Applying for a long-stay visa (MVV) for residents of Senegal
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 Senegal, you can apply for this visa at the Netherlands embassy in Dakar.
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
Application procedure for long-stay visa (MVV) at the Netherlands embassy in Senegal
Do you have the nationality of Senegal, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau or Mauritania? Then you can submit your MVV application at the Netherlands embassy in Dakar. Make an appointment via our online appointment system to submit your application in person at the embassy.
Even if you have already received approval from the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND), you must make an appointment to submit your MVV application in person at the embassy. Regardless of the age, each applicant should apply in person for the collection of fingerprints / identification.
Do you live in Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau or Mauritania? Then after your application you will receive a letter from the embassy with which you can travel back to your country of residence.
Processing time of MVV applications
Contrary to what is stated earlier on this page about the processing time, the following applies to Senegal: please take into account a processing time of 15 working days from the time of your application. If your passport is sent with DHL (at your own request) a few more days should be added.
Sending your passport with MVV by DHL
It is possible to have your passport containing your MVV sent to you via DHL. You can choose for this option at the moment of your application. The extra costs are CFA 13,000.--, to be paid cash at the time of your application.
Within Senegal, your passport can be sent to your home address (provided that DHL delivers to your home address).
Do you live in Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau or Mauritania? Your passport will then be sent to the honorary consul of the country where you live. As soon as your passport arrives there, the honorary consul will contact you to make an appointment when you can pick it up.