Applying for a long-stay visa (MVV) for residents of Poland
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 Poland, you can apply for this visa at the Netherlands embassy in Warsaw.
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 two ways:
- through a host in the Netherlands (such as an employer, family member or educational institution)
- in person at a Dutch embassy or consulate.
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.
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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.
Within 3 months of your host receiving the letter, make an appointment with the embassy or consulate to apply for your MVV. 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
- if you live in a country of which you are not a national: your residence permit 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 within 15 days.
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.
In the following cases you should submit your application for an MVV and residence permit yourself:
- orientation year as a highly skilled migrant seeking employment
- independent entrepreneur
- start-up
- foreign investor
You should apply to the Dutch embassy or consulate in person. You should make the appointment yourself. Below you can read how to do this in your country.
You can also apply for a working holiday in the Netherlands at a Dutch embassy or consulate. See the information on the Working Holiday Programme (WHP) and Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) for details on the application procedure.
Take the following documents with you:
- 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 from the date on which the MVV is placed in your passport
- a photo that meets Dutch requirements
- if you live in a country of which you are not a national: your residence permit and a photocopy of the permit.
During your appointment the embassy or consulate will check your application and take your fingerprints. You do not pay for the application at this appointment.
The embassy or consulate will give you your alien registration number (V number) and an invoice. You will also be given forms that you need to fill in and send to the IND yourself by post. In many cases you will also have to send additional documents to the IND. These will be listed in the notification you receive from the embassy or consulate.
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 where you submitted the application. Your MVV will be placed in your passport within 15 days.
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
Make an appointment via our online appointment system.
Check the status of your MVV application.
Check our contactpage for contact details and opening times.
