LumenHow much does a residence permit application cost in the Netherlands in 2026?
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IND application fees in 2026: €423 for highly skilled migrant, EU Blue Card or self-employed; €254 for orientation year, permanent residence or EU long-term residence; €1,139 for naturalisation. The fee must be paid when you submit the application and is not refunded if refused.
Key facts
| What | IND fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| Highly skilled migrant / EU Blue Card | €423 |
| Self-employed person | €423 (€85 for Turkish nationals under DAFT) |
| Startup visa | €423 |
| Orientation year (zoekjaar) | €254 |
| Family reunification with a highly skilled migrant | €254 |
| Permanent residence (national or EU long-term) | €254 |
| Naturalisation (one person) | €1,139 |
| Naturalisation (joint application with partner) | €1,454 |
| Naturalisation (child under 18, with parent) | €168 |
What the fee covers and when you pay
You pay the fee when you submit the application to the IND. The fee covers the IND’s processing cost. If your application is refused, the fee is not refunded. If you withdraw the application before a decision, the IND does not refund the fee.
The IND reviews and resets the fees each year on 1 January. The amounts shown above are for 2026 and are valid until 31 December 2026.
Who pays
For a highly skilled migrant application, the employer (the recognised sponsor) normally pays the fee. The IND invoices the sponsor directly. For most other permits, the applicant pays.
Reduced fees and exceptions
Turkish nationals applying for a self-employed residence permit under the EU-Turkey Association Agreement (DAFT) pay a reduced fee of €85 instead of €423.
Naturalisation fees are reduced for stateless persons and holders of an asylum-based residence permit: €847 for a single person and €1,163 for a joint application.
Related questions
- The income requirements for highly skilled migrants: €5,942 (30+), €4,357 (under 30), or €3,122 reduced criterion in 2026.
- The IND processes each application separately. If you are switching from one permit to another, you pay the fee for the new permit.
Sources
- IND: Fees — costs of an application (2026) checked 2026-10-26
Change history
- : Page created
This is general information, not legal advice, and Lumen is not a law firm. Rules change and offices differ: check the official sources above before you act. Found something wrong or out of date? Write to support@lumen.observer.