Applying for an MVV: who does what before travel?
What would you like help with?
Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
An MVV is an entry visa for stays exceeding 90 days, not a separate residence permit. Nationality and exemptions determine whether it is required. First choose the residence purpose and check who submits the combined application.
On this page
1. Identify purpose and status
Record nationality, country of residence, existing status and purpose, such as partner, work or study. EU/EEA and Swiss citizens follow other residence rules; asylum is not a regular MVV route. This guide prepares an MVV application; it does not assess every condition of every purpose.
2. Check MVV requirement
Regular residence exceeding 90 days often requires an MVV. Check IND’s list of exempt nationalities and other situations. A valid Dutch permit can be relevant. Another Schengen country’s permit does not automatically exempt you. Support the exact exemption ground; IND assesses it. Nationality exemptions cover Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Vatican City, UK, US, South Korea, Switzerland and EU/EEA. Common other grounds include a valid Dutch permit; reapplying within two years of expiry while continuously living here; a Netherlands-born child aged twelve or younger living with lawfully resident parents; qualifying EU-family residence. A non-asylum regular permit from another Schengen country may qualify with a recognised sponsor and all conditions, with a related family exception. Another EU country's long-term-resident status has its own exemption, also for a partner/minor child previously living together there.
3. Choose sponsor or own application
MVV and residence permit are requested together. Often the sponsor in the Netherlands applies: partner, employer or educational institution depending on purpose. Use the official purpose page. Personal application abroad is not available for every purpose. Coordinate to avoid duplicate applications.
4. Prepare appointment and evidence
For the applicable personal route abroad, make an appointment at the Dutch representation in your country of origin or established residence. Take the correct completed form, valid passport, photograph and required evidence. The representation records the application date and biometrics, then returns the form. Check purpose-specific document and translation requirements. Established residence means permission to stay there for over three months through a permit or pending residence application; this is not always 90 days. Without a representation in the origin/established-residence country, use the nearest. A child under twelve attends with a parent holding authority or guardian. Keep the confirmation with V-number.
5. Submit and meet deadlines
For this personal route abroad, both sending the form and documents to IND and paying the fees must take place within three weeks of the application date entered by the representation. This is not a universal deadline for sponsor applications. Keep delivery and payment proof. Decision periods and fees vary; follow confirmation and the specific IND procedure.
6. Check decision and travel
IND advises against being in the Netherlands during the MVV procedure. Notify urgent reasons beforehand and provide evidence. After approval, follow the letter for the visa sticker and travel/collection instructions; submitting a form is not permission to enter. Check validity and work rights separately. For refusal or urgency use our existing IND decision guidance and specialist help. An MVV is a personal type-D visa, also usable via another Schengen country. While valid and before collecting your residence card, it permits multiple entries into the Netherlands/Schengen.
7. Check special exemptions separately
IND also lists conditional routes for at least twelve months on a blue card in another participating EU country when applying for a Dutch blue card, family of a qualifying former/current privileged person, seven years on a Dutch ship/mining installation, cross-border services and naturalisation applicants with residence. Other categories include temporary protection with certain work purposes, researcher and ICT mobility with qualifying family, particular medical/family cases, schoolchildren with three years' residence, Article 8 ECHR, specified adoption cases and family of a supervised child. Trafficking, domestic/honour violence, labour exploitation (and minor children), a qualifying start-up during lawful short stay and individual inability to return may also matter. A label alone grants no exemption: read IND's precise subconditions, substantiate the right ground in the application and obtain timely advice.
Does an MVV exemption replace a residence permit?
No. Exemption from the entry visa does not automatically remove residence-permit requirements or satisfy residence conditions.
Documents to prepare
Prepare your next stepFill in and save · Word
Tick what you have checked or collected. Note what is missing and take your overview to a meeting.
Unless saved in My overview: Your entries stay only on this screen. Download before leaving; closing or reloading clears them. Do not enter identity numbers, passwords or unnecessary personal details.
What do you still need for your next step?
Item 1 / 6 · Where do you stand with this item?
Nationality, country and status
This overview follows your own answers. It does not assess your rights or guarantee that your file is complete.
Your choices stay here. Use the buttons below if you want to save or download.
View all details, notes and timeline
Your timeline and evidence
List events and contacts. Note where you keep the evidence; no upload is needed.
What goes in my timeline?
Record what happened, when, the response and where to find the letter, message or photo. Mark uncertain dates.
Is my evidence sent?
No. You only note where it is kept. No files are uploaded or sent automatically.
How do I save my timeline?
Your entries are not saved automatically. Choose Save and continue later to store this preparation, including your timeline, in My overview. Wait for confirmation and save new changes again. You can also download a Word file without an account.
Up to 20 events. Choose a different position for an event to change the order.
0 / 6 · Checked or collected
For each event, note the date, what happened and where the evidence is kept. Example: 3 October — letter received — correspondence folder.
Describe the solution you would like, such as an explanation of a deduction and repayment of the outstanding amount.
For example: which document is missing, who can provide it and what should I do first?
Record the date and its source. If unknown, note this and check promptly. This tool does not calculate or monitor deadlines.
After your conversation
These are your own notes. Confirm agreements with the other person; these notes do not prove their agreement.
This is your preparation, not a submitted request, objection or legally reviewed document. A tick records only your own progress. Check the procedure and deadline in the original letter.
Save and continue later
Clear entries
Download anything you want to keep first. Clearing cannot be undone.
- Nationality, country and status
- Purpose and sponsor
- Exact exemption evidence
- Form and documents
- Recorded date, payment and dispatch
- Decision and travel instructions
Contact with a lawyer
You can use the chat and information without a phone number. A contact request requires a phone number, a verified email address and your wish for telephone contact. Our team assesses which partner fits your question. Data is shared only under the stated consent procedure. A partner or engagement is not guaranteed.
View the current application processSources
Need personal assistance? Request a lawyer through our chat. We explain the next step; submitting a request does not engage a lawyer. The links below support the legal information.
IND · MVV ↗IND · MVV-vrijstellingen ↗IND · Eigen aanvraag vanuit buitenland ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.