What happens after approval: real timelines, the IND application, arrival and registration at the municipality.
In 30 seconds
- Approval is not the end: it is what opens the door to applying for the visa.
- The IND has up to 90 days to decide on the MVV application.
- The visa is valid for 90 days for you to enter the country.
- Upon arrival, the first step is the municipality: that is where the BSN comes from, without which you can do nothing.
Approval is a major milestone, but it is not the end: it is what opens the door to applying for the visa. From the DUO declaration, the formal immigration phase begins.
The real timelines
| Step | Average time |
|---|---|
| 1. Exam result (DUO) | Up to 8 weeks — usually comes in 2 to 4 |
| 2. MVV visa review (IND) | 4 to 12 weeks (legal deadline: up to 90 days) |
| 3. Visa sticker in the passport | 5 to 15 business days after submitting the passport |
| 4. Validity for travel | The MVV is valid for 90 days to enter the country |
Step 1 — MVV visa application (TEV) at the IND
With the certificate in hand, the TEV (Toegang en Verblijf, which combines entry and residence permit) application is made by you or your sponsor in the Netherlands.
You attach the DUO letter, the translated and apostilled certificates, and the sponsor's proof of income. The IND has up to 90 days to respond.
Step 2 — Collecting the visa at the embassy
Once the application is approved, you schedule an in-person visit, hand in your passport and a photo. They attach the MVV sticker to the passport, which usually takes 5 to 10 business days.
Step 3 — Travel
The visa is valid for 90 days. You need to enter the country within this period.
Step 4 — Municipality (Gemeente) and the BSN
As soon as you arrive, the first administrative step is the civil registration (BRP) at the municipality of the city where you will live. That is where the BSN comes from — the Dutch identification number, equivalent to the CPF.
Without a BSN you cannot open a bank account, take out health insurance or work. It is the first thing to sort out.
Step 5 — Residence card
The IND issues the physical card. You schedule collection at an IND desk — in some cases they hand it over at the municipality itself, at the time of registration. Depending on your nationality, you may need to undergo a tuberculosis test at the public health service (GGD) within the first three months.
Step 6 — The internal inburgering
The language journey does not end with the Basisexamen. After registration, the municipality sends you a letter to begin local integration, giving you three years to reach the required level (generally A2 or B1, depending on your situation).
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Practical advice: while waiting for the IND decision, get ahead on the sworn translation and apostille of your birth or marriage certificate. The municipality will ask for it as soon as you arrive, and it is the thing that delays people the most when they leave it for later.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the approval valid?
One year from the date. The MVV application must be submitted within that period.
Can I travel before the visa is issued?
Not with the MVV — it is precisely the entry authorization. You enter the country with it attached to your passport.
What is the BSN, in practice?
It is your identification number in the Netherlands, like the CPF here. Bank, health insurance, employment and rental contracts all depend on it.
Official sources
The amounts and timelines in this series come from the sources below. Before paying or scheduling, always check the official website: the rules change.
- DUO — registration, payment and exam result.
- IND — MVV visa, exemptions and residence: ind.nl
- NederlandWereldwijd — embassy scheduling: nederlandwereldwijd.nl
- Naar Nederland (government) — official study material: naarnederland.nl
This series has 4 parts
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