Netherlands Cuts MVV and HSM Paperwork for Expats

The program/policy , The Dutch IND has trimmed two common residence workflows and the change matters most for people coming to the Netherlands for work, study or family reunification. For approved MVV applications, the old issue form at embassies and consulates abroad is gone for approvals from March 2, 2026 onward and that means less back-and-forth, fewer paper checks, honestly, a cleaner start for long-stay applicants.

For Highly Skilled Migrant (HSM) renewals, the IND now accepts a self-declaration instead of detailed salary proof, so sponsors and workers only need to confirm the pay meets the threshold, matches market rates, lands in the migrant’s bank account and is transferred within one month. That’s a real paperwork cut, weirdly overdue for a system that already tracks sponsored employment closely.

Who it affects , This helps expats, highly skilled workers and sponsored digital professionals most, especially people already inside the Dutch system who need to renew. It also helps long-stay applicants abroad, though it doesn’t change anything for tourists, short-stay Schengen visitors, EU/EEA citizens or nationalities that already don’t need an MVV.

What to do , If you’re filing an MVV or renewing an HSM permit, check the latest IND Business Newsletter and use the current online form set, because the process changed on the admin side even if the core eligibility rules didn’t. The salary thresholds are still in force and the January update raised them, so don’t confuse easier paperwork with easier approval, that part is still strict.

• MVV approvals from March 2, 2026: no issue form.
• HSM renewals: self-declaration only.
• Fees: unchanged.

If you’re sponsoring staff, the streamlined process should save time and frankly, it should cut a few avoidable delays too. Read our full Netherlands guide for the complete picture and check the latest visa updates before you file.