Applying for a long-stay visa (MVV) for residents of China
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 China, you can apply for this type of visa at the Netherlands embassy in Beijing, or at the consulates-general in Guangzhou or Shanghai.
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.
Read more about the information on your visa
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:
- orientation year as a highly skilled migrant seeking employment
- independent entrepreneur
- starting entrepreneur (start-up)
- foreign investor
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.
Read more about the information on your visa
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
Make an appointment at the Netherlands embassy in Beijing, or at the consulates-general in Guangzhou or Shanghai to apply for an MVV in person. The processing time of the MVV is normally up to 10 working days.
Does your approval letter state that you need to submit your application in Beijing, but you prefer going to the consulate-general in Guangzhou or Shanghai? Or the other way around? Whether this is possible depends on your situation.
- If you applied through a host in the Netherlands, you can submit your MVV application at a different location than stated in your approval letter. You do not need to ask for permission from either the IND, embassy or consulate-general.
- If you applied for an MVV and residence permit yourself at an embassy or consulate-general, you need to collect your MVV at the same location.
What documents do I need to bring?
For all staying purposes, you must bring the following documents to your appointment:
- a completed and signed MVV issue form
- 2 recent passport photos meeting the requirements (not photo shopped)
- your passport with at least 2 empty visa pages and a validity of at least 3 more months plus a copy of the holder and signature page
- a positive notification from IND, if available
You need to bring additional documents to your appointment for the following purposes of stay:
- a notarized and legalized marriage certificate if the marriage is not concluded in the Netherlands, issued no more than 6 months before the MVV procedure was initiated with the IND, as well as a copy of this document
- a copy of the host’s passport showing personal details
- a notarized and legalized declaration of unmarried status issued no more than 6 months before the MVV procedure was initiated with the IND, as well as a copy of this document
- a copy of the host’s passport showing personal details
- a notarized and legalized birth certificate
- a copy of the child’s Hukou
If aged 15 years or older: a signed declaration of civil status. This form is available at the counter of the embassy or the consulate-general
If a parent exercising parental responsibility for the child is to remain behind:
- a notarized and legalized declaration of consent from this parent, allowing the child to reside with the other parent in the Netherlands
- a copy of the identity document of the parent remaining behind
- an original Occupational Qualification Certificate
In case the student is a minor and travelling alone or with only 1 parent:
- a notarized and legalized declaration of consent from the parent(s) (or legal guardian), allowing the child to travel (with the other parent) to the Netherlands
- a copy of the identity document of the parent(s) remaining behind
Please note that additional documents can always be requested after you submitted your application.
If your purpose of stay is not mentioned here, please contact the embassy in Beijing, or consulates-general in Guangzhou or Shanghai by sending an email:
- Beijing: pek-ca@minbuza.nl
- Guangzhou: gnz-ca@minbuza.nl
- Shanghai: sha-ca@minbuza.nl
Collection of MVV applications
When submitting your application, you will be informed on when to collect your passport with MVV from the embassy or consulate-general. Applicants who live in China can also opt to have their passport returned by post, which can be arranged at our counter when applying.