Foreign Nationals Identity Document (Type W and Type W2)

A Foreign Nationals Identity Document (VI) is a valid proof of identity. It is not a residence permit. This means that you cannot travel abroad with it.

The following information is mentioned on a Foreign Nationals Identity Document:

• Who you are and what nationality you have.
• That you are allowed to be in the Netherlands. You are allowed to be in the Netherlands because you have submitted an application for a residence permit. Or because you have submitted a different application to be allowed to stay temporarily in the Netherlands. And you are still waiting for a decision. 

See what a Foreign Nationals Identity Document looks like. 

These are the situations in which you can get or apply for a Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W:

• You have applied for asylum for the first time. You will automatically get a Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W. You do not have to apply for this yourself. 
• You have applied for extension of your temporary asylum residence permit. You applied for extension on time and you are still waiting for a decision. You can apply for a Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W yourself.
• You have applied for a permanent asylum residence permit and you are still waiting for a decision. You can apply for a Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W yourself.
• You have appealed against the rejection of your asylum application (temporary or permanent). Or you have appealed against the rejection of the extension of your asylum residence permit. You are still waiting for a decision by the court. You can apply for a Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W yourself.
• You have applied for replacement of your residence permit (temporary or permanent). You are replacing your residence permit because it has been damaged, lost or stolen. Or because your personal details on the residence permit are not correct. You can  apply for a Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W yourself.

These are the cases in which you can apply for a Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W2  yourself:

• You have been granted postponement of departure because you are ill and cannot travel.
• You are the victim of human trafficking or reporting as a witness of human trafficking.
• You have applied for asylum before. Now you have applied for a residence permit for a different reason. For example, for medical treatment or because you are unable to leave the Netherlands through no fault of your own.
• Your application for an asylum residence permit has not been processed. This is because under the Dublin Regulation another Member State is responsible for processing your application. You are waiting for transfer to that other Member State. 
• The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has taken a provisional measure under Rule 39 of the procedural rules of the ECtHR, and the State of the Netherlands has requested suspension of removal.
   

Requirements application Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W2

These are the requirements you must meet for the Type W2 document:

• You do not have a valid passport. 
• You are allowed to wait for your application in the Netherlands. 
• You do not receive any money from the Dutch government to live and reside in the Netherlands. 

The application for a Foreign Nationals Identity Document is free of charge.

In these situations you can apply for the Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W online:

• You have applied for extension of your asylum residence permit and are still waiting for a decision.
• You have applied for a permanent asylum residence permit and you are still waiting for a decision.

To apply online you need DigiD with SMS verification and internet banking (iDEAL).

Start online application

Written form

Are you unable to apply for the Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W online? Or do you want to apply for Type W2? You can send the following form by post:

Has your Foreign Nationals Identity Document Type W or W2 been lost, stolen or damaged? Or are the personal details on the document incorrect? Then you can apply for a new Foreign Nationals Identity Document. For more information, visit Residence permit lost or stolen  or Residence permit damaged or change of personal details.