Applying for a long-stay visa (MVV) for residents of Australia
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 Australia, you can only apply for this visa type at the Netherlands consulate-general in Sydney.
Due to a renovation, from January 25 until the end of March 2021, MVV applications can’t be submitted at the consulate-general in Sydney. Please send an email to syd-ca@minbuza.nl to discuss different options.
Important notice!
If the EU travel ban has been lifted for the residents of your country, you can apply for all visa categories. If the EU travel ban has not been lifted for the residents of your country, you can only apply for a visa if you fall under the exemption categories. Check the page " Q&A's Travel restrictions for the Netherlands" to see for which countries the EU travel ban has been lifted and what the exemption categories are. You cannot apply if the embassy/consulate general or the external service provider is not open for service. Please check if you can make an appointment via the appointment system. Are there no dates available? Then it is not yet possible to submit an application.
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).
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:
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 10 working 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.
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
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 10 working 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
Long-stay visa applications can only be submitted at the consulate-general in Sydney (CG Sydney).
Due to a renovation, from January 25 until the end of March 2021, MVV applications can’t be submitted at the consulate-general in Sydney. Please send an email to syd-ca@minbuza.nl to discuss different options.
Please bring a complete application. Also be aware that you can only apply at our consulate-general if your main purpose of travel is the Netherlands. The consulate-general doesn't take in applications that do not meet that requirement.
Please note that only family members can book one appointment for two people. For example:
• A family of three persons? Book two appointments.
• A family of five persons? Book three appointments.
Are you travelling together but you aren’t family? You will need to book a separate appointment for each person.
Have your document returned by post from CG Sydney
You can also have your passport with the visa sent to you by registered post.
You should provide an A4-size pre-paid, self-addressed envelope (SAE) when you submit your application. The envelope must be suitable for registered post and signature on delivery. It should hold no more than 4 passports. If you need to submit more, please provide additional envelopes. Other types of envelope will not be accepted. Your document is sent to you at your own risk. You will have to pay the postage charge yourself.
If you want to have your passport sent via express post, we advise you to purchase an express post envelope at Australia post. Please make sure that it has a 'signature on delivery' sticker.
