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Last modified: 2026-10-01

# Studying in the Netherlands as a Russian Citizen: Permit via the University, MVV in Moscow, the Attestat, Payments and Recognition

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Russian citizens can study in the Netherlands, but the application for the MVV entry visa and the residence permit is filed by the admitting university, not by the student: the university acts as the sponsor with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). The student's only personal visit is to the Dutch Embassy in Moscow to have the visa sticker placed; the Consulate General in St Petersburg is temporarily closed. Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for international education, rates the Russian school certificate at least at the level of the Dutch HAVO diploma, so universities of applied sciences admit Russian school leavers directly, while research universities usually ask for an extra year of university study. The visa requires $15,331 (€13,569) for a year of living costs, and many universities let you deposit that amount into their own account, which is the most predictable legal route for Russians. Degrees from 12 Dutch universities are recognised in Russia without a procedure under government list No. 186-r.

| At a glance | Position in October 2026 |
| --- | --- |
| Documents for study | MVV entry visa and residence permit for study, in one application through the university |
| Who applies | The university as an IND recognised sponsor; it passes on the $287 (€254) fee |
| Where the MVV is issued | The Dutch Embassy in Moscow, by appointment within three months of the IND decision; up to 10 working days |
| Living funds in 2026 | $1,278 (€1,130.77) a month, $15,331 (€13,569) for 12 months |
| Russian attestat | At least HAVO level: fine for universities of applied sciences; research universities usually want a year of university |
| TB test | Not required for Russian citizens |
| Knowledge-security screening | No law in force: the broad version was found unworkable (minister's letter of 11.06.2026) and a narrower one is still being analysed; universities run their own checks |
| Recognition in Russia | 12 Dutch universities on list No. 186-r |

View over the historic centre of Leiden from the Burcht mound, September 2010. Photo: Effeietsanders / [source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Academiegebouw_Leiden_vanaf_Burcht_(small).JPG), [CC BY-SA 3.0 nl](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/nl/deed.en).

## What this guide covers and where the rest lives {#section-1}

This page covers only what differs for a Russian citizen: where the visa is issued, how the Russian certificate and documents are assessed, what knowledge security means for Russian applicants, how to show and move money legally, and how to get the degree recognised at home. The full visa and permit procedure is in [the Dutch student residence permit guide](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-dutch-student-residence-permit), Studielink deadlines and numerus fixus in [applying to Dutch universities](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-dutch-universities), and the budget in [the cost of studying in the Netherlands](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-the-netherlands). The country overview is on [Study in the Netherlands](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-netherlands). How visa routes for Russian citizens compare across countries is shown in [studying abroad as a Russian citizen](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-study-abroad-for-russian-citizens).

## Routes after grade 11, college or a degree {#section-2}

| Starting point | Realistic route | Watch out for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Grade 11 certificate | A four-year bachelor's at a university of applied sciences (HBO) | HAVO level, per Nuffic, is enough |
| Grade 11 aiming at a research university (WO) | First a year at a Russian university or a preparatory year, then a WO bachelor's | VU Amsterdam asks for the certificate plus at least a year at a recognised university; TU Delft for at least 60 ECTS in a related field |
| Russian college diploma | Usually HBO; WO only after individual assessment | Nuffic rates the general-education part of a Russian college diploma at HAVO level; the university makes the final call |
| Bachelor's or specialist degree | Master's, or a pre-master if the background is not a full match | The university compares subjects and level |
| Grade 9 or 10 | Dutch secondary school without parents is an exception; finishing grade 11 at home is more realistic | — |

The WO/HBO difference and realistic options after school are covered in [bachelor's degrees in the Netherlands](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-the-netherlands), graduate study in [master's degrees in the Netherlands](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-the-netherlands), and institutions in [universities in the Netherlands](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-universities-in-the-netherlands).

## Russian documents: apostille and translation {#section-3}

Russia and the Netherlands are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so Russian documents not issued by a consulate are legalised with an apostille. The government portal NetherlandsWorldwide describes two routes:

1. Have the document translated in Russia by a sworn translator into Dutch, English, French or German, then apostille both the original and the translation.
2. Apostille the original in Russia and have it translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands, in which case the translation needs no legalisation.

The school certificate's apostille comes from the regional education authority. Universities often accept scans at the application stage, but certified copies must be posted before studies begin: the University of Amsterdam, for example, wants them by 31 August.

## MVV and residence permit: your part and the university's part {#section-4}

1. Admission and confirmation of your place in Studielink.
2. Payment. The university sends a financial letter: tuition, often a living-cost deposit, and the IND fee of $287 (€254).
3. Documents in the university portal: passport, criminal record declaration, proof of funds.
4. The university files the IND application for the visa and residence permit together. The IND has up to 60 days, extended if the file is incomplete.
5. MVV. After a positive decision you have three months to book the Dutch Embassy in Moscow. Appointments go quickly; if no slots are available for a study visa, the embassy asks applicants to email it. You hand in the passport at the appointment and get it back with the visa within up to 10 working days.
6. Entry and residence card. The MVV is valid for 90 days; the residence card is collected at an IND desk after arrival.

Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus do not need a TB test, while citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan do. A Russian citizen living permanently in Kazakhstan collects the MVV at the Dutch Embassy in Astana if the IND decision says so.

## Knowledge security: what it means for a Russian applicant {#section-5}

Since 2025 the Netherlands has been debating a law to screen people who gain access to sensitive knowledge at universities: researchers, PhD candidates and some students. On 11 June 2026 the education minister, Rianne Letschert, told parliament that the 2025 draft did not meet the tests of effectiveness, workability and proportionality. The government will analyse a narrower, more targeted version, and in its view limiting screening to non-EU nationals would not be legally sound. As of October 2026 no such law is in force, so there is no state screening of students under it.

Universities, however, already run their own risk assessments. TU Delft's advisory team handles around 700 cases a year, and NOS reported that across Dutch universities hundreds of job applications and research collaborations have not gone ahead in recent years because they were judged too risky. For a Russian citizen applying to a master's or doctorate in engineering, IT, physics or related fields, the practical lesson is to allow time for extra questions from the university and keep programmes in less sensitive fields on the list. In such cases the university decides on admission.

## Money: showing funds and paying legally {#section-6}

### How much to show

The IND calls the required amount the study norm: for 2026, universities and HBO students need $1,278 (€1,130.77) a month, or $15,331 (€13,569) for 12 months, plus any unpaid tuition. The norm changes every 1 January. Bank statements must show your name, account number, balance and the bank's contact details; the University of Amsterdam, for instance, accepts statements no older than two months and does not accept term deposits, investment products or cryptocurrency.

### A deposit with the university: the most predictable route for Russians

Many universities accept living funds into their own account and refund them once the student opens a Dutch bank account. At TU Delft, first-year non-EU master's students transfer tuition and the living deposit together: for 2026/27 this is $45,003 (€39,833), made up of $28,960 (€25,633) tuition and $16,043 (€14,200) for living costs including fees. For a Russian citizen this solves two problems at once: the IND sees the money with the sponsor, and there is no need to move a large sum out of Russia after arrival.

Test the payment from Russia in advance. The Bank of Russia's guidance (updated 1 June 2026) confirms that residents may send money abroad, tuition included, but foreign correspondent banks may delay or return transfers because of sanctions. Ask the university for bank details and accepted payment methods, check with the sending bank whether a euro transfer to this beneficiary goes through, and if a relative abroad pays, keep documents proving the relationship and the origin of the funds. The EU ban on new deposits above €100,000 per bank from Russian nationals (Article 5b of Regulation 833/2014) does not apply to holders of an EU residence permit, though the bank still decides whether to open an account. Options are compared in [how to pay for studies abroad from Russia](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-how-to-pay-for-studies-abroad-from-russia).

### Tuition

Each institution sets its own non-EU fee. The Hague University of Applied Sciences, for example, charges $11,894 (€10,528) a year for a bachelor's, while an English-taught master's at TU Delft costs $28,960 (€25,633) a year. Employment during studies is limited to 16 hours a week, or full-time from June to August, and only if the employer holds a TWV permit; it will not cover tuition.

## Will Russia recognise a Dutch degree? {#section-7}

There is no Russia–Netherlands treaty on recognising education. List No. 186-r (version of 19.02.2026) includes 12 Dutch universities: the [University of Amsterdam](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-amsterdam), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, [TU Delft](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-tu-delft), [Eindhoven University of Technology](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-tu-eindhoven), [Leiden](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-leiden), [Utrecht](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-utrecht), [Groningen](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-groningen), [Erasmus University Rotterdam](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-erasmus-rotterdam), [Maastricht](https://www.studyu.org/en/university-maastricht), Wageningen, Radboud University Nijmegen and the University of Twente. Their degrees are recognised in Russia without a procedure.

Universities of applied sciences (HBO) are not on the list. Their degrees, like those of other institutions, go through recognition: the application is filed through the National Information Centre portal or Gosuslugi, Rosobrnadzor decides, and the state fee is 6,500 roubles. Weigh this when choosing between HBO straight after school and a preparatory year for a research university.

## Timeline for a September start {#section-8}

| When | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| 12–15 months ahead | Choose HBO or WO; for WO, plan a year at a Russian university; check list No. 186-r |
| From 1 October | Register in Studielink, upload documents to the university portal |
| By 15 January | Apply to numerus fixus programmes |
| By 1 April to 1 May | Apply to other programmes; universities close earlier for applicants who need a visa |
| After admission | Pay tuition and deposit through a legal route; documents for the IND via the university |
| Within 3 months of the IND decision | Book the Moscow embassy, collect the MVV, enter within 90 days |

## Common mistakes by Russian applicants {#section-9}

- Applying to a research bachelor's straight after grade 11 without checking requirements: many WO universities expect a year of university study.
- Expecting to arrange the residence permit yourself. Only the sponsoring university can request a student permit.
- Booking the embassy late after the IND decision: you have three months, and slots disappear quickly.
- Holding visa funds in a form the university does not accept, such as a term deposit.
- Leaving the payment route untested until the deadline: without payment the university will not file with the IND.
- Choosing HBO without accounting for the fact that its degree needs recognition through Rosobrnadzor in Russia.

## FAQ {#faq}

### Can Russians study in the Netherlands in 2026?

Yes. Dutch institutions admit Russian citizens on the general terms for non-EU students. The university decides on admission, the IND decides on the MVV and residence permit on the university's application, and the Dutch Embassy in Moscow places the visa sticker.

### Where does a Russian citizen collect the MVV?

At the Dutch Embassy in Moscow, if the IND decision letter says so; the Consulate General in St Petersburg is temporarily closed. Book within three months of the decision; the passport is returned with the visa within up to 10 working days.

### Can I go to a Dutch university after grade 11?

To a university of applied sciences (HBO), yes: Nuffic rates the Russian certificate at least at HAVO level. Research universities usually expect VWO level and ask for an additional year at a recognised university; the admissions office makes the final decision on your document.

### How much money do I need for a Dutch student visa?

The IND study norm for 2026 is about $15,331 (€13,569) for 12 months, plus any part of tuition not yet paid. Many universities accept this amount as a deposit into their own account; the university as sponsor and the IND check whether the funds are sufficient.

### Will Russians be screened under the knowledge-security law?

Not as of October 2026: in June 2026 the education minister told parliament that broad screening in the proposed form was unworkable, and a narrower version is still only being analysed. Universities still carry out their own risk assessments in sensitive fields, and in those programmes the university decides on admission.

### How do I pay for Dutch studies from Russia?

The Bank of Russia allows residents to send tuition abroad but warns that foreign banks may delay such payments. The simplest option is a university that takes tuition and the living deposit into its own account: get the bank details early, test the route with your bank and keep documents on the source of funds. Each university decides which payment methods it accepts.

### Does Russia recognise Dutch degrees?

Degrees from the 12 Dutch universities on list No. 186-r, including Amsterdam, Delft, Leiden and Utrecht, are recognised without a procedure. For universities of applied sciences and other institutions, Rosobrnadzor decides on recognition after an application; the state fee is 6,500 roubles.

## Sources {#section-11}

- [NetherlandsWorldwide: MVV for applicants in Russia](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands/mvv-long-stay/apply-russian-federation) and [legalisation of Russian documents](https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/legalisation/foreign-documents/russian-federation)
- [IND: residence permit for university study](https://ind.nl/en/residence-permits/study/student-residence-permit-for-university-or-higher-professional-education), [2026 income requirements](https://ind.nl/en/required-amounts-income-requirements), [fees](https://ind.nl/en/fees-costs-of-an-application), [requirements for everyone and the TB test](https://ind.nl/en/requirements-that-apply-to-everyone)
- [Nuffic: education system of Russia](https://www.nuffic.nl/en/education-systems/russia)
- [Dutch education minister's letter on knowledge-security screening, 11.06.2026](https://www.tweedekamer.nl/kamerstukken/brieven_regering/detail?id=2026Z12876&did=2026D29090) and [NOS report (11.06.2026)](https://nos.nl/artikel/2618141-buitenlandse-wetenschappers-toch-niet-massaal-gescreend-op-spionagerisico)
- [Bank of Russia: cross-border transfers (updated 01.06.2026)](https://www.cbr.ru/faq/w_fin_sector/transgranichnie_perevodi/) and [Bank of Slovenia: guidance on Article 5b of EU Regulation 833/2014](https://www.bsi.si/en/banking-supervision/financial-restrictive-measures)
- [Russian Government Order No. 186-r](http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202302020018) as amended by [Order No. 298-r of 19.02.2026](http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/document/0001202602200041); [Rosobrnadzor: recognition of foreign education](https://obrnadzor.gov.ru/gosudarstvennye-uslugi-i-funkczii/gosudarstvennye-uslugi/priznanie-inostrannogo-obrazovaniya-i-ili-inostrannoj-kvalifikaczii/)

Sources checked 24.09–01.10.2026. Dollar amounts use the ECB reference rate of 01.10.2026: €1 = $1.1298.

If you want to work through your route, send a [request](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply): document preparation and submission are provided under an agreement with StudyU, and the university makes the admission decision.

[During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.](https://www.studyu.org/en/apply)

## Next steps

- [Studying in the Netherlands for international applicants](https://www.studyu.org/en/country-netherlands)
- [Dutch Student Residence Permit: MVV Entry Visa and Study Permit Explained](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-dutch-student-residence-permit)
- [Applying to Dutch Universities for 2027/28: Deadlines, Studielink, Documents and the Residence Permit](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-applying-to-dutch-universities)
- [Cost of Studying in the Netherlands in 2026/27: Tuition, Living Costs, Permit Funds and the Full-Degree Budget](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-cost-of-studying-in-the-netherlands)
- [Bachelor's in the Netherlands for International Students: 3 or 4 Years, Entry Routes and the Cost of a Degree](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-bachelors-in-the-netherlands)
- [Master's in the Netherlands: Admission, Costs and Deadlines for 2027/28](https://www.studyu.org/en/blog-masters-in-the-netherlands)

Updated: October 2026