If you come from a country outside of the EU and want to join a partner or spouse in the Netherlands, you must apply for an MVV (machtiging voor voorlopig verblijf) at the Dutch consulate or embassy in your home country.

Once you pass the MVV test and your documents are approved, you will be granted permission to enter the Netherlands and begin the official civic integration process.

If there’s no Dutch representative body in your country, the process can be completed in a neighboring country that has one.

Part 1: Reading and word recognition

This section is done on a computer and takes about 35 minutes. You will see two types of exercises:

• Match a written word, phrase, or sentence to an audio version.
• Match an audio word, phrase, or sentence to a written version.

Then, you’ll read six short texts related to work, education, or daily life and answer multiple-choice questions about each one.

Part 2: Speaking

In this section, you will get 12 questions to answer verbally and 12 sentences to complete verbally within 30 minutes. Your responses are recorded and later reviewed.

Examples:

• Where do you live?
• What do you eat for breakfast?
• With whom are you going to stay in the Netherlands?

Sentence completions:

• I go to work every day, I find that …
• Before I go to bed, I put my ring …
• For breakfast I eat …

Part 3: Knowledge of Dutch Society (KNM)

This part tests your knowledge about life in the Netherlands. You’ll answer 30 multiple-choice questions in 30 minutes.

Each question is accompanied by a photo and an audio prompt. You select your answer using an on-screen multiple-choice interface.

The reading and KNM parts are automatically assessed and you get your results immediately. A passing score is 50% per section. The speaking part is reviewed by an examiner, so feedback may take longer depending on the exam center.

The Dutch government offers a self-study package to help you prepare.

You can also try practice exams to check your progress.

If you're not living in the Netherlands, surround yourself with Dutch as much as possible. Listen to Dutch radio and music, watch TV and shows, and interact with Dutch speakers online or in person.

Exposure makes a big difference and helps you build confidence and understanding faster.

You can also contact us for online Dutch lessons. Our native-speaking trainers can help you learn the language and offer tips, resources, and support to prepare for the MVV test. Click here to get started.