Provisional residence permit

Depending on your nationality, you might need an entry visa for the Netherlands. For stays of over 90 days, this entry visa is called a provisional residence permit. The Dutch term is machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf, which is abbreviated to "MVV". Check our visa wizard to find out if you need a provisional residence permit.

What is it?

The provisional residence permit is a sticker in your passport (type 'D' visa). This sticker will allow you to enter the Netherlands. However, the sticker does not give you the right to stay in the Netherlands. You must obtain lawful residence by applying for a residence permit on arrival.

If you need to travel outside the Netherlands after arrival, you can do so on the basis of your MVV. The MVV allows you to travel within the Schengen area for maximum 90 days from the date of entry.  

Purpose of stay

A provisional residence permit is always issued for one particular purpose of stay. Examples include “highly skilled migrant” or “scientific researcher under EC Directive 2005/71”. It might be that only one purpose of stay applies to you. In other cases, it may be possible to choose between two different options.

Every purpose of stay comes with a different set of conditions and advantages. A work permit is required for some, for example. Sometimes minimum salary requirements apply and bringing in family members is not always easy. Our section on purposes of stay will tell you all about the pros and cons of each option.

More information

Read more information on how to apply for a provisional residence permit and what documents you need.