If you intend to reside in the Netherlands for more than three months and you are not an EU, EER or Swiss national, it is necessary to apply for a residence permit upon arrival at the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Services). In most of the cases you need to apply for an MVV (authorisation for temporary stay) in order to enter the Netherlands. The residence permit is subject to your purpose for staying. The purpose for staying is the reason why you want to want to reside in the Netherlands.

Main purposes for staying are:

• Work as an employee – knowledge migrant or labour migrant.
• Staying with a family member
• Studying

If you are an EU, EER or Swiss national and you will be staying for more than three months, you need to register with the IND, who will place a sticker in your passport.