A long stay

In most cases, your Dutch host institution will seek advice from the IND concerning your application for an MVV, before you actually hand in your MVV application. It is important that you provide them with all the necessary documents so they can request the advice in good time.

If the advice of the Dutch Immigration Service (IND) is favourable, you then have to apply for the actual MVV yourself at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your home country, or in the country in which you legally reside. The Dutch embassy or consulate will then issue you with the MVV in the form of a sticker placed in your passport.

It is also possible to apply for an MVV yourself without the help of your host institution. However, this procedure takes much longer and is more expensive. 
  

MVV

An MVV is a ‘single entry’ visa, allowing you to enter the Netherlands for a stay of more than three months. If your nationality requires you to have an MVV, you will need to show it when applying for the residence permit after your arrival. Remember that the purpose of stay on your MVV and on your application form for a residence permit must always be the same. In the Student Visa Wizard you can find out if your nationality requires you to have an MVV.

If required, it is extremely important that you obtain this required document before travelling to the Netherlands. If you want to travel outside the Netherlands in the first 90 days of your stay, we advise you to apply for a combined visa (short stay visa and MVV), called a D+C visa, instead of a normal MVV.

For more information about this subject read 'MVV and travelling'.
  

Procedure and costs

If your host institution has signed a special contract with the IND, it can seek advice from the IND concerning your MVV application before you actually hand it in with the Dutch representation in your home country or country of residence. This procedure is called the 'fast track procedure.'

Your provisional residence permit (MVV) will cost € 250 if your Dutch host institution requests for an advice. The handling fee will be paid by the institution through automatic bank transfer. If you do not make use of the fast track procedure, you have to pay a handling fee of € 433. You cannot be sure that your application for an MVV will be granted. For this reason, you are advised to wait until you have your MVV before you buy a ticket for your trip.

Since an MVV is an entry visa you can not collect an MVV in the Netherlands. MVVs can only be collected at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your home country (or the country in which you legally reside).

Documents required

• A valid passport.

• A letter or other document from the Dutch host institution stating that you are or will be enrolled as a student, or that you are going to do a traineeship.

• Proof that you can support yourself financially.

• For trainees, a copy of the application for a work permit, if applicable

• For Chinese students, a Nuffic Neso certificate is necessary if they pursue studies that are taught in English.

Please notice: when picking up your MVV, the embassy may ask you for a legalized birth certificate in addition to your passport as identification. It’s advisable to have a legalized birth certificate ready, as most likely you will be asked for it after your arrival in the Netherlands, when registering at the municipality. 
  

Validity of MVV

Starting from the date on which the IND authorized the embassy or consulate to issue the MVV to you, you have six months to go to the embassy or consulate to pick up your MVV. When you receive your MVV, it will be valid for another six months. You may travel to the Netherlands during this period of six months. Please note that the MVV is only valid for one single entry.
  

MVV and travelling – Combined visa

While an MVV is only valid for one single entry into the Netherlands, a combined visa allows you to travel more freely. A combined visa, also know as a D+C-visa, is a special kind of MVV which allows you to travel in and out of the Netherlands during the first 90 days after the visa was issued. Also, this combined visa allows you to travel through the Schengen area during these 90 days (see Short stay visa). If you are intending to travel outside of the Netherlands during your first three months, it is therefore advisable to apply for an MVV D+C visa instead of the normal MVV. You can ask for this at the embassy or consulate when you go there to pick up your MVV.