TEV Procedure Netherlands: How the Partner Visa Application Actually Works

Most guides explain what you need for a Netherlands partner visa. Far fewer explain the actual mechanics of how the application is submitted, reviewed, and finalised. The TEV procedure — short for Toegang en Verblijf, meaning "Admission and Residence" — is the formal administrative channel through which most non-EU partner visa applications move. Understanding it removes a lot of the anxiety caused by not knowing where you are in the process.

What the TEV Procedure Is

The TEV procedure is the IND's combined application track that handles both the Provisional Residence Permit (MVV) and the subsequent residence permit in a single process. Instead of applying for the MVV separately at a Dutch embassy and then applying for the residence permit separately after arrival, you do it all at once before you travel.

This matters for partner visa applicants because it means the heavy lifting happens in the Netherlands — your sponsor submits the application — while you focus on your end: passing the civic integration exam abroad and preparing your document file.

Step-by-Step: The TEV Procedure from Start to Finish

Step 1: Pass the Civic Integration Exam Abroad

Before any TEV application can be submitted, you must pass the Basisexamen Inburgering Buitenland (Basic Civic Integration Exam). This is a pre-condition, not a parallel step. The IND will not accept the TEV application from a non-exempt national without the exam certificate.

The exam has three modules: speaking (€60), reading (€50), and Knowledge of Dutch Society or KNS (€40). Total cost is €150. You take it at a Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of residence. Booking often takes weeks or months depending on the location, so register as early as possible.

Nationals from the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, and several other countries are exempt from this exam entirely.

Step 2: Assemble the Application Dossier

While waiting for the exam, you and your sponsor in the Netherlands compile the required documents:

Sponsor's documents (submitted in the Netherlands):

• Proof of Dutch citizenship or valid residence permit
• Recent payslips (typically the last 3 months) showing income above the 2026 threshold of €2,477.95 gross per month including holiday pay
• Employment contract showing at least 12 months remaining
• Completed Relationship Questionnaire (Bijlage Relatie — IND form 7625)

Applicant's documents:

• Valid passport (typically valid for at least 6 months beyond the expected arrival date)
• Marriage certificate or evidence of unmarried partnership — legalised or apostilled
• Birth certificate
• Civic integration exam certificate (once obtained)
• Passport photos meeting IND specifications
• Declaration of criminal history (varies by country)

Documents not in Dutch, English, French, or German need a sworn translation.

Step 3: Your Sponsor Submits the TEV Application Online

The sponsor creates or logs in to their IND account at ind.nl and submits the TEV application digitally. The application fee is €254 in 2026. This fee is paid at submission and is non-refundable regardless of the outcome.

The IND sends an acknowledgement letter confirming the application has been received and setting the start date of the 90-day decision clock.

Step 4: The IND Review Period

The IND has 90 statutory days to make a decision from the date the application is accepted as complete. If the IND needs additional documents during this period, it sends a letter requesting them — and the 90-day clock pauses until those documents are received.

This is the phase applicants describe as a "black hole." There is no regular status update. The IND portal may show the application as "in progress" for weeks without further information. Community forums consistently report wide variation in actual timelines — some couples receive a decision in six weeks, others wait the full 90 days.

The Netherlands Partner/Family Visa Guide explains what signals to look for during the review period and how to request a status update from the IND without jeopardising your application.

Step 5: IND Issues a Decision

If approved, the IND notifies the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country. The embassy then contacts you to schedule an appointment to collect the MVV sticker. Allow a few weeks between the IND decision and the embassy appointment.

If rejected, the sponsor receives a written decision explaining the grounds. You have the right to file an objection (bezwaar) within four weeks. If the objection fails, you can appeal to the administrative court. Rejections based on income are typically the most straightforwardly challengeable; rejections based on relationship authenticity are harder to overturn without substantial new evidence.

Step 6: Collect the MVV at the Embassy

You attend the embassy appointment with your passport and any documents the embassy requests. The MVV sticker is placed directly in your passport. The MVV is valid for 90 days from its issue date — this is your window to travel to the Netherlands.

Step 7: Travel and Arrive

You cross the Dutch border and present your passport with the MVV sticker. You are now legally admitted.

Within five days of arrival, register at your local gemeente (municipality) to be entered in the BRP (Basisregistratie Personen). You will receive your BSN (Citizen Service Number), which you need for bank accounts, health insurance, and employment.

Step 8: Collect Your Residence Permit Card

After BRP registration, the IND contacts you to collect your physical residence permit card (verblijfspas) at an IND office. This card confirms your right to live and work in the Netherlands. Partner visa holders are granted full labor market access — the card is marked "Arbeid vrij toegestaan."

Common TEV Procedure Mistakes

Submitting before the exam certificate arrives. The IND receives applications from non-exempt nationals without an exam certificate and immediately suspends them. This wastes time.

Weak income evidence. Payslips that include variable bonuses the sponsor cannot guarantee going forward are treated sceptically by the IND. The IND looks at fixed, structural income — not one-off payments.

Inconsistent Relationship Questionnaire answers. The sponsor and applicant fill this form out separately. If the dates or facts differ — even slightly — it flags a potential sham relationship. Both partners should review their answers against each other before submission.

Not legalising documents. The most common purely administrative cause of rejection. Every foreign official document must carry either an Apostille stamp or a full legalisation chain before submission.

Who Does Not Use the TEV Procedure

If you hold a nationality that is exempt from the MVV requirement, you do not need the TEV procedure. You can travel to the Netherlands on your regular passport (for stays up to 90 days without a visa) and then apply for the residence permit from within the country via the standard VVR (Verblijfsvergunning voor Regulier Verblijf) procedure.

The same applies to family members of EU/EEA or Swiss citizens living and working in the Netherlands — they use a separate "Verification against EU Law" route, which has lower fees, no civic integration exam requirement, and a lower income threshold.

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