Applying for a long-stay visa (MVV) for residents of Lebanon
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 Lebanon, you can apply for this visa at the Netherlands embassy in Beirut. Read further down this page how to make an appointment. Especially in the case of an MVV for family reunification (nareis asiel).
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 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.
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-general 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.
Applying yourself at an embassy or consulate
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 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
MVV application for work, study or living with a partner
Send an email to the Netherlands embassy in Beirut to make an appointment. The embassy will email you the date of your appointment 1 to 2 weeks in advance.
MVV application for family members of a refugee
If you have been granted family reunification asylum, you can make an appointment to apply for your MVV.
Read more about the MVV for family reunification asylum (IND)
How to make an appointment depends on your situation.
If you are not able to travel to a different country to apply for your MVV, send an email to the Netherlands embassy in Beirut to make an appointment.
State the name of the applicant(s) and the week number of the IND’s approval in the subject line. Please do not send multiple emails for the same person or family. This delays the services of the embassy.
There are long waiting times for an appointment in Beirut. Appointments have been scheduled up to 12 April 2022. The embassy is now sending out appointments for IND approvals from week 9, 2022 (28 February to 4 March 2022).
If you are able to travel to a different country to apply for your MVV, you can make an appointment at the Netherlands consulate-general in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, or the Netherlands embassy in Cairo, Egypt.
To do so, contact your IND case officer to inform them that you want to apply for your MVV at a different location. Once your IND case officer approves your change request they will inform the embassy or consulate general in question. The IND will then tell you how to make an appointment.
If you have any further questions about changing the location of your application, please contact your IND case officer.
Extra information for Syrian residents with an appointment in Beirut
Show your confirmation email from the embassy in Beirut to cross the border into Lebanon. You will be allowed to enter only shortly before your appointment.
Are you a stateless Palestinian with a travel document issued by the Palestinian or Egyptian authorities? Then your confirmation email is not enough to enter Lebanon. You need a visa from the Lebanese embassy in Damascus.
The Netherlands embassy in Beirut cannot contact the Lebanese border authorities to help you enter. If you can’t enter Lebanon in time for your appointment, email the embassy to make a new appointment.
Read more about the conditions for entering Lebanon on the website of the Lebanese General Security.