​The V-number is your number as a foreign national (vreemdeling). You receive such a number as soon as you initiate the application for a residence permit. You'll find the number as a reference in letters from the IND and on the back of your residence document.

​The purpose of the mvv is that the IND can check whether you meet all conditions before you come to the Netherlands. Therefore, it is not desirable for you to be in the Netherlands during the procedure. The IND strongly advises against it.

Do you have an urgent reason to be in the Netherlands during the mvv application? Report this reason to the IND before you come to the Netherlands.

Are you coming to the Netherlands during the procedure? Then this is your own responsibility. You also always need to collect the mvv at the Dutch embassy in your country of origin or the country of continuous residence.

You are not allowed to change your main residence. The period of time that you are allowed to stay outside the Netherlands depends on your residence permit. Find out the period you may stay outside the Netherlands with your type residence permit.

You can request a payment reference from the IND. Call +31 (0)88 - 043 0430 (normal rate).

No. It is not possible to pay the fees in installments. Your application is only processed when you have paid the total fee of your application.

You still have to pay the fees even if you have been declared bankrupt or are undergoing debt restructuring.

Yes, this is possible. You can transfer the fees from your foreign bank account to the account of the IND.

​In general it is not possible to bring a child who has reached the age of majority to the Netherlands. Only in exceptional situations can a child at the age of majority receive a residence permit. For further information, contact the IND.

​The main rule is that you had a valid residence permit continuously for five years before you can become a naturalized citizen of the Netherlands. The 5 years begin all over again if you change your identity (your personal details). The new period starts on the day that your identity is changed in the Personal Records Database (BRP) of the municipality where you live. For example:

You have received a residence permit on 1 June 2015. You could apply for Dutch citizenship on or after 1 June 2020. But on 1 March 2017 you go to the municipality with a birth certificate. This birth certificate states a different name than on your residence permit. On 15 March 2017 the municipality changes your registration in the BRP to the name on the birth certificate you have submitted on 1 March 2017. You now have to wait until 15 March 2022 before you can apply for Dutch citizenship.

Sometimes no new term of 5 years is started after you change your identity. This is when the change is minimal. For example, a change in spelling from 'Mahammed' to 'Mohammed'. Or if you cannot be blamed for the change. For example, because you had a very good reason when you entered the Netherlands for not divulging your true identity. Or if the authorities in the country of origin previously made an error regarding your identity and this error has been adopted in the Netherlands by the municipality where you live. The IND takes a decision when processing your application for naturalisation whether you are to be blamed for the change of identity.

It is very important the your new details also appear on your residence permit. You have to have your residence permit renewed for this.

​By signing a sponsor declaration you inform the Netherlands that you guarantee the expenses of the stay/residence of a foreign national in the Netherlands. You also guarantee that this foreign national will leave the Netherlands at the appointed time. The sponsor declaration tells you exactly what your obligations are.

​There is no legally set period of validity regarding the legalization of the 'Proof of Sponsorship/Accommodation'. The embassies and consulates use different periods of validity. That's why you should always get the most current information for this from the relevant embassy of consulate. In the case of a possible objection, you will not need to have the form legalized again.

​In general, it is possible to sponsor up to 2 adults (+ 1 or 2 children) at a time. You do have to use a separate form 'proof of sponsorship/accommodation' for each person. Also, you have to legalise your signature on every form. In the end, however, it is up to the Dutch representation or the Consular Service Organisation (CSO) to determine if you can sponsor multiple persons and how many.

​The renunciation requirement applies to you also. Because your nationality cannot be determined does not mean you are designated as a 'stateless person'. In the legal procedure concerning foreign nationals you indicated a nationality, and under this nationality you received your residence permit. You must renounce this nationality.

This is allowed if you and your partner satisfy the conditions for a residence permit for partner.

If you would like information on your application (requirements, requested documentation, decision period, letters sent by the IND), we advise you to check our website first.

If you have any additional questions, you can call us at 0880 - 430 430 (normal charges apply, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).

Have you received a letter from the employee who is processing your application and do you have specific questions concerning this application? Then, you can contact the employee who is processing your application directly. For instance, if you cannot provide us in time with requested documentation.

You will find the direct phone number of the employee concerned in those letters (under ‘Contactpersoon’).
 

If you have sent an application to the IND, a notification of receipt will be sent to your home address.  You can follow your application in My IND. Does the application have the status 'received'? Then the IND has received your application.

If you have not heard from us after 10 working days , you can contact us at 0880 - 430 430 (normal charges apply, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm). If you call us within these 10 working days, chances are that your application form has not yet been processed and we therefore cannot confirm receipt of your application.

The IND does not provide information on the status of your application as long as a decision has not been made. In most situations, a (statutory) decision period applies. The IND can make use of the entire decision period to process your application.

Follow your application in My IND.

Do you not have DigiD? And has the decision period ended? Please, call the IND.

Have you applied for asylum and are you waiting for a decision? Find out more information about the processing of asylum applications on our page about processing times.

Are you mentioned on the back of the residence card as the parent with whom the minor child is staying? Then you are a social sponsor. You can submit an application for an extension of the residence permit of your minor child. You use your own DigiD to log in.

You have to send a photo card to the IND in the mail. You cannot upload the photo card because the quality of the photograph is not good enough.

Contact the IND. We can check to see whether we have received your application properly.

If the IND has not received your application, then we will deposit the money back into your bank account. Please submit a new application.