Frequently asked questions

​No, that is not allowed. In the Netherlands you are only allowed to be married to one person. That also means that only 1 spouse with his/her children is allowed to live with you in the Netherlands.

​This is possible. You have to satisfy all the conditions that apply to stay with family member or relative. You do not have to have lived for 1 year in the Netherlands before you can bring your partner over to the Netherlands. Because both of you live outside the country, you may travel together to the Netherlands as soon as the Regular Provisional Residence Permit has been issued.

​In general it is not possible to bring a child who has reached the age of majority to the Netherlands. Only in exceptional situations can a child at the age of majority receive a residence permit. For further information, contact the IND.

​The V-number is your number as a foreign national (vreemdeling). You receive such a number as soon as you initiate the application for a residence permit. You'll find the number as a reference in letters from the IND and on the back of your residence document.

This is allowed if you and your partner satisfy the conditions for a residence permit for partner.

​Yes, but the new educational institution must also be recognized as sponsor. The new educational institution also has to notify the IND of your switch. Your residence permit remains valid.

Your residence permit for study after graduation will remain valid until 3 months after deregistration from your educational institution. Or until the start date of your orientation year. If you wish to stay in the Netherlands after your study you have to apply for a different residence permit. As a graduate you can make use of the orientation year for graduates. With your permit for the orientation year you have one year to find a job in the Netherlands, for example as a highly skilled migrant.

You can also apply for a start-up residence permit. This gives you one year to start an innovative company.

Do you have the possibility to do scientific research? Then, you can apply for a residence permit as a researcher highly skilled migrant or as a researcher under directive (EU) 2016/801.

The IND does not provide information on the status of your application as long as a decision has not been made. In most situations, a (statutory) decision period applies. The IND can make use of the entire decision period to process your application.

Follow your application in My IND.

Do you not have DigiD? And has the decision period ended? Please, call the IND.

Have you applied for asylum and are you waiting for a decision? Find out more information about the processing of asylum applications on Asylum: latest developments.

If you would like information on your application (requirements, requested documentation, decision period, letters sent by the IND), we advise you to check our website first.

If you have any additional questions, you can call us at 0880 - 430 430 (normal charges apply, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm).

Have you received a letter from the employee who is processing your application and do you have specific questions concerning this application? Then, you can contact the employee who is processing your application directly. For instance, if you cannot provide us in time with requested documentation.

You will find the direct phone number of the employee concerned in those letters (under ‘Contactpersoon’).
 

If you have sent an application to the IND, a notification of receipt will be sent to your home address.  You can follow your application in My IND. Does the application have the status 'received'? Then the IND has received your application.

An application that is submitted online usually is visible after a few minutes. Can't see your application after a few minutes? Then something is wrong. Please, don't call immediately. One of our employees will check your application. After a maximum of 5 days your application will be visible in My IND. A written application is registered in about 10 days. 

If you have lived in another EU Member State as a Dutch national, you have used the EU law to free movement of people. You may therefore be seen as a community citizen. You partner can apply for a residence document family member of an EU citizen if all of the following conditions are met:

• You have both lived in that other EU Member State.
• You have met the conditions of EU Community Law during the whole period you lived in that EU Member State. This means that your right of residence as an EU citizen has not been revoked due to for instance an appeal on social benefits.
• You have lived together for at least 3 months in that Member State. 

Read more on the page Dutch nationals and EU law.

A researcher that wants to apply for a residence permit highly skilled migrant, needs to have an employment contract (or appointment decision). A researcher based on the Directive (EU) 2016/801 only needs a hosting agreement.

Has your permanent residence document or long-term resident EU document expired? You are still allowed to work. However, you have to submit an application for renewal of your residence document. 

​By signing a sponsor declaration you inform the Netherlands that you guarantee the expenses of the stay/residence of a foreign national in the Netherlands. You also guarantee that this foreign national will leave the Netherlands at the appointed time. The sponsor declaration tells you exactly what your obligations are.

​There is no legally set period of validity regarding the legalization of the 'Proof of Sponsorship/Accommodation'. The embassies and consulates use different periods of validity. That's why you should always get the most current information for this from the relevant embassy of consulate. In the case of a possible objection, you will not need to have the form legalized again.

​In general, it is possible to sponsor up to 2 adults (+ 1 or 2 children) at a time. You do have to use a separate form 'proof of sponsorship/accommodation' for each person. Also, you have to legalise your signature on every form. In the end, however, it is up to the Dutch representation or the Consular Service Organisation (CSO) to determine if you can sponsor multiple persons and how many.

​The renunciation requirement applies to you also. Because your nationality cannot be determined does not mean you are designated as a 'stateless person'. In the legal procedure concerning foreign nationals you indicated a nationality, and under this nationality you received your residence permit. You must renounce this nationality.

This depends on whether you are married and what country you would move to.

You are married or registered partners

Moving abroad will not change anything for the application for naturalisation. This only does not apply when you move to the country of your partner's nationality. You cannot become a Dutch citizen when living in the country of which you have the nationality.

You are unmarried partners

A move abroad does have implications for the application for naturalisation. This is because as unmarried partners you must live together in the Netherlands for the entire naturalisation process.

Is there maintenance or a malfunction at DigiD?

DigiD is not part of the IND. Do you want to know if there is maintenance or a malfunction with DigiD? Then please check logius.nl (Dutch only).

Is there no maintenance or malfunction at DigiD but you are unable to log in with your DigiD?

This may have a number of causes:

• You are not using the correct username or password. Check that you are using the correct data. Pay attention to upper and lower case letters.
• You have not activated your DigiD. First activate your DigiD with the activation code you received by letter.
• Your DigiD is blocked. Wait until the blockage is lifted after the specified time and try again.
• Your DigiD has expired because it has not been used for three years. If so, reapply for your DigiD.

Your software on your computer or mobile device may also no longer meet DigiD's minimum security requirements. Since 13 May 2019, it is no longer possible to log in with DigiD if you are using an outdated operating system.

How can I check if my operating system and software meet the minimum requirements?

To check whether your operating system and browser meet the minimum requirements, go to the website PKIoverheid (Dutch only).

If you then see two green areas, your operating system and browser meet the minimum requirements. If this is not the case, please update your operating system and also your browser to the latest version. Use the manual or help function of your operating system and browser to perform the update.　

You can also log in with another device that does have the correct operating system and browser.

Check whether you have completed all the fields on the page. Then click 'next'.

Make sure your internet browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Chrome) is up-to-date or the 'next' button won't work. 
Update your browser and try again.

Many questions have explanations. Click on the link with the question. You will find a pop-up text with an explanation of the question.

Are you mentioned on the back of the residence card as the parent with whom the minor child is staying? Then you are a social sponsor. You can submit an application for an extension of the residence permit of your minor child. You use your own DigiD to log in.

In general, you can only upload documents that are requested on the form.

Did you already send in your online or written application and now you want to upload additional documents? You may do this as long as no decision has yet been made about your application. Upload the additional documents as follows:

• Go to Uploading documents after your application. Upload documents by using the link in that section.

You need Digid with sms code to upload. Also keep your case number handy. You can find the case number on the confirmation of receipt.

You have to send a photo card to the IND in the mail. You cannot upload the photo card because the quality of the photograph is not good enough.

Contact the IND. We can check to see whether we have received your application properly.

If the IND has not received your application, then we will deposit the money back into your bank account. Please submit a new application.

​Excess payments will be automatically deposited in your bank account. You need not take any action in this regard.

​If you want to save your application and complete it later, follow these steps:

1. In your online application find the menu button (upper left of the page)
2. Click 'Save'.

Often you will get a follow-up question depending on your browser/browser preferences.

For example, are you working with Internet Explorer? Then below on your screen you will see the text: 'Do you want to open or save the file?' If you choose 'save', Internet Explorer will normally save this file in the Downloads folder. The file is now in the Downloads folder. The saved file has the extension .tfa.

Now your online application has been temporarily saved on your own computer.

You can find the saved application using these steps:

1. Go to the website and click on the online application form you need.
2. Log in with your DigiD and sms code.
3. Click the menu button (upper left of the screen) and select 'Open'.
4. Click 'Select a file'. This opens the Explorer/Finder.
5. Go to the Downloads folder.
6. In the Downloads folder, select the .tfa file you saved before.

No. It is not possible to pay the fees in installments. Your application is only processed when you have paid the total fee of your application.

If you have a residence permit for another EU country, you are not automatically allowed to live and work in the Netherlands.

With a residence permit from another EU country, you can enter the Netherlands without a visa and stay for up to 90 days. Do you want to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days? Then you must apply for a Dutch residence permit and sometimes also an entry visa (mvv).

Do you also want to work in the Netherlands? Then you may also need a work permit (TWV). A work permit must be applied for by your employer.

Yes, this is possible. You can transfer the fees from your foreign bank account to the account of the IND.

If you change your employer, both you and your employer must notify the IND according to regulations. In practice, your employer will deregister you but it is your responsibility to check the deregistration with your employer. Whether you have to apply for the new residence permit depends on the residence permit you currently hold. 

Only notify the change of employer

You or your employer only has to notify the change if you have one of the following residence permits:

• highly skilled migrants;
• European blue card;
• Intra-Company Transfer (ICT Directive);
• scientific researcher (Directive 2005/71/EG); or
• researcher/research worker permit (Directive (EU) 2016/801).

You do need to keep satisfying the conditions of your residence permit.

Notify and apply for new residence permit

Do you have a single permit (GVVA) for residence and work? You or your employer have to submit a new application. In such a case the IND again asks advice of the Netherlands Employees Insurance Agency (UWV) whether you fulfil the criteria of the Foreign Nationals Employment Act. Is the advice from the UWV is positive and is your residence permit still valid for a period of 3 months or longer? You will receive only a new additional document. Is your residence permit valid for less than 3 months? You will receive a new residence permit and a new additional document.

Notify and apply for a new work permit at UWV

Do you hold a residence permit for paid employment (only residence permit)? Your new employer has to apply for a new work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning, TWV) from the Employment Insurance Agency (UWV). Have you worked for 5 years continuously? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands and you don't need a work permit (TWV) anymore. Always have your employer inform at UWV if a TWV is necessary.

You no longer meet the requirements of you residence permit

If you do not meet the requirement of your residence permit anymore, it will be revoked. See whether you meet the requirements of another residence permit for work and apply for that permit. 

​The purpose of the mvv is that the IND can check whether you meet all conditions before you come to the Netherlands. Therefore, it is not desirable for you to be in the Netherlands during the procedure. The IND strongly advises against it.

Do you have an urgent reason to be in the Netherlands during the mvv application? Report this reason to the IND before you come to the Netherlands.

Are you coming to the Netherlands during the procedure? Then this is your own responsibility. You also always need to collect the mvv at the Dutch embassy in your country of origin or in the country of continuous residence.

​A country of continuous residence is a country (other than the country of origin) where you have legal stay for more than 3 months. This means you have a valid residence permit for that country. Or that you are waiting for your application for a residence permit to be approved. Are you in a country in your visa free period? Or with a visa for short stay (maximum of 3 months)? This is not continuous residence.

You are not allowed to change your main residence. The period of time that you are allowed to stay outside the Netherlands depends on your residence permit. Find out the period you may stay outside the Netherlands with your type residence permit.

You can request a payment reference from the IND. Call +31 (0)88 - 043 0430 (normal rate).

No, that is not possible. The fee is paid for reviewing the application. 

• You are not a foreign national anymore. You are included in the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP) of the Netherlands. You can also apply for a Dutch passport.
• You no longer need a residence permit. Therefore you no longer have to meet the requirements for a residence permit.
• You can stay abroad for a longer pe riod without any problems.
• You are allowed to vote in all Dutch elections.
• You are an EU citizen. You are allowed to vote in European elections. It will also be easier for you to move to another EU country.
• You will be allowed to work in all public positions. For example as mayor, police officer, soldier or judge.

You can only upload PDFs with a maximum of 8 MB per file. Do not password protect PDFs for the IND. Read more about uploading documents.

Due to a technical limitation you cannot re-open a saved TFA file larger than 25 MB. You can prevent this by saving your application without uploads. Add the uploads when you re-open your saved application and are going to submit it. We are working on a solution.

If the product or service of the start-up permit is part of the existing company's core business, there is no need to register a new company.

Yes, that's possible. A non-EU or non-EEA citizen can apply for a start-up residence permit, even if the company in question has participated in an accelerator programme in the past. But this third person must still fulfil all requirements for the start-up permit. This includes having an agreement with a trustworthy and qualified facilitator.

No, the facilitator does not have the legal position of sponsor (referent). But the facilitator does have certain obligations. These are stated in the  agreement that the facilitator and the applicant of the residence permit for start-up sign.

No, you do not have to submit proof of your income when you apply for a residence permit orientation year. You will have to sustain yourself during the orientation year, but you do not have to show how. You will be allowed to work during your orientation year.

During the orientation year you are not allowed to use public funds, like a social assistance benefit. Receiving, for example, an unemployment benefit (in Dutch: WW-uitkering), a sickness benefit, rent benefit, healthcare benefit, childcare benefit and/or supplementary child benefit is allowed.

If you have completed an Erasmus Mundus Masters Course or an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (Degree), you must have obtained a joint degree or multiple degrees. These must have been issued by at least 2 participating higher educational institutions. 

You can find all current Erasmus Mundus Joint Master (Degree) programmes here:  www.eacea.ec.europa.eu/scholarships/erasmus-mundus-catalogue_en.

No, you cannot. When you have studied abroad, you should at least have obtained a master's degree. 

You can only apply for the orientation year if you have done scientific research at an educational institution funded or designated by the Dutch government, or at a research institution funded or subsidized directly or indirectly, wholly or partly, by the Dutch government. This is stated in Article 2.1, first paragraph, under b, of the Aliens Employment Act Implementation Decree 2022.

You meet this condition when your letter of appointment or employment contract states the job title and job code as drawn up in the University Job Classification System (Universitair Functieordeningssysteem (UFO) in Dutch). Your job code should begin with 01.

With the orientation year you will have time to find a job as a highly skilled migrant in the Netherlands. During the orientation year you can work freely in the Netherlands. This means that your employer does not need a work permit for you. And your employer only has to pay at least the legal minimum wage (including holiday allowance). You can also use the orientation year to start your own business. 

Did you find a job as a highly skilled migrant? In that case a reduced salary criterion applies to you. This makes it easier and cheater for an employer to hire you. You keep the reduced salary criterion, also when you change employers. Read the requirements for a residence permit for highly skilled migrant. 

No, that is not necessary. You can work freely in the Netherlands during the orientation year, so your employer can wait until the end of your orientation year before he applies for a new residence permit for you. Do make sure that your employer applies before your residence permit for orientation year ends. Your residence permits will then be continous.