Main residency

• You have been outside the Netherlands for more than 6 continuous months. Your stay outside the Netherlands was not due to force majeure, but your own choice.
• For 3 years in a row, you have been outside of the Netherlands for more than 4 continuous months. The IND counts these 4 months per calendar year (January to December). We do not add up separate periods. You have moved the centre of your activities abroad. This means that you cannot prove that you carry out the largest part of your activities in the Netherlands. The IND looks at this per person.

Examples of moving main residency

• You were outside the Netherlands from 1 November 2021 to 1 June 2022. This is more than 6 months. 
• In 2020, 2021 and 2022, you were outside the Netherlands from 1 July to 1 December. This is more than 4 continuous months for 3 calendar years in a row.

Examples of not moving main residency

• You were outside the Netherlands from 1 November 2021 to 1 May 2022. This means that you were outside the Netherlands for 6 months, but not more than 6 months.
• In 2020, 2021 and 2022, you were outside the Netherlands from 1 December to 1 May. This is more than 4 continuous months (December to April, inclusive) for 3 years in a row. However, these months are not in the same calendar year: therefor the period from 1 December to 1 January doesn't count. This means that you were outside the Netherlands for 4 continuous months (1 January to 1 May) for 3 calendar years in a row, but not more than 4 months.

Exceptions for temporary residence permits regular

In the following situations, you have not moved your main residency:

Residence permit for study

You may stay outside the Netherlands for a maximum of 1 continuous year. This is allowed if you are temporarily going abroad for education so you can complete your studies in the Netherlands. Your residence permit must be valid during the entire period abroad. Are you going to study temporarily in a different EU country? And has your educational institution notified the IND of this? In that case you will be allowed to study in the other country for a maximum of 360 days in total. We add up any separate periods.

Residence permit as a highly skilled migrant and scientific researcher under Directive 2005/71/EC or researcher under Directive 2016/801

You may stay outside the Netherlands for a maximum of 8 months per 12 months. But only if this is for work purposes.  We add up any separate periods. You must continue to meet the requirements of your residence permit. Does your employer in the Netherlands send you to another EU member state to work there? Then you will be seconded. As a seconded employee, you may stay in the other EU country for longer than 8 months. Your employer must report this to the IND in time.

Residence permit for intra-EU-mobility

Are you temporarily going to another EU country for intra-EU-mobility? In that case you may temporarily deregister from the BRP. Your employer, educational institution or research institution must notify the IND of this in time.

Residence permit as a foreign investor

You are allowed to stay outside the Netherlands for a total of 8 out of 12 months. We add up separate periods. You must still meet the requirements of your residence permit.

Residence permit for intra-corporate transferee (Directive 2014/66/EU)

Partner of posted official at Dutch embassy or consulate

Do you have an asylum permit? A stay abroad can have consequences for your right of residence. The IND assesses this on a case-by-case basis.

Would you like to know more? Then ask for advice from a legal assistance provider, such as an asylum lawyer or Legal Services Counter (Juridisch Loket).

The IND assumes that you have moved your main residency in the following situations:

• You have been outside the EU, EEA  or Switzerland for more than 12 continuous months. The period of 12 months will start again after a stay of a few days in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
• You have been outside the Netherlands for more than 6 continuous years, but within the EU, EEA or Switzerland. The period of 6 years will start again after a stay of a few days  in the Netherlands.

Exceptions

In the following situations, you have not moved your main residency:

• You are staying in another Member State of the EU/EEA or in Switzerland for more than 6 years for study purposes. 
• You have been in one of the Schengen countries for 12 months or longer. And you have not  been outside the Netherlands for more than 6 continuous years. 
• You previously had a European blue card or were a family member of the holder of a European blue card. And you show that you have not been outside the Schengen Area for more than 24 continuous months. 
• You have been deregistered from the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP). This usually has no consequences for your status as a long-term EU resident.

You are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. Or you are the family member of an EU, EER or Swiss citizen. You have a right of residence in the Netherlands under EU rules. The period during which you are allowed to stay outside the Netherlands depends on the reason for your absence from the Netherlands. In the following situations the IND assumes that you have moved your main residency and you lose your right of residence:

• You are outside the Netherlands for more than 6 months out of a period of 12 months (we add up separate periods). And you do not have an important reason for this absence from the Netherlands.
• You have an important reason for your absence from the Netherlands or you are assigned to work abroad temporarily. But you are outside the Netherlands for more than 12 continuous months. Important reasons are for example: pregnancy, childbirth, serious illness, study or vocational training.

Are you staying outside the Netherlands for military obligations? In that case, the IND does not assume that you have moved your main residency.

Permanent residency under EU rules

You are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. Or you are the family member of an EU. EER or Swiss citizen. You have a permanent right of residence in the Netherlands under EU-rules The IND assumes that you have moved your permanent residency if you have been outside the Netherlands for more than 2 continuous years. Then you have lost your right of residence.

You are a UK citizen or the family member of a UK citizen. You have a residence document ‘Residence Document Withdrawal Agreement’ for temporary residency in the Netherlands. The IND will withdraw your right of temporary residence if you have moved your main residency. In the following situations the IND assumes that you have moved your main residency:

• From 1 October 2023: You are outside the Netherlands for more than 6 months out of a period of 12 months (we add up separate periods). And you do not have an important reason for this long absence from the Netherlands. For example, pregnancy, childbirth, serious illness, study or vocational training.
• From 1 April 2024: You are outside the Netherlands for more than 12 continuous months.

Permanent residency Brexit Withdrawal Agreement

You are a UK citizen or the family member of a UK citizen. You have a residence document ‘Permanent residence document Withdrawal Agreement’ for permanent residency in the Netherlands. The IND assumes that you have moved your main residency if you have been outside the Netherlands for more than 5 continuous years. If so, the IND will withdraw your right of residence.