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 September

Asylum: First asylum applications

In September, the IND made 1,470 decisions on first asylum applications. This was lower than the budgeted figure (2,820) and also lower than the previous month (1,540). This is due to a reduced number of decisions in the general and extended asylum procedures (track 4). The number of incoming applications was 2,920, higher than in the past two months, but lower compared to September 2023 (3,640).

Asylum: Dublin procedure (Track 1)

In the Dublin procedure, the IND made 380 decisions in September. This is more than budgeted (260). There were 260 applications received, resulting in a decrease in the number of pending applications from 2,120 to 1,990.

Asylum: Safe Country procedure (track 2)

In the safe countries procedure, the number of decisions was 120 higher than in the past two months (70 per month). There were 40 applications received in this procedure. The number of pending applications continues to decline; from 380 in December to 140 in September.

Asylum: General and extended asylum procedure (track 4)

In this procedure, the IND made fewer decisions than budgeted: 2,300 compared to 3,030. There are various reasons for this, such as the new methodology for assessing the credibility of asylum applications taking more time, compounded by staff still gaining experience with this process. The number of applications, at 3,550, is in line with September 2023 (3,690 applications). As the number of applications remains higher than the number of decisions, the backlog increases to 49,470 applications.

Asylum: Family members who have joined the asylum seekers later

Starting this month, we show in this graph the figures for all family reunification applications combined; that is, MVV Family Reunification + Family Reunification 8 ECHR for minor asylum seekers (AMV). This illustrates the total number of family reunification applications, decisions, and pending applications. (Separate figures can also be viewed in the PDF with tables.) The number of applications for family reunification has been higher throughout the year than the number of decisions we can make. The total number of pending applications rose to 64,520 in September.

Family and relatives

On applications for residence with family and partners, the IND made 2,770 decisions in September. The number of new applications was 3,200. As a result, the number of pending applications slightly increased to 6,720, with the majority (4,610) pending for less than three months.

Residence permit knowledge and talent

Permits for knowledge and talent apply to, among others, knowledge migrants, graduates on a job search year, and employees transferred to a European branch of the company. In September, the IND made 1,590 decisions on these types of applications.

Study

The peak in applications for study due to the start of the academic year in September has passed. In September, there were still 130 applications received. The IND takes the yearly peak into account and can therefore make decisions on these applications in a short time. Only 40 applications remain pending.

Migrant workers

In September, the IND made 720 decisions on applications from labor migrants. There were 420 applications received in September. This brings the number of pending applications down to 1,880. Labor migration concerns, among others, permits for wage employment, as self-employed/startups, for cross-border services, and applications under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty.

Naturalization

In September, 9,880 decisions were completed. This high number is related to the summer period (July-August) when fewer Royal decrees are issued. The number of pending applications is 16,800. The naturalization application is submitted to the municipality, assessed by the IND, and ultimately, citizenship is granted by the signing of a Royal decree.

Service desk

In September, a total of 26,700 appointments were made for issuing residence documents at the counters. Applicants were able to secure an appointment on average after 5 days. Additionally, the number of appointments for biometric data collection (fingerprints and photos) rose to 18,620. The first available appointment for this was on average after 5 days.