Eligibility for statutory tuition fees as a family member of an EU Blue Card holder

Family members of an EU Blue Card holder are eligible to pay the statutory tuition fees when enrolled at a Dutch institution of higher education. In addition, they are entitled to apply for a tuition fee loan. This follows an amendment to the Student Finance Decree 2000, which came into effect on 27 June 2024.

The amount of the statutory tuition fee is determined annually by the Dutch government, unlike the institutional tuition fee, which is set by universities and universities of applied sciences.

The statutory tuition fee is generally significantly lower than the institutional rate. This is illustrated by the following example:

For the bachelor’s degree in Medicine at the University of Amsterdam, a full-time student paying the institutional fee will owe €31,600 for the 2024/25 academic year. In contrast, a full-time student of the Medicine bachelor who qualifies for the statutory tuition fee will only pay €2,601 for the same academic year.

Children of EU Blue Card holders remain eligible for the statutory tuition fee even if, after one year of residing with the EU Blue Card holder, they obtain an independent residence permit. This has been confirmed in writing by DUO upon request. Such a residence permit may be applied for if the child originally received a residence permit as a minor (under 18) to live with the EU Blue Card holder and continues to hold that same permit, also after becoming of age.

The amendment to the Student Finance Decree 2000 does not apply to family members of highly skilled migrants. This means they are still required to pay the higher institutional tuition fee.

Would you like to know more about the differences and similarities between the highly skilled migrant residence permit and the EU Blue Card? Please feel free to contact our team.