What happens after you pass: real timelines, the IND application, arrival, and registration at the municipality.
In 30 seconds
- Passing 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.
Passing is a big milestone, but it is not the end: it is what opens the door to applying for the visa. From the DUO statement, the formal phase of immigration begins.
The real timelines
| Step | Average time |
|---|---|
| 1. Exam result (DUO) | Up to 8 weeks — usually out 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 your passport |
| 4. Validity to travel | The MVV is valid for 90 days to enter the country |
Step 1 — Applying for the MVV visa (TEV) at the IND
With the certificate in hand, the application for the TEV (Toegang en Verblijf, which combines entry and residence permit) is made by you or your sponsor in the Netherlands.
You include the DUO letter, the translated and apostilled certificates, and the sponsor's income documents. 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, submit your passport and a photo. They attach the MVV sticker to the passport, which usually takes 5 to 10 business days.
Step 3 — Traveling
The visa is valid for 90 days. You must enter the country within that 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 a tax ID.
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 deliver it at the municipality itself, during registration. Depending on your nationality, you may need to take 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 start local integration, giving you three years to reach the required level (usually A2 or B1, depending on your situation).
If you arrived here before taking the exam, the journey starts with the overview of the process and goes through the practice test in the official format.
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This entire path starts with passing. Practice the three tests in the official format and arrive at the embassy knowing exactly what will happen.
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Practical tip: 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 what most delays those who leave it until 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 a tax ID here. Bank, health insurance, employment, and rental contracts all depend on it.
Official sources
The values and timelines in this series come from the sources below. Before paying or scheduling, always confirm on 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 8 parts
- Part 1 — Overview: from the A1 exam to the MVV visa
- Part 2 — What is the Basisexamen inburgering buitenland
- Part 3 — How much it costs and how to register for the Basisexamen
- Part 4 — How to study for the Basisexamen from scratch
- Part 5 — KNS: the 100 official questions
- Part 6 — Spreken: examples of questions and pronunciation
- Part 7 — Practice test in the official format
- You are here: Part 8 — Passed. Now what? From the MVV visa to the BSN