Hi,
I am from South Africa. I have read alot of blogs and it is very helpful.
The thing is, i have met someone special in Holland, i have never visited there but he and i want to be together. I am not highly qualified for any specific work but i have been working in accounts as a creditors clerk for a decade now and before that cash book clerk, debtors, office clerk. The reason i mention this is to get some insight. I dont want him to support me, but what we have read about, say he must be able to provide for me, but why can i not just apply for a job there? And support myself? I have so many questions, is there anyone who can give me some answers please? When reading everything online, on the website for immigration, it seems there are a lot of technicalities.
Please help if anyone knows what the exact procedure is, i have not yet applied for any visa or looked for any kind of work.
Much appreciated and good to know i am not the only South African
I have met someone special in Holland
Is there anyone online that can help me with some tips to find work please? If i want to be a volunteer, will that make it possible for me to immigrate to Holland? Volunteering could be an option now if it is possible, am i correct?
Hi Elliebelle,
Find out all you need to know to relocate and live in the Netherlands with the expat guide : Living in the Netherlands guide 
We will invite you to check out the discussion on the Information on visas in the Netherlands please as it might be interesting for you
Wishing you best of luck with everything !
Thank you
Maximilien
The first thing you have to do is apply for a MVV before you leave South Africa and this can take up to six months to get. You cannot work in the Netherlands without. If you are lucky enough to find a job that cannot be done by a Dutch national then the company that employs you will apply for your MVV. One of the things I have found is that a lot of the jobs here require you to speak Dutch.
I have noticed from a number of posts on here that many South Africans think they can come to the Netherlands on a 90 day short-term visa and look for a job while they are here. There is nothing wrong with that, but companies cannot employ you without a work permit.
There is also an arrangement between South Africa and the Netherlands which means you can stay here for 90 days without a visa, but you have to leave at the end of the 90 days. You will get a stamp in your passport to that effect. As I also understand it you will have to prove you have enough money to support yourself for the 90 days (currently EUR 34 a day) and evidence of where you will be staying during the period, You may also need a letter from the person you are staying with, but I am not sure about that one.
I have a friend whose grandparents were Dutch and she was able to a get a Dutch passport.
Its worth a phone call to vfs to find out more about staying in a Shenghen country. This link should help:
http://www.vfsglobal.com/dha/southafrica/
Good Luck.
Hi there,
I am also a South African living in joburg in the process of joining my Dutch partner in the Netherlands. It's important to note that you are required to write a ducth civil integration exam before they grant you a MVV
I'm due to write my exam at the end of Novemmber, quite scary as dutch is difficult language.
Feel free to get in touch if you need more information
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