Netherlands Spouse and Dependant Visa for Indians: Joining Family

The MVV is the long-stay visa sticker that lets a family member enter the Netherlands to collect a residence permit. Everything below is as published on the official sources, checked on 2026-10-15: the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND), NetherlandsWorldwide and VFS Global. For short visits and other Dutch visas, see our Netherlands visa page for Indians.

Which route applies to your family?

The IND route is called a residence permit to stay with a partner or family member. It covers the spouse, registered or unmarried partner, and children under 18 of someone who has Dutch nationality or a Dutch residence permit and will live with them. The sponsor in the Netherlands applies to the IND for the MVV and residence permit together; you do not file it yourself from India.

• Partner of a highly skilled migrant: the family can be included in the employer's application for the worker.
• Sponsor on an au pair, exchange, trainee or seasonal-work permit: family reunification is not possible on these permits. On the seasonal labour permit, family members cannot join at all.
• Only visiting for up to 90 days: that is a Schengen visit visa through VFS, covered further below.

Who qualifies as a spouse, partner or child?

Age rules depend on when the relationship began. Partners must be at least 18 if the marriage or partnership existed before the sponsor's lawful residence in the Netherlands; otherwise both must be at least 21, which the IND calls family formation. Unmarried partners must both be 21 or over and in a lasting and exclusive relationship. Children must be under 18, with custody documents where relevant.

How much must the sponsor earn, and what does it cost?

IND fees are published in euro only, with no official INR amount, and change every 1 January. The income figures come from the IND page on required amounts and are indexed during the year, so check the level that applies on the date the sponsor applies.

What is the civic integration exam abroad?

Family members aged 18 to pensionable age who need an MVV must pass the civic integration basic exam abroad before the MVV application, at a Dutch embassy or consulate. In India, the Embassy of the Netherlands in New Delhi handles the exam. Some people are exempt. The result is valid for one year, so time the exam so that the sponsor's IND application follows within that year.

Which documents does the IND application need?

• The sponsor's income documents.
• Copies of passports.
• A marriage or registered-partnership certificate, or for unmarried partners an unmarried-status declaration.
• Custody documents for children.
• The civic integration exam result.
• A legalised and translated birth certificate.

You also need a valid passport and no criminal record. The IND's brochure for family members (form 3085, dated January 2025) has the full list; the IND decision period for family applications is on its decision periods page. The official MVV guidance is to apply at least 3 months before the intended stay.

What happens in India after the IND says yes?

1. Book an MVV sticker appointment online within 3 months of the positive decision, quoting the V number. You can use the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate-General in Bengaluru or Mumbai, even if the IND letter names another office.
2. If you want your passport returned by courier, pay DTDC INR 850 for an Airway Bill number before the appointment.
3. Your passport with the MVV is ready in up to 10 working days.
4. Travel to the Netherlands within 90 days.
5. After arrival, register at the municipality, take the TB test within 3 months unless your nationality is exempt, and take out Dutch health insurance.

Appointments fill up quickly; slots reopen through cancellations and rescheduling, so check again if none are free.

Only visiting your family? Use a Schengen visa

For stays of up to 90 days, apply for a Schengen visa at one of 12 VFS centres instead. The visa fee is EUR 90.00 (EUR 45.00 for children aged 6 to 11, free under 6), plus the INR 1890 VFS service fee. Your host completes a proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation form, legalised by their Dutch municipality, and you add a copy of their Dutch ID or residence permit. NetherlandsWorldwide gives an average of 18 to 21 calendar days, up to 45. European Commission data show that 20.7% of Schengen applications at Dutch consulates in India were not issued in 2025 (20,156 of 97,650); that rate covers all applicants and is not a forecast.

Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, such as a family-visit Schengen application, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Can my wife apply for the Netherlands MVV herself from India?

No. For a partner or family member permit, the sponsor in the Netherlands applies to the IND for the MVV and residence permit together. If the sponsor is a highly skilled migrant, the family can be included in the employer's application.

Can I collect the MVV in Mumbai if the IND letter says New Delhi?

Yes. NetherlandsWorldwide states that MVV stickers can be collected at the Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulates-General in Bengaluru or Mumbai, regardless of the office named in the IND letter. Book within 3 months of the positive decision.

How long is the civic integration exam result valid?

One year. Family members aged 18 to pensionable age who need an MVV must pass the basic exam abroad at a Dutch embassy or consulate before the MVV application, unless they are exempt.

Is there a minimum age for a spouse joining a partner in the Netherlands?

Yes. Partners must be at least 18 if the marriage or partnership existed before the sponsor's lawful residence in the Netherlands, and at least 21 otherwise. Unmarried partners must both be 21 or older.