The IND in figures

The number of applications for residence permits has already been increasing for a longer time. And this is expected to increase even more in the years to come. Moreover this does not make the work of the IND easier. Increasingly more substantiation is needed to decide on a residence application. Notwithstanding that the IND does more than can be expected of the organisation on the basis of the agreed capacity, the number of cases that have been outstanding for a long time is increasing.

Each month the IND publishes a survey of the main current figures and developments.

Monthly figures March 2026

Asylum: First asylum applications

The IND made 2,560 decisions on first asylum applications in March. This is less than expected (2,700). The organisation received 1,960 applications in the third month of this year. The number of pending applications decreased from 48,600 to 48,010.

Asylum: Dublin procedure (track 1)

The IND is able to monitor the number of applications in the Dublin procedure closely and it made 560 decisions in March. The caseload is slightly decreasing, but still relatively high because the IND is waiting for responses from the Member States in which the applicants previously applied for asylum

Asylum: Safe Country procedure (Track 2)

The number of track 2 asylum applications – in other words those from EU citizens and applicants who have already been given protection elsewhere in the EU – is low, as is therefore the number of decisions made by the IND.

Asylum: General and extended asylum procedure (Track 4)

The IND made 2,670 decisions in the general and extended asylum procedure in March, which is above the target of 2,250. In March, 2,120 applications were received and the number of pending applications decreased from 51,960 to 51,410.

Asylum family reunification

The IND made decisions on 2,540applications for family reunification in March. There were 890 new applications. The number of pending applications decreased from 40,400to 48,750. Last year in March the number of pending applications was 64,820.

Relatives and family

The IND processes the vast majority of applications for residence with family or a partner within three months. It made 3,490 decisions in these cases in March and a further 5,260 applications are pending.

Residence permit knowledge and talent

Permits for knowledge and talent cover highly skilled migrants, graduates who are embarking on an orientation year, and workers who have been transferred to a European branch of their company. The IND processes the vast majority of applications within a month. In March, 1,600 decisions were taken on these kinds of applications and 1,630 new applications were received.

Study

There is always a peak in applications for study permits during the summer and in November and December and the IND takes measures to ensure that decisions on these applications can be made quickly. The IND received 60 such applications in March and made 80decisions.

Labour migration

The IND made 740 decisions on work migrant applications in March and received 990 new applications. Labour migration involves permits for paid employment, work as a self-employed person or start-up, cross-border services and applications based on the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty.

Naturalisation

The IND made decisions on 6,410 naturalisation applications in March, with a total of 4,210 people actually proceeding to apply for Dutch nationality.

Service desk

Applicants made a total of 25,690 appointments to collect residence documents from the IND desks in March and only had to wait for 5 days on average. A total of 22,360 appointments were made to provide biometrics (fingerprints, signature and photos). It was possible to make appointments within 4 days on average.