If you are moving to the Netherlands to live with your partner, spouse or family, you will most likely need the MVV (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf) — the provisional residence permit. And for most nationalities, the MVV has a prerequisite that catches many people by surprise: passing the A1 civic integration exam while still in your own country, the basisexamen inburgering buitenland.
In 30 seconds
- The MVV is the long-stay visa to join family in the Netherlands.
- Before it, many have to pass the Basisexamen A1 at an embassy.
- There are three tests on the same day: society (KNS), reading and speaking.
- Preparing for the exam while gathering your documents is the order that saves months.
This guide shows the right order of steps, so you do not waste months (or money) doing things the wrong way around.
Step 1 — Confirm whether you need the MVV and the exam
The IND (Dutch immigration service) decides this. In general, citizens from countries outside the EU/EEA need the MVV and the exam — with some exemptions (for example, certain nationalities, specific diplomas or medical reasons). Check your situation on the IND website before anything else.
Step 2 — Prepare for the A1 exam (the part that depends only on you)
The exam has three parts: Lezen (reading), Spreken (speaking) and KNS (knowledge of Dutch society). It is level A1 — beginner — and with a plan of 30 to 60 minutes a day, most people are ready in 6 to 10 weeks.
This is exactly what Naar Nederland is for: the 100 official KNS questions with photographs, Spreken training with voice recording, readings in the exam format, timed practice tests and an AI tutor that corrects your speaking directly on WhatsApp. Create a free account and see your level today.
The exam depends only on you; the rest of the process depends on third-party deadlines. Start with it.
Step 3 — Register with DUO and schedule at the embassy
When you feel you are 2–3 weeks from being ready, register with DUO (fee of around €150) and schedule a date at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country. The result is valid for 1 year — do not let the MVV deadline catch your exam expiring.
Step 4 — The MVV application (TEV)
With the exam passed, your partner/family member in the Netherlands (the "sponsor") normally submits the joint MVV + residence permit application (the TEV procedure) to the IND, with proof of income and legalised documents. The IND decides, and once approved, the MVV is issued at the embassy and you can finally travel.
The order that saves months
- Confirm requirements with the IND (1 day)
- Start studying for the A1 right away (6–10 weeks — it is the longest step you control)
- Register with DUO + schedule embassy (2–4 weeks of waiting; study while you wait)
- Exam ? result
- TEV/MVV application by the sponsor
The only part of the process that is in your hands
Documents and IND deadlines cannot be rushed. The exam can: you can prepare for it today, in the official format, and arrive at the embassy without surprises.
Click here and start preparing
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Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the MVV before passing the exam?
Having passed the exam is, as a rule, a condition of the application — so preparation should start first. Special cases and exemptions: check with the IND.
What if I fail a part?
You only retake the part you failed, paying a new fee for that part. See how much the exam costs (and the real cost of failing).
Is the exam difficult?
It is level A1 — the lowest step on the European scale. With method and daily speaking practice, the success rate is high. What fails most people is a lack of spoken practice: train out loud from day one.
This article is informative; always confirm current amounts and rules with the IND and DUO.
? Start free today — in 10 minutes you will know exactly what level you are at.
This series has 8 parts
- You are here: 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: example questions and pronunciation
- Part 7 — Practice test in the official format
- Part 8 — Passed. What now? From the MVV visa to the BSN
Next part ? What is the Basisexamen inburgering buitenland
The integration exam the Netherlands requires before the visa — what it covers, how it works and why it exists.