoice and refund terms. |
| Verification under EU (European Union) law | €85 adult; €46 child under 18 | For eligible non-EU family members of a citizen of the EU, EEA (European Economic Area) or Switzerland. |
| Citizen of the EU, EEA or Switzerland | €0 residence-permit fee | No residence permit required. Use a valid passport or national ID card. For stays over three months, check the IND’s conditions for your situation. |
IND fees change every 1 January. Lower or zero rates apply to some children, treaty cases and humanitarian or asylum routes. Check the live fees page for your case.
The combined TEV (toegang en verblijf, entry and residence) application covers the MVV and residence permit together. You pay one application fee, with no separate MVV fee. Use the residence-permit overview or the MVV and family-reunification guide to identify your route.
An income requirement is a condition you must meet, rather than a fee.
Budget for student living funds
Students also need to show they have money to live on. The €254 is only the application fee. In 2026, the monthly study norm is €1,130.77 for hoger beroepsonderwijs (HBO, higher professional education) or university. It is €928.58 for secondary education or middelbaar beroepsonderwijs (MBO, senior secondary vocational education). The IND requires proof for 12 months: €13,569.24 or €11,142.96, excluding tuition.
The IND study-income rules (External site, opens in a new tab) allow several forms of proof. These include money you can freely withdraw from your own account or a deposit with the institution. An institution deposit must reach its account before it applies. This is money for living costs. Ask the institution how much to transfer, when it is due, and how it releases or returns the money.
Check whether you need the exam abroad
The basisexamen inburgering in het buitenland (civic integration exam abroad) applies to some people who need an MVV. The IND exemption list (External site, opens in a new tab) includes age, nationality, residence-purpose and diploma exemptions. Check whether you need the exam before adding it to your budget. In 2026, Naar Nederland (the government’s exam-abroad website) (External site, opens in a new tab) lists €150 for the complete exam or €50 for one part, including a resit.
Register and pay through DUO (Dienst Uitvoering Onderwijs, the Dutch education service) (External site, opens in a new tab). After payment confirmation, book the exam appointment. The exam-abroad preparation guide explains the three parts and the A1 language level (basic everyday words and phrases).
Get prices for documents and translations
Ask the IND, gemeente (municipality) or institution which original documents it needs before ordering them. The IND accepts documents in Dutch, English, French or German. Documents in other languages must be translated. For translations made in the Netherlands, use a sworn translator. For translations made abroad, check whether both the document and translation need legalisation (official confirmation of a document’s signature).
Legalisation or an apostille (international legalisation stamp) depends on the issuing country and document type. Check the IND translation rules (External site, opens in a new tab), then select the issuing country on NederlandWereldwijd (NetherlandsWorldwide) (External site, opens in a new tab). Get separate prices for the document, legalisation or apostille, translation, certified copies and secure postage. Use the documents guide to check which version you need.
In 2026, the Consulair Dienstencentrum (Consular Service Centre) mediation fee (External site, opens in a new tab) is €131 per document. This service obtains and legalises documents concerning Dutch nationals, with limits by country. The fee is kept even if mediation fails. Include it only if you can use this service.
Compare travel and shipping quotes
Get at least two written quotes that cover the same items. Record each quote’s expiry date, payment dates and cancellation terms. Ask whether bags, collection, customs handling, storage, insurance and btw (VAT, value-added tax) are included.
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| Quote line | Ask the quote to include | Payment dates to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Flight or train | All bags, seat or pet charges, airport transfer, and change or cancellation terms | At booking |
| International mover or parcel shipment | Measured volume or weight, packing, stairs or lift, collection, delivery, customs handling, storage, insurance and btw | Any booking deposit and the date the balance is due |
| Temporary accommodation | Exact dates, tourist tax, deposit, cleaning, cancellation and extension rate | At booking or check-in |
| Pet travel | Veterinary documents, crate, carrier, inspection if applicable and ground transport | Each fee due before departure |
If you move household goods from outside the EU, you may qualify for tax relief. Douane (Dutch Customs) (External site, opens in a new tab) sets conditions for your previous residence, the goods and when you import them. A removal company applies for the relief through the customs declaration. Ask whether customs paperwork and port or terminal charges are included in its quote. Transport costs still apply. The pets and household goods guide explains the conditions.
Add the deposit, first rent and service costs
For a tenancy agreement signed on or after 1 July 2023, the deposit can be at most two months’ kale huur (bare rent) (External site, opens in a new tab). Kale huur excludes service costs. If you pay the maximum deposit and the first month’s rent, you need three times the bare monthly rent. Add the first service-cost or utility advance. Use the amounts in your contract. Keep the deposit separate from costs you will not get back.
If the landlord hired the letting agent, the agent may not also charge you mediation, contract or administration fees. You pay an agent you independently hired to search for you. Ask for each amount in the written contract.
Verify the landlord and home, and pay by bank transfer so you have evidence. Use the rental guide and rental-scams checks.
The deposit cap does not settle whether a demand labelled “rent in advance” is lawful. Before paying, ask for the payment’s legal purpose and repayment terms in writing. If the landlord appears to rename an excessive deposit, contact the gemeente’s landlord-reporting office before paying.
Budget for registration and health insurance
If you will live in the Netherlands for more than four months, normally register in the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen, Personal Records Database) within five days of arrival. Registration is free. You receive a BSN (burgerservicenummer, citizen service number) after registering. The national arrival checklist (External site, opens in a new tab) explains the main tasks.
The five-day deadline has exceptions. If you need a residence permit, lack valid residence status and are waiting for that permit, you can register later. If officials need to investigate your identity, you may wait for the result. The official BRP registration rules (External site, opens in a new tab) explain these exceptions.
The Hague’s first-registration page (External site, opens in a new tab) also lists free registration for citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland who have no BSN. Budget travel to the appointment and required foreign documents. Check your gemeente’s fees for other documents or services you need. The BRP and BSN registration guide lists what to bring.
Health-insurance costs depend on whether you must join the Dutch system. If you must, arrange basic insurance promptly and within four months of the date your duty starts. Within that period, the cover and premiums run from that date. The start date can be your arrival, first Dutch workday or residence-permit effective date. Confirm your start date with your insurer. The 2026 government average is €157 a month (External site, opens in a new tab). Each insurer sets its own premium. Children under 18 pay no premium.
Foreign students who come only to study are normally outside the Wlz (Wet langdurige zorg, Long-term Care Act) insurance scheme. Work or an internship can change this. Cross-border situations also differ. Ask SVB (Sociale Verzekeringsbank, the Dutch social insurance agency) for a Wlz assessment (External site, opens in a new tab) if you are unsure whether you need Dutch basic insurance.
The 2026 eigen risico (mandatory deductible) is €385 per insured adult (External site, opens in a new tab). You pay it when you use covered care subject to the deductible, rather than as a fixed arrival charge.
Zorgtoeslag (healthcare benefit) depends on income, assets and other conditions. Check eligibility before subtracting it from your budget. The health-insurance guide explains both costs and benefits.
Calculate the cash for one adult joining a partner
This illustration assumes one adult partner, a required basisexamen, €1,100 kale huur, the maximum deposit, a €150 first service-cost and utility advance, and Dutch basic insurance for that adult. The rent and advance are assumptions. The IND and exam fees are official 2026 charges; €157 is the 2026 government average premium.
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| Line | Status | Cash in the example |
|---|---|---|
| Adult partner IND application | Official 2026 fee | €254 |
| Complete basisexamen | Official 2026 fee, only if required | €150 |
| Deposit: two months × €1,100 bare rent | Maximum based on assumed rent; returned subject to tenancy rules | €2,200 |
| First month’s bare rent | Assumption | €1,100 |
| First service-cost and utility advance | Assumption | €150 |
| First month of basic health insurance | 2026 government average for one insured adult | €157 |
| Cash needed before excluded costs | Official fees plus stated assumptions | €4,011 |
The €4,011 excludes document issue and legalisation, translation, travel, shipping, temporary housing, furniture and later local taxes. Subtract €150 if you are exempt from the exam. Replace each assumed price with your contract or policy amount.
You may get the deposit back under the rules in the rental-contract guide, but you need it at move-in.
For other routes, confirm whether an employer or institution pays the fee. Student proof of funds is separate from this family example.
Add setup costs and later bills
Add only the costs that apply to your household. Check these five items before deciding how much money to keep for your first year:
- Municipal and water-board taxes
- The driving licence
- Furniture and fittings
- Pets and household goods
- Energy and water
Municipal and water-board taxes vary by area. Your gemeente may charge afvalstoffenheffing (waste charge) or rioolheffing (sewer charge). Each gemeente sets its rates every year. Your waterschap (water board) also charges taxes. Check which taxes apply and when the assessment is due. If you cannot pay, ask for kwijtschelding (a tax waiver). The authority checks income, assets and necessary expenses. Ask the authority on each bill which taxes it can waive. Use the municipal taxes guide to check your local charges.
An EU or EFTA (European Free Trade Association) driving licence can be exchanged if you meet the requirements. Other licences qualify only through listed countries or special cases. You apply at the gemeente, which sends the application to RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) (External site, opens in a new tab). Fees vary by gemeente. If exchange is unavailable, you need the Dutch theory and practical exams. The driving-licence guide covers both routes.
For furniture and fittings in a home listed as kaal (bare) or ongemeubileerd (unfurnished), ask what stays. Get a written list covering flooring, curtains, lamps and appliances. Before signing, budget for the items you will need to buy.
Pet travel and household-goods shipping need quotes if they apply to you. The pets and household goods guide covers documents, customs relief and other conditions.
Energy and water contracts have their own start and payment dates. Check who supplies each service and confirm those dates. Energy suppliers bill monthly advances; ask the water supplier about its billing schedule. The utilities guide explains how to arrange the contracts.
Plan when each payment is due
Find the payments due at each stage below, from before your application to later in your first year. Confirm exact dates in your application instructions, contracts and invoices.
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| Stage | Reserve or pay | Keep as evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Before the application | Required exam, documents and your route fee, or written confirmation that a sponsor or institution pays | Official fee page, invoice and receipt |
| Before travel | Tickets, mover or shipping, pet travel and temporary accommodation | Comparable quotes, validity dates and cancellation terms |
| At tenancy signing or key handover | Deposit, first bare rent, first service-cost or utility advance, and only lawful agent charges | Signed contract, inventory, receipt and bank record |
| Normally within five days of arrival, if staying over four months; see the exceptions above | Appointment travel and any document copies. BRP registration is free. | Appointment confirmation, registration record and BSN |
| During the first four months | Health premiums from your confirmed start date, plus utilities and internet setup | Policy start date and supplier contracts |
| Later in the first year | Municipal and water-board taxes, licence route, furniture and other optional setup | Local assessments and invoices |
Keep three subtotals: costs you will not get back, money held as a deposit, and costs still awaiting quotes. Show any student living-funds deposit separately from fees. Check official amounts before each payment. IND fees change each January; local authorities and providers set their own prices and payment dates.
Adjust your budget when plans change
Use the actions below if a fee changes, your move is delayed or a local bill arrives after you have spent the moving budget.
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| Problem | Action |
|---|---|
| You budgeted with last year's amounts | IND fees apply from 1 January to 31 December. Family-sponsor income amounts change on 1 January and 1 July. Check both the fees and income amounts before applying, especially if your move crosses either date. |
| The landlord asks for more than two months' deposit | For contracts signed from 1 July 2023, the limit is two months’ kale huur. Ask the landlord to correct a higher deposit and contact the gemeente’s reporting office. If the demand is called prepaid rent, the deposit cap does not settle whether it is lawful. Before paying, ask for the payment’s legal purpose and repayment terms in writing. |
| The health premium arrives as a backdated bill | Confirm whether Dutch basic insurance is compulsory and check the start date. If you arrange it within four months, premiums are backdated to that date. After four months, cover starts when you take out the policy; care during the uninsured gap is not reimbursed. Arrange insurance and contact CAK (the Central Administration Office) (External site, opens in a new tab) if you receive its letter. |
| Municipal tax bills arrive months after the move | Keep money for local tax bills in your first-year budget. Each tax has its own billing dates and rules for a move. If you cannot pay, ask the authority named on the bill for kwijtschelding. Water-board taxes may also qualify for a waiver. |
| A permit decision, home or shipping date moves | Check quote expiry and cancellation terms before each payment date. Contact the airline, mover and accommodation provider before a missed booking. Ask the sponsor or institution which payments can wait. Keep money for permit fees, housing and insurance available before buying optional furniture or shipping. |
Use these guides to finish your budget and arrange your arrival:
- Author
- By Inburgering.org team
- Reviewer
- Reviewed by Kirill Svavolia
Official Sources
- IND: Fees, costs of an application (External site, opens in a new tab) - the 2026 common-route fees, including adult and child family rates, highly skilled migration, study and EU-law verification; annual validity and route exceptions
- IND: Highly skilled migrant (External site, opens in a new tab) - that the employer must be an IND-recognised sponsor and submits the application, and that the IND collects the 2026 €423 fee from the employer by direct debit
- IND: Student residence permit for university or higher professional education (External site, opens in a new tab) - that only the educational institution, a recognised sponsor, can apply for the student residence permit, and that the 2026 €254 fee is paid through the institution
- IND: Staying in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen (External site, opens in a new tab) - no residence permit for citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland; identity documents and conditions for stays over three months
- IND: Required amounts income requirements (External site, opens in a new tab) - the 2026 monthly study norms of €1,130.77 for HBO or university and €928.58 for secondary education or MBO, plus other route-specific income requirements
- IND: Income requirements for study (External site, opens in a new tab) - the requirement to show 12 months of living funds, the permitted forms of proof and the option to deposit the money with the educational institution
- IND: Basisexamen inburgering in het buitenland (External site, opens in a new tab) - who must pass the exam before an MVV application, the exemption categories, registration route and one-year validity of a passed result
- Naar Nederland: Brochures 'Basisexamen inburgering in het buitenland' (External site, opens in a new tab) - the 2026 fees: a complete basisexamen costs €150 and a single part €50, on the official exam-preparation site of the Dutch government
- IND: Translation and legalisation of documents (External site, opens in a new tab) - accepted languages, sworn-translation requirements and the need to check legalisation for official foreign documents
- NederlandWereldwijd: Legalisation of foreign documents (External site, opens in a new tab) - country-specific legalisation or apostille routes and cases where legalisation is not required
- Government.nl: Step-by-step plan for tenants (External site, opens in a new tab) - two-month deposit cap for contracts dated 1 July 2023 onwards; conditional refunds and landlord-agent fees; 2026 self-contained-housing segments: social housing up to €932.93, mid-rent up to €1,228.07 with 144–186 points, free sector for contracts beginning in 2026 with initial bare rent above €1,228.07 and 187 or more points
- Government.nl: What to arrange when moving to the Netherlands (External site, opens in a new tab) - BRP registration within five days for stays over four months, issue of the BSN and the main arrival obligations
- Gemeente Den Haag (Municipality of The Hague): First BRP registration (External site, opens in a new tab) - free first registration for citizens of the EU, EEA or Switzerland without a BSN; required appointment documents
- Government.nl: Compulsory health insurance after moving (External site, opens in a new tab) - the four-month deadline, coverage from arrival for people who come to live or work, and the consequences of applying after four months
- Government.nl: Health insurance and residence permit (External site, opens in a new tab) - the permit-start-date and backdated-premium mechanism
- Rijksoverheid (Dutch central government): Cost of basic health insurance (External site, opens in a new tab) - the 2026 average basic-insurance premium of €1,884 a year (€157 a month), that the insurer sets the exact premium, and that children under 18 pay no premium
- Rijksoverheid: Mandatory health-insurance deductible (External site, opens in a new tab) - the €385 compulsory deductible in 2026, when it applies and care that is excluded from the deductible
- SVB: The Wlz scheme (External site, opens in a new tab) - that Dutch basic-insurance duty depends on Wlz status and that an SVB assessment is available when a situation is unclear
- Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Administration): Immigration checklist (External site, opens in a new tab) - BRP and tax steps and that household effects can usually enter without tax when moving, subject to customs conditions
- Rijksoverheid: Welke belastingen heft de gemeente? (External site, opens in a new tab) - that municipalities charge residents taxes such as afvalstoffenheffing and rioolheffing, and that the municipal council sets the rates every year, so they differ per municipality
- Rijksoverheid: Wanneer kom ik in aanmerking voor kwijtschelding van gemeentelijke belastingen? (External site, opens in a new tab) - municipal tax waivers depend on income, assets and necessary expenses; each authority decides which taxes qualify; water-board tax waivers are also possible
- RDW: Exchanging a foreign driving licence (External site, opens in a new tab) - that an EU or EFTA licence can be exchanged if the requirements are met, that most other licences can only be exchanged in special cases, that only the municipality can submit the application, and that the fee varies per municipality
- IND: Residence permit for partner (External site, opens in a new tab) - combined MVV and residence-permit application; immediate online payment or payment instructions by letter for paper applications
- IND: Student residence permit secondary or vocational education (External site, opens in a new tab) - recognised institution applies for secondary and vocational students; 2026 €254 fee paid through the institution
- NederlandWereldwijd: Consulair Dienstencentrum (Consular Service Centre) mediation (External site, opens in a new tab) - 2026 fee of €131 per document to obtain and legalise documents concerning Dutch nationals; country limits and no refund if mediation fails
- Douane: Verhuisgoederen en vrijstellingen (household goods and exemptions) (External site, opens in a new tab) - tax-relief conditions for moving household goods from outside the EU
- Douane: Moving to the Netherlands (External site, opens in a new tab) - a removal company applies for household-effects tax relief through the import declaration
- Rijksoverheid: Waarborgsom (deposit) rules for landlords (External site, opens in a new tab) - deposit limits by contract date and evidence of payment by bank transfer
- Overheid.nl (Dutch government portal): Wet goed verhuurderschap (Good Landlordship Act), Staatsblad (official law gazette) 2023, 103 (External site, opens in a new tab) - Article 22 inserts the two-month bare-rent deposit cap into Burgerlijk Wetboek (Civil Code) Article 7:261b; municipal reporting duties
- SVB: You are a student or doing an internship (External site, opens in a new tab) - foreign study-only exception and how paid work or internships can affect Wlz insurance
- Rijksoverheid: Health insurance when working in the Netherlands (External site, opens in a new tab) - insurance duty from Dutch work under the stated conditions; four-month deadline and late-insurance consequences
- Dienst Toeslagen (benefits service): Zorgtoeslag conditions (External site, opens in a new tab) - healthcare-benefit eligibility depends on income, assets, age, Dutch health insurance and residence status
- Unie van Waterschappen (association of water boards): Waterschapsbelasting (water-board tax) (External site, opens in a new tab) - water boards charge taxes; annual assessment timing and rules for a move vary by tax
- ACM ConsuWijzer (consumer advice service): Termijnbedrag (monthly energy advance) (External site, opens in a new tab) - energy bills use monthly advances towards annual actual costs
- NederlandWereldwijd: Basisexamen inburgering buitenland in Duitsland (External site, opens in a new tab) - official confirmation of the A1 language level and three exam parts; appointment details on this page apply to Germany
- CAK: Regeling onverzekerden (uninsured-persons scheme) (External site, opens in a new tab) - where to get help after a CAK letter about having no Dutch health insurance
- IND: Residence permit for minor child to stay with parent (External site, opens in a new tab) - €85 minor-child fee in 2026; parent or sponsor applies and pays online immediately or follows payment instructions by letter for a paper application
- Rijksoverheid: When to register in the BRP (External site, opens in a new tab) - registration is free; five-day deadline for stays over four months; later registration while awaiting a required residence permit without valid status or an identity investigation
- IND: Obligations of a family member’s referent (External site, opens in a new tab) - the family referent is the partner or family member the applicant joins
- Council of Europe: Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), global scale (External site, opens in a new tab) - A1 means familiar everyday expressions and basic phrases
- Naar Nederland: Registering for the exam (External site, opens in a new tab) - DUO registration form, exam payment instructions and appointment booking after payment confirmation
- IND: sponsor exceptions for Turkish employees (External site, opens in a new tab)