Staying in the Netherlands for longer than 90 days (long-stay visa)

If you want to stay in the Netherlands for longer than 90 days, for example to work, study or live with family, you may need a long-stay visa and/or a residence permit. A long-stay visa is also called an authorisation for temporary stay (MVV).

Whether or not you need an MVV and/or a residence permit depends on things like your nationality and the purpose of your stay.

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.

What is your situation?Click '+' to make your selection.

Step 1. What is your nationality?

Select your nationality.

I am a national of an EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the United Kingdom or Switzerland

If you are a national of an EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, you do not need an MVV or a residence permit. For more information on staying in the Netherlands for a long period without a residence permit, please consult the website of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).

You do not need to read the rest of this page.

I am a national of Andorra, Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, the United States or Vatican City

You do not need an MVV but you do need a residence permit.

The purpose of your stay in the Netherlands determines who must apply to the IND for your residence permit: you or your host. Go to the IND website and select ‘Apply’. Answer the questions to determine who must apply and what is required for the application.
If you want to come to the Netherlands on a working holiday programme (WHP) and you are a national of Australia, Canada, New Zealand or South Korea, check the conditions and see how you can apply for a residence permit.

You do not need to read the rest of this page.

I am a national of another country

Step 2. What is the purpose of your stay?

Select the purpose of your stay.

I want to live in the Netherlands to study, to work, as part of an exchange programme, as part of an orientation year or as an au pair

In some situations, you will not need an MVV. Check if an MVV exemption applies to your situation.

If the MVV exemption applies to you, you do not need an MVV. But you do need a residence permit. You or your host can submit the application directly to the IND. Please note that you may need a short-stay visa in order to collect this permit in the Netherlands.
To find out more go to step 3.

If the MVV exemption does not apply to you, you will need a residence permit. Go to the page on applying for an MVV in your country for more information on the application procedure for both an MVV and a residence permit.
You do not need to read the rest of this page.

I want to live with a family member in the Netherlands and the family member is a Dutch national

If you want to live with a Dutch family member in the Netherlands, you will need an MVV and a residence permit. You cannot apply for a residence permit yourself. Your family member must submit the residence permit application to the IND. Go to the IND website for more information about the conditions and applying. If your application for a residence permit is approved, you must then apply for an MVV in your country in order to travel to the Netherlands.
You do not need to read the rest of this page.
If your Dutch family member recently lived in another EU member state or in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, check if you are eligible for a residence permit under EU law. If so, your host must submit the application directly to the IND. Please note that you may need a short-stay visa to collect this permit in the Netherlands.
To find out more, go to step 3.

I want to live with a family member in the Netherlands and the family member is a national of an EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland

You want to live with a family member in the Netherlands and your family member is a national of an EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. If you meet the conditions for living with a family member, you will not need an MVV but you will need a residence permit.

Your host can submit the application directly to the IND. Please note that you may need a short-stay visa to collect this permit in the Netherlands. To find out more go to step 3.

I want to live with a family member in the Netherlands and the family member has another nationality

You want to live with a family member in the Netherlands and your family member is not a national of the Netherlands, another EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. You will need an MVV and a residence permit. There are some situations in which you do not need an MVV. Check if an MVV exemption applies to your situation:

If the MVV exemption does not apply to you, you will require an MVV and a residence permit. Go to the page on applying for an MVV in your country for more information on the application procedure for both an MVV and a residence permit. You do not need to read the rest of this page.
If the MVV exemption applies to you, you do not need an MVV. But you do need a residence permit. You or your host can submit the application directly to the IND. Please note that you may need a short-stay visa to collect this permit in the Netherlands. To find out more go to step 3.

I have another purpose of stay

If you wish to apply for asylum, go to Living in the Netherlands for more information.

If you want to live in the Netherlands for a different reason you will need a residence permit. The IND website explains how to apply for a residence permit for your purpose of stay.

In some situations, you will need an MVV. Check if an MVV exemption applies in your case. If the MVV exemption does not apply to you, go to the page on applying for an MVV in your country for more information about the application procedure.

You do not need to read the rest of this page.

Step 3. What do you need to do to collect your residence permit in the Netherlands?

Read this information if step 2 shows that you need a residence permit but not an MVV. Please note that you may need a short-stay visa to collect your resident permit in the Netherlands. Use the Visa Advisor to determine whether or not you need a short-stay visa. Answer ‘90 days or less’ to the first question.