Applying for a long-stay visa (MVV) for residents of India

If you want to stay in the Netherlands for longer than 90 days, you may need a residence permit. In many cases you will also have to apply for a long-stay visa before you travel to the Netherlands. This visa is also called an authorisation for temporary stay (MVV).

In India, you can apply for this visa at the Netherlands embassy in New Delhi or at the consulates-general in Bangalore or Mumbai.

Do I need an MVV and/or a residence permit?

You should check whether you need an MVV and/or a residence permit. This depends on things like your nationality and the purpose of your stay.

Applying for a residence permit and an MVV

You can apply for a residence permit and an MVV in 2 ways:

through a host in the Netherlands (such as an employer, family member or educational institution)
in person at a Netherlands embassy or consulate-general

If you have a host in the Netherlands, in most cases your host will have to submit the application to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

First check whether you need to take the civic integration examination.

What is your situation?

Applying through a host in the Netherlands

Depending on the purpose of your stay, your host may have to submit the application in the Netherlands. This applies if the purpose of your stay is:

study
work
a work placement
co-habiting with or marrying someone who lives in the Netherlands
family reunification

In these cases your host will be an educational institution, your employer, a family member or your spouse or partner.

Your host can submit the application directly to the IND. How they need to do this depends on why you need a residence permit and/or an MVV, for example for work or study. The IND website has a list of the documents your host will need to provide. It also explains how your host can apply for your residence permit. If you have any questions about this, you can contact the IND.

The IND will send your host a letter confirming that the application has been approved. The letter also explains how you can apply for an MVV and what documents you need.

You must apply for your MVV at the embassy or consulate-general within 3 months of receiving this letter. You have 6 months to apply if you meet both of the following conditions:

You are applying for an MVV for family reunification as a refugee (nareis asiel), and:
You are applying for an MVV in a country that is not your country of residence.

Take the following documents to your appointment:

The MVV issue form.
Your passport and a photocopy of the personal details page. Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months and have at least 2 blank pages.
If you live in a country of which you are not a national: your residence permit (or equivalent) and a photocopy of the permit.
A photo that meets Dutch requirements.
A copy of the letter stating that your application has been approved and what your alien registration number (V number) is.
All other documents listed in the letter from the IND and a photocopy of each of these documents.

Your MVV will be ready for you to collect from the embassy or consulate-general within 10 working days.

Verify that the information on your visa is correct. This includes your name and the visa’s validity period.

If any of the information is incorrect, contact the embassy or consulate-general where you applied for your MVV.

You must travel to the Netherlands with the MVV in your passport. The IND will let your host know when your residence permit is ready. You can then make an appointment at the IND office to collect your permit.

Applying yourself at an embassy or consulate-general

For the following purposes of stay you should submit your application for an MVV and residence permit yourself:

You will find the application form and all information about the required documents and the application procedure on the IND website.

The IND will process your application within 90 days. If the IND’s decision is positive, you must hand over your passport at the embassy or consulate-general where you submitted the application. Your MVV will be placed in your passport within 10 working days.

Verify that the information on your visa is correct. This includes your name and the visa’s validity period.

If any of the information is incorrect, contact the embassy or consulate-general where you applied for your MVV.

You must travel to the Netherlands with the MVV in your passport. The IND will let you know when your residence permit is ready. You can then make an appointment at the IND office to collect your permit.

Long-stay visa for residents of this country or region

Application procedure for MVV's in India

Long-stay visa (MVV) applications from India and Nepal can be submitted at the Netherlands embassy in New Delhi or at the consulates-general in Bangalore or Mumbai.

Step 1: Prepare the required documents

Before making an appointment to submit your application, make sure you have all the above mentioned documents.

Step 2: Make an appointment online

After you have prepared the required documents, you can make an appointment via the online appointment system to submit your application.

Does your approval letter state you need to submit your application in New Delhi, Bangalore or Mumbai, but you would prefer going to a different application location? This is possible. There is no need to ask for permission from either the IND, the embassy or the consulates-general.

Step 3: How can I track my application?

When you apply for an MVV in New Delhi, Bangalore or Mumbai, you will receive a track & trace code. This allows you to track the status of your application online. You will be informed via an automatically generated email when your document is ready.

Step 4: Processing times and collection of your MVV

Collection in person is not possible. You are strongly recommended to pre-book the courier of your passport with the MVV. You may use the services of DTDC as mentioned below. The processing time at the embassy in New Delhi and the consulates-general in Bangalore and Mumbai can take up to 10 working days.

Have your MVV delivered by courier

If you live in India or Nepal, you can have your passport with MVV sent to you by courier (DTDC). How can you arrange this?

Call the DTDC courier service on +91 97 1100 1980 (Monday - Saturday between 10:00 - 17:00).
If the courier service is available at your address, then DTDC will ask you to make an online payment of INR 750 (separate charges for Nepal). Please note that 1 envelope / AWB will be used for 1 applicant only. For example, for a family of 3 please arrange for 3 AWB numbers. You pay INR 750 per AWB number.
You will receive an airway bill number (AWB) via text message as soon as the payment has been made.
Write this AWB number down. You will need it at the time of application.
Print and fill the disclaimer form and add it to your visa file.
Submit your application at the embassy in New Delhi or at the consulates-general in Bangalore or Mumbai and ask for a DTDC envelope. Write your address, contact number (preferably a mobile number), passport number and AWB number on it in BLOCK LETTERS.
This envelope will be used to return your passport to the address mentioned on the envelope.

Authorise someone else to pick up your MVV

You can authorise someone else to pick up your passport with the MVV sticker. This is only possible with prior consent from the embassy or the respective Consulate General. Please indicate you want to use this option when you submit your MVV application.

The person who picks up the passport needs the following documents:

the original receipt handed to the applicant at the moment of application
authorisation letter stating the full name of the representative, duly signed by the applicant
valid photo identity proof of the representative (like passport or driving license)

You can check the contact page of the embassy in New Delhi, the consulate-general in Bangalore or the consulate-general in Mumbai for contact details and opening times.