Applied for asylum before 12 June 2026

Many asylum applications from before 12 June 2026, are still awaiting a decision. And since 12 June, the IND has been deploying more staff for the new asylum procedure. As a result, waiting times for applications from before 12 June 2026, are becoming longer. This means that the IND will not decide on your application within 6 months. The IND has 3 years to decide on all applications from before 12 June 2026. We cannot yet tell you exactly when it is your turn. That depends on your situation and the capacity of the IND. What we can tell you:

• Have you not yet had a first interview with the IND? Then you will receive an invitation for this first interview later this year (2026).
• Starting in early October 2026, the IND will begin scheduling appointments in Utrecht to complete your application. The goal is to properly prepare for your second interview. Have you had a first interview? Then you can expect to receive an invitation for this starting in August. 
• The IND tries to process the asylum applications that have been waiting the longest first
• Are you under 18 years of age and did you travel to the Netherlands without your parents? Then your asylum application takes priority.
• After the appointment in Utrecht, you will receive an invitation for your second interview within approximately 6 weeks. This only happens if an interview is necessary to decide.
• Did you have your second interview before 1 October 2026? Then you will not receive an invitation for the appointment in Utrecht. The IND hopes to decide on your application before April 2027.

You will read on this page when we have more information about waiting times and the order of processing.

Submitting a new asylum application will not decrease your waiting time 

There is no point in withdrawing your asylum application from before 12 June 2026 and submitting a new application. The date of your previous asylum application determines when we process your application.

Within a few months of your application, you will receive an invitation for a first interview. This is an interview with an IND employee. You will answer general questions about, for example, yourself and the journey to the Netherlands. You will also briefly explain the reason why you are applying for asylum. Later, you will have a second interview where you can explain your reasons for your application.

Preparing for your interview with a lawyer

The Legal Aid Board (in Dutch: Raad voor de Rechtsbijstand or RVR) arranges a lawyer for you. This is usually free of charge. The lawyer helps you prepare for the interviews with the IND. This also applies if you are under 18 years of age and without parents in the Netherlands..

Asylum story of accompanying children

Did you arrive in the Netherlands with children under the age of 18? Your children can also share their own story. You or your children indicate to the IND how you wish to do this. This can be done during a personal interview or in a letter.

Have you had your first interview? If so, you will receive an invitation to visit the IND in Utrecht. During this appointment, the IND collects all the information needed for your interview, as well as information to decide. During the appointment, you can expect the following:

• We ask you to bring documents that you have not yet submitted. These concern documents that validate who you are and documents that support your asylum story. Are you receiving medical treatment? If so, please bring new documents showing that you are currently receiving treatment.
• We may take your fingerprints, passport photo, and signature (biometrics). We do this if your biometrics are not (or no longer) in the system.
• We may ask you to put your asylum story in writing.
• We may make a short audio recording during a conversation with you. We sometimes do this to determine where you come from.
• We explain how your asylum procedure will proceed.

Invitation

The first appointments at the IND in Utrecht (Atoomweg 100) will start in early October 2026. The IND will begin sending out invitations from the end of August 2026. The IND sends invitations to a new group every 3 months. They will then have their appointment in Utrecht 6 weeks later.

After the application in Utrecht, you will receive an invitation for a second interview. In this interview with an IND employee, you explain why you are applying for asylum. An independent and impartial interpreter will translate the interview. Independent and impartial means the interpreter has no influence on your asylum application. 

Discussing the interview with your lawyer

Together with your lawyer you will check if the report of the interview is correct. Your lawyer then informs the IND of any mistakes and additions.

Decision

An IND employee will read what you have told the IND and your lawyer’s response. The IND then decides if you will receive an asylum residence permit. There are 2 possibilities:

1. You receive an asylum residence permit. This is stated in a decision.
2. You do not receive an asylum residence permit and you may receive an entry ban. This is stated in a decision. With the help of your lawyer, you can appeal this decision to a Dutch court.

Reporting obligation 

During your asylum procedure, you have to report to the COA at your reception centre once a week. This is called the reporting obligation. If you do not meet your reporting obligation and the IND does not know where you are, we will still decide on your asylum application. We will send the decision to your lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer and you want to know what the decision is, go to the application centre (AC) in Ter Apel. You must be able to prove who you are at AC Ter Apel. You have to bring your Foreign Nationals Identity Document (VI) type W.