Depending on your nationality you might need a visa to cross the border into the Netherlands or into the Schengen area (which comprises of many European countries).
There are three types of visa:
This is a visa which allows you to stay for a maximum of 90 days. It depends on your nationality if you need a visa. You can check if there is a visa requirement for you by using this website from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
You can find more information about Schengen visa on this website. On this page you can read how to apply for a Schengen Visa.
The entry visa applicable for stays over 90 days is called a provisional residence permit or MVV (from the Dutch term machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf). You can read more information about the MVV on this website of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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 2016/801”.
Application Procedure
Your employer may need to apply for a provisional Residence Permit (MVV) for you. The employer submits an application both for an mvv and a residence permit at the same time.
The IND (Immigration services) assesses the application and notifies your employer/host of the outcome. When it has been granted, the Dutch embassy/consulate will be notified as well.
From that moment on you can collect your MVV from the Dutch embassy.To collect your MVV at the Dutch embassy or consulate you will often need to make an appointment.
Travel Options With MVV
A valid MVV allows you to enter and depart the Netherlands and other countries in the Schengen area.
A return visa allows you to re-enter The Netherlands. You might need a return visa when you don't have a valid residence permit (yet).
Imagine: you have applied for a residence permit or an extension of your residence permit, but your permit has not yet been issued. However, you have planned to go on a holiday to visit your family. If you leave now, how can you be sure that you can enter the country again? In certain cases a return visa (in Dutch: terugkeervisum) can offer a solution.
A return visa gives you the right to re-enter the Netherlands when you are not able to prove that you have lawful residence in the Netherlands. This means that not everyone needs a return visa.
You don’t need a return visa if:
- your nationality doesn’t require a short stay visa: in that case you only need a valid passport; or
- if you already have a residence permit: you can then re-enter as long as your residence permit is valid.
To read more about the conditions and requirements of a return visa and how to apply for one, visit this website: Appointment return visa | Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)