Applying for an MVV visa sticker for the Netherlands in South Africa

You can also apply for your MVV visa sticker at a different location than the one specified in the letter from the IND informing you of its positive decision. You do not need permission from the IND, embassy or consulate-general for this. 

For example: The letter from the IND states that you need to apply for your MVV visa sticker at the embassy in Pretoria. In that case, you may also apply for your MVV visa sticker at the consulate-general in Cape Town.

Because of the high number of applicants, appointments fill up quickly. If you are unable to make an appointment, try again at a later date. Slots may become available due to cancellations or re-scheduling.

If you did not receive an email confirming your appointment, check your spam folder. It is possible that it may have ended up there. If the email is not in your spam folder, contact NetherlandsWorldwide.

If your sponsor applied to the IND for the residence permit in the Netherlands , bring the following documents with you to your appointment:

• A completed and signed MVV issue form. 
• Your passport and a photocopy of the page with your photo on it. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of the appointment and contain at least 2 empty pages.
• If you are not a national of the country where you live: your residence permit (or comparable document) and a photocopy of it.
• A passport photo that meets Dutch requirements. Find out how to have a Dutch passport photo taken in South Africa.
• A photocopy of the letter from the IND stating that your application has been approved (letter informing you of the positive decision) and which includes your alien registration number (V number). If you are applying for an MVV visa sticker because you will be studying in the Netherlands, you do not need to bring a photocopy of this letter. The email from your educational institution containing your V number is sufficient.
• All other documents listed in the letter from the IND and a photocopy of each of those documents.

Keep in mind that you will need to hand in your passport at the appointment. You will get it back when you collect your passport with the MVV visa sticker or have it sent to you. This can take up to 10 working days.

If you applied for the residence permit yourself at the embassy or consulate-general, you only have to bring your passport to your appointment. Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months and have at least 2 empty pages. 

Keep in mind that you will need to hand in your passport at the appointment. You will get it back when you collect your passport with the MVV visa sticker or have it sent to you. This can take up to 10 working days.

You will receive an email from the embassy or consulate-general letting you know when your passport with MVV visa sticker is ready to be collected. You do not need to make an appointment. See the collection hours by location:

Bring the collection receipt you received when you applied for the MVV visa sticker. If someone else is collecting your passport, that person should bring the collection receipt.

How to have your passport with MVV visa sticker sent to you, depends on where you live.

I live in South Africa

If you live in South Africa, you will be informed at your appointment how to have your passport with MVV visa sticker sent to you.

I live in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia or Reúnion

Do you live in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia or Reúnion? After applying for your MVV visa sticker, your passport will be returned to you and you can travel back to your country of residence. To collect your MVV after returning home, you can arrange for a courier to:

1. bring your passport to the embassy or consulate-general, and:
2. return your passport with MVV sticker to you.