Frequently asked questions

The IND does not provide information on the status of your application as long as a decision has not been made. In most situations, a (statutory) decision period applies. The IND can make use of the entire decision period to process your application.

Follow your application in My IND.

Do you not have DigiD? And has the decision period ended? Please, call the IND.

Have you applied for asylum and are you waiting for a decision? Find out more information about the processing of asylum applications on our page about processing times.

If you would like information on your application (requirements, requested documentation, decision period, letters sent by the IND), we advise you to check our website first. If you have any additional questions, you can call us at 0880 - 430 430 (normal charges apply, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm). Have you received a letter from the employee who is processing your application and do you have specific questions concerning this application? Then, you can contact the employee who is processing your application directly. For instance, if you cannot provide us in time with requested documentation. You will find the direct phone number of the employee concerned in those letters (under ‘Contactpersoon’).

​If you have sent an application to the IND, a notification of receipt will be sent to your home address.  You can follow your application in My IND. Does the application have the status 'received'? Then the IND has received your application.

If you have not heard from us after 10 working days , you can contact us at 0880 - 430 430 (normal charges apply, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm). If you call us within these 10 working days, chances are that your application form has not yet been processed and we therefore cannot confirm receipt of your application.

Do you ​have a valid residence permit? Then sometimes you may qualify for an alien’s passport. For example, if you are unable to obtain a passport from your country of origin. You can use your alien’s passport to travel to all countries except your home country. You still need a visa for many countries. You can apply for a passport to the municipality where you are registered.

With your Dutch residence permit you may stay in all Schengen countries up to 90 days in any 180 day period without a visa. You do not need a separate visa. Take your passport and residence permit with you. Your passport and residence permit must be valid for your entire trip. Will your residence permit expire during your trip? Then apply for a return visa before you start on your trip.

Are you travelling to a country other than a Schengen country? Please inform at the embassy or consulate of the country where you are going if you need a visa.

Is there an outage?​
DigiD does not fall under IND. To find out whether DigiD has an outage, visit allestoringen.nl or digid.nl.

Is there no outage but are you still unable to log in with your DigiD?
There could be several reasons for this.

• You are not using the correct user name or password. Check if you are using the correct log-in details. Watch out for capitals and lower case letters.
• You have not activated your DigiD. First activate your DigiD with the activation code in the letter you received.
• Your DigiD has been blocked. Wait until the restriction has been lifted and try again.
• Your DigiD has expired because you have not used it for 3 years. Apply for a new DigiD.

It could also be that the software on your computer or mobile device no longer meets DigiD's minimum security requirements. Since 13 May 2019 it is no longer possible to log in with a DigiD if you are using an outdated operating system.

How can I check if my operating system and software meet the minimum requirements?

To check if your operating system and browser meet the minimal requirements, visit the following website: https://crl.pkioverheid.nl/pkiotest/.

If you can see two green squares, then your operating system and browser meet the minimum requirements. If this is not the case, upgrade your operating system and also your browser to the latest versions. To perform the upgrade, consult the user manual or help function of your operating system or browser.

You can also log in with another device that has the correct operating system and browser.

​Check whether you have completed all the fields on the page. Then click next.

Make sure your internet browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Chrome) is up-to-date. Otherwise the next button won't work.
Update your browser and try again.

​Many questions have explanations. Click on the link with the question. You will find a pop-up text with an explanation of the question.

The message 'no residence title' appears if according to our system your residence permit has expired. Please submit your application in writing.

Are you mentioned on the back of the residence card as the parent with whom the minor child is staying? Then you are a social sponsor. You can submit an application for an extension of the residence permit of your minor child. You use your own DigiD to log in.

​This is explained in the blue box on the application form.

'The place where you are resident and where you are registered as a resident with the authorities. The place where your partner was permanently resident and where he was registered with the authorities as resident'.

​In general, you can only upload documents that are requested on the form.

Did you already send in your application and now you want to upload additional documents? You may do this as long as no decision has yet been made about your application. Upload the additional documents as follows:

1. Go to the homepage of our website.
2. Click on the button 'submit application'. 
3. Select 'I want to upload an additional document'.

Keep your case number handy. You can find the case number on the confirmation of receipt.

​You have to send a photo card to the IND in the mail. You cannot upload the photo card because the quality of the photograph is not good enough.

Contact the IND. We can check to see whether we have received your application properly.

If the IND has not received your application, then we will deposit the money back into your bank account. Please submit a new application.

​Excess payments will be automatically deposited in your bank account. You need not take any action in this regard.

​If you want to save your application and complete it later, follow these steps:

1. In your online application find the menu button (upper left of the page)
2. Click 'Save'.

Often you will get a follow-up question depending on your browser/browser preferences.

For example, are you working with Internet Explorer? Then below on your screen you will see the text: 'Do you want to open or save the file?' If you choose 'save', Internet Explorer will normally save this file in the Downloads folder. The file is now in the Downloads folder. The saved file has the extension .tfa.

Now your online application has been temporarily saved on your own computer.

​You can find the saved application using these steps:

1. Go to the homepage of our website and click 'submit a new application'.
2. Select the application that you already started.
3. Log in with your DigiD and sms code.
4. Click the menu button (upper left of the screen) and select 'Open'.
5. Click 'Select a file'. This opens the Explorer/Finder.
6. Go to the Downloads folder.
7. In the Downloads folder, select the .tfa file you saved before.

​You can only upload PDFs with a maximum of 8 MB per file. Please read more about uploading documents with your online application.

​The V-number is your number as a foreign national (vreemdeling). You receive such a number as soon as you initiate the application for a residence permit. You'll find the number as a reference in letters from the IND and on the back of your residence document.

​The Citizen Service Number (BSN) is an identity number for all communications with the Government authorities. You receive a BSN when you register in your municipality in the Personal Records Database (BRP).

​If you have informed your municipality (BRP/Personal Records Database) in time that you are emigrating or have moved within the Netherlands, it is not necessary to notify the IND. In time means notifying the BRP before your emigration or within 4 weeks of your moving house. The IND has then already gotten this information from the municipality (BRP).

If the deadline has passed, please use the Reporting Form for Foreign Nationals.

​This depends on your age, nationality and whether you are already in the Netherlands.

EU/EEA citizens and Swiss nationals are not required to give biometric information. When you apply for a residence document the IND does need a passport photo. Please use the Appendix Passport photo form.

Are you still abroad and do you apply for an mvv? Your biometric information is taken at the Dutch embassy. Are you not required to have an mvv and has your sponsor in the Netherlands submitted your application? Upon arrival in the Netherlands you first need to go to an IND Desk to give your biometric information. You can read more information on the page Appointment biometric information.

To children the same rules apply, except for children under 6 years old: they do not have to give their finger prints.

​The purpose of the mvv is that the IND can check whether you meet all conditions before you come to the Netherlands. Therefore, it is not desirable for you to be in the Netherlands during the procedure. The IND strongly advises against it.

Do you have an urgent reason to be in the Netherlands during the mvv application? Report this reason to the IND before you come to the Netherlands.

Are you coming to the Netherlands during the procedure? Then this is your own responsibility. You also always need to collect the mvv at the Dutch embassy in your country of origin or the country of continuous residence.

​You are not allowed to change your main residence. The period of time that you are allowed to stay outside the Netherlands depends on your residence permit. Find out the period you may stay outside the Netherlands with your type residence permit.

​Just like everyone in the Netherlands, you have to have health care insurance.

​When the validity of your residence permit expires, you have to leave the Netherlands before the end date of your permit. However, if you wish to stay in the Schengen area shortly after, this is possible in one of the following situations:

You are subject to a visa requirement
If you are subject to a visa requirement, you first must leave the Schengen area and apply for a short stay visa. Once you have a visa, you are allowed to return to the Schengen area.

You are not subject to a visa requirement
If you are not subject to a visa requirement, you can make use of your visa-free access period. If you wish to stay in the Netherlands for a short period, you must first leave the Schengen area. You can then re-enter the Netherlands again straight away. If you wish to shortly stay in another Schengen country, you do not need to leave the Schengen area first. Please first contact the authorities of the country you wish to visit.

​An application for rent subsidy, health care subsidy, child care benefits or child benefits has no impact on your right of residence. The Tax Administration decides whether you are entitled to benefits. You have to apply to the Tax Administration yourself for this. However, an application for benefits from public funds can have an impact on your right of residence. 

​You can request a payment reference from the IND. Call +31 (0)88 - 043 0430 (normal rate).

​No. It is not possible to pay the fees in installments. Your application is only processed when you have paid the total fee of your application.

​You still have to pay the fees even if you have been declared bankrupt or are undergoing debt restructuring.

Yes, this is possible. You can transfer the fees from your foreign bank account to the account of the IND.

​Yes. If you want to apply for recognition for each business unit or faculty, you have to sign and submit a request for recognition to the IND for each branch or business unit. The different business units or faculties can also apply for recognition jointly. For a joint recognition, however, only 1 main contact person and 1 bank account number can be submitted for the different organisational units.

​No. As recognized sponsor you are not obligated to submit a minimum or maximum number of applications per year.

However. the IND may withdraw the recognition if the recognised sponsor does not act as a sponsor for foreign nationals and has not had a residence permit or mvv granted on behalf of a foreign national for over 3 years.

​An application for Social Assistance Benefits or other benefits from public funds may have consequences for your right of residence. For nationals of the EU/EEA or Switzerland and their family members the right to general resources increases with the number of years that they have lived in the Netherlands. The IND decides whether a General Application for Social Assistance Benefits or other general resource has consequences for the right of residence. If you live in the Netherlands for 5 consecutive years then you usually have complete rights to general resources.

​A Dutch national is an EU citizen. But Dutch nationals usually cannot derive rights from EU law.

​If you have lived in another EU Member State as a Dutch national, you have used the EU law to free movement of people. You may therefore be seen as a community citizen. You partner can apply for a residence document family member of an EU citizen if all of the following conditions are met:

• You have both lived in that other EU Member State.
• You have met the conditions of EU Community Law during the whole period you lived in that EU Member State. This means that your right of residence as an EU citizen has not been revoked due to for instance an appeal on social benefits.
• You have lived together for at least 3 months in that Member State. 

On 31 January 2020, the United Kingdom (UK) left the European Union (EU) with a deal. The agreements made are set out in the Withdrawal Agreement. If you meet the agreement's conditions you can continue living, working and studying in the Netherlands. But, you will need to apply for a residence document, at the latest on 30 September 2021. Find out more on the IND’s Brexit website. There is also much information about Brexit on government.nl.

Do you not come under the Withdrawal Agreement and wish to live in the Netherlands? Then the rules for nationals outside the EU/EEA apply to you. 

​If you have a contract that is no longer valid for 12 months then in some cases your contract can be added in.

​In some cases temporary work can be counted in.

​This is possible, the probation period gets counted in. The employment contract (including probation time) must be valid for 12 months at the time the IND receives the application.

​Student grants are not counted as income. Student grants are subsidies from the Dutch government. They are not independent sources of income.

This is not possible when you apply for a residence permit to stay with a family member. You (the sponsor) must yourself have a sufficient independent and long-term income in order to support your family member.

Is your family member coming to the Netherlands with a visa for short stay, then another person may be the sponsor of your family member.

​An application for Social Assistance Benefits or other benefits from public funds may have consequences for your right of residence. The IND has to decide whether receiving a general resource has consequences for your right of residence.

​You must have enough money to support your family member or relative. Unemployment does not have consequences for your residence permit as long as your income is still sufficient and comes from an independent source. For example, Unemployment Benefits (WW-uitkering) count, but Social Assistance Benefits (Wwb-uitkering/bijstand) do not.

​No, that's not necessary. You and your family member must live together at the same address. Both of you must be registered at this is the address in the municipal Personal Records Database (BRP). There are no requirements concerning the type of housing.

​No, that is not allowed. In the Netherlands you are only allowed to be married to one person. That also means that only 1 spouse with his/her children is allowed to live with you in the Netherlands.

​This is possible. You have to satisfy all the conditions that apply to stay with family member or relative. You do not have to have lived for 1 year in the Netherlands before you can bring your partner over to the Netherlands. Because both of you live outside the country, you may travel together to the Netherlands as soon as the Regular Provisional Residence Permit has been issued.

​In general it is not possible to bring a child who has reached the age of majority to the Netherlands. Only in exceptional situations can a child at the age of majority receive a residence permit. For further information, contact the IND.

If you get divorced and no longer live together with your spouse and children they no longer fulfil the conditions for a residence permit for family member or relative. They have to leave the Netherlands. Or they have to apply for a different residence permit.

In some cases your partner can apply for a residence permit. For example, if your partner has had a residence permit for 5 years or more and has received the civic integration diploma. 

Children can receive an independent residence permit if they have had a residence permit for 1 year or more before they reached the age of 18. If the children continue to live with you then their residence permit remains valid.

Your partner and children may, by the way, also apply for the independent residence permit when you are not getting divorced.

​You can apply for an independent residence permit for continued residence after you have lived in the Netherlands for 1 year continuously as a child younger than 18 years with a residence permit to stay with a parent. If you have fulfilled the conditions of this residence permit for 1 year continuously, then the residence permit for continued residence may be issued.

​When applying for residency at the IND, you sometimes have to submit documents that have been issued by the authorities of a country outside the Netherlands. In some cases, these documents have to be legalised and/or translated first before you can use them in the Netherlands. For more information, check Legalisation and translation of official documents.

​You can find information about student grants at DUO.

​This is allowed if you and your family satisfy the conditions for a residence permit for residence as family or relative.

​Yes, but the new educational institution must also be recognized as sponsor. The new educational institution also has to notify the IND of your switch. Your residence permit remains valid.

Your residence permit for study after graduation will remain valid until 3 months after deregistration from your educational institution. Or until the start date of your orientation year. If you wish to stay in the Netherlands after your study you have to apply for a different residence permit. As a graduate you can make use of the orientation year for graduates. With your permit for the orientation year you have one year to find a job in the Netherlands, for example as a highly skilled migrant. For more information also check the FAQ.
You can also apply for a start-up residence permit. This gives you one year to start an innovative company.
Do you have the possibility to do scientific research? Then, you can apply for a residence permit as a researcher highly skilled migrant or as a researcher under directive (EU) 2016/801.

If you change your employer, either you or your employer must notify the IND. Whether you have to apply for the new residence permit depends on the residence permit you currently hold. And whether you will still satisfy the conditions for your residence permit when you go to work for your new employer.

If you have a residence permit for highly skilled migrants, a European blue card, an Intra-Company Transfer (ICT Directive) or  researcher/research worker permit (Council Directive (EU) 2016/801) then you only have to give notification of change of employer. Your residence permit remains valid. You do need to keep satisfying the conditions of your residence permit.

Do you have a single permit (GVVA) for residence and work? You or your employer have to submit a new application. All supporting documents have to be submitted again. In such a case the IND asks the Netherlands Employees Insurance Agency (UWV) whether you fulfil the criteria of the Foreign Nationals Employment Act. The Employees Insurance Agency (UWV) will the advise the IND . If the advice from the UWV is positive and your residence permit is still valid for a period of 3 months or longer, then you will receive only a new additional document. If your residence permit is valid for less than 3 months, then you will receive a new residence permit and additional document.

Do you hold a residence permit for paid employment (not a single permit/GVVA)? Your new employer has to apply for a new work permit (TWV) from the Employment Insurance Agency (UWV). Have you worked for 5 years continuously? Then you are free to work in the Netherlands. You don't need a work permit (TWV) anymore.

​This depends on several factors. Often the residence permit is already ready and waiting to be picked up when an employee with a Regular Provisional Residence Permit enters the Netherlands. In that case, the employee can go directly and pick up the residence permit and work according to the rules of the permit. Has the employee made an application without Regular Provisional Residence Permit (mvv) or is the residence permit not ready yet? The employee can request a Residence Endorsement sticker. The Residence Endorsement sticker states whether the employee is allowed to work and under what conditions. In order to request a Residence Endorsement sticker you need to make an appointment.

As holder of the European blue card you can apply for the status of long-term resident third country national in the Netherlands after 2 years. There are two extra conditions:

• You have lived in the European Union legally and continuously for a total of 5 years.
• Immediately before your residence in the Netherlands you lived in another EU Member State for 18 months with a European blue card.

After living in the Netherlands for 2 years with a residence permit as 'family member of a holder of a European blue card', your family members can apply for a residence permit for 'continued residence'. They have to have resided legally and continuously for a minimum of 5 years in the territory of an EU Member State. And they have to fulfil the other conditions for the residence permit humanitarian non-temporary.

You have to apply for a residence permit in the other EU Member State. The IND cannot indicate what rules apply to holders of a European Blue Card in the other Member States. Before you move to a different Member State, you are responsible for finding out from the immigration service of that Member State how you can apply for a residence permit.

When you move to another Member State, it may be that you have to deregister from the Personal Records Database (BRP) of your municipality. Find out from your municipality.

Higher salary criteria apply to holders of a European blue card than to highly skilled migrants. But often the holder of a European blue card can more easily apply for a residence permit in another EU Member State.

In addition, with a European blue card you can apply more quickly for the status of long-term resident EC, i.e. after 2 years instead of after 5 years, as applies to highly skilled migrants (and other Dutch residence permits). Your family members can apply for an independent residence permit in the category 'humanitarian non-temporary' earlier, i.e. after 2 years instead of after 5 years. For more information see the question: 'What are the advantages of the European blue card?'

​Yes. The employee has to fulfil the conditions of the residence permit for highly skilled migrants. And applying for this residence permit is more expensive than applying for an EU residence card.

A researcher that wants to apply for a residence permit highly skilled migrant, needs to have an employment contract (or appointment decision). A researcher based on the Directive (EU) 2016/801 only needs a hosting agreement.

​In addition to the Netherlands, you can visit the other countries in the Schengen area.

​In any given period of 180 days you are allowed to remain maximum of 90 days in the Schengen area. So if you stayed in one of the Schengen countries for 90 days continuously, you have to wait a minimum of 90 days before you can enter the Schengen area again.

​By signing a sponsor declaration you inform the Netherlands that you guarantee the expenses of the stay/residence of a foreign national in the Netherlands. You also guarantee that this foreign national will leave the Netherlands at the appointed time. The sponsor declaration tells you exactly what your obligations are.

​There is no legally set period of validity regarding the legalization of the 'Proof of Sponsorship/Accommodation'. The embassies and consulates use different periods of validity. That's why you should always get the most current information for this from the relevant embassy of consulate. In the case of a possible objection, you will not need to have the form legalized again.

​In general, it is possible to sponsor up to 2 adults (+ 1 or 2 children) at a time. You do have to use a separate form 'proof of sponsorship/accommodation' for each person. Also, you have to legalise your signature on every form. In the end, however, it is up to the Dutch representation or the Consular Service Organisation (CSO) to determine if you can sponsor multiple persons and how many.

This is only necessary if it concerns a sponsorship and you are married or in a registered partnership.

​Yes. Both people have to fill in the form Proof of Sponsorship and/or Private Accommodation. They also both have to have their signatures legalized in their municipalities.

You must have travel medical insurance coverage for any costs of repatriation on medical grounds, urgent medical attention and/or emergency hospital treatment. You must take out travel medical insurance that:

• Is valid for the entire Schengen area;
• Has a minimum coverage of € 30,000;
• Extends over the entire period of your stay/residence.

The travel medical insurance has to be taken out in your country of residence. If this is not possible, you can take out insurance in another country. If you have an invitation then the hosting party may take out insurance in his own place of residence.

​Only in very exceptional cases you are allowed to extend your visa, for example, if you are temporarily incapable of leaving due to circumstances beyond your control. You can have your short stay visa extended for a maximum of 90 days. This extension should be applied for at one of the IND Desks. To extend the short stay visa you have to first make an appointment.

If you are a citizen of Surinam and 60 years old or older other conditions apply.

​You can only extend your tourist visa in special situations, such as serious illness. You need a declaration from a doctor or specialist to prove that you are not in any condition to travel. You can have your tourist visa extended for a maximum of 90 days.

Have you already been in the Netherlands for 90 days? Then you can apply for Suspension of Departure. To do this use this form.

​No. In order to stay in the Netherlands longer than 90 days you have to apply for a special visa. This is the Regular Provisional Residence Permit (mvv).

​You are only allowed to work if your employer has a work permit (TWV). The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) issues this permit. Your employer can only receive such a permit if there is no one else in the EU available for the job.

​The List of Travellers is a visa replacement document for pupils (all school years) from outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland who live in an EU Member State with a residence permit and wish to travel within the EU on a school trip.

Pupils who would otherwise be required to have a visa can travel visa free within the EU with the List of Travellers. They do have to meet any national entry requirements.

For pupils who do not have the required travel documents, the  List of Travellers also serves as a passport replacement document within the EU.

​The List of Travellers can only be issued to a school teacher at the IND Desk. An appointment is needed. The List of Travellers is certified by a representative of the school at the IND desk, and  after the fees have been paid, is also stamped by the IND.

The following documents are required for the List of Travellers:

• A mandate from the director of the school concerned. This should state the name of the teacher who will visit the IND Desk and accompany the pupils on the trip.
• Copy of the school director's identity card.
• Detailed description of the school trip.
• The names of the pupils for whom the List of Travellers is required and the teachers who are going on the trip.
• A colour photocopy of the front and back of the valid residence permit and/or passport for each pupil.
• Recent colour passport photo (only for the pupils that do not have a valid passport or valid identity card with photo).
• Stamp of the school.
• Valid identity card of the teacher coming to the appointment.

​The List of Travellers costs € 30 and € 1 for each child.

Yes, the website from the British government says that you can use the list of travellers for school trips until 1 October 2021. Please, contact the British embassy in The Hague for more information about travelling to the UK.

Yes, that's allowed. When you change to a different host family, you and the au pair agency or exchange organization must notify the IND. Use the notification form exchange (au pair agency or exchange organization) or the notification form for the foreign national (au pair or young person taking part in the exchange).

Your residence permit still remains valid. Switching to a different host family does not change the period of validity of your residence permit. An au pair or young person here on exchange is not allowed to stay in the Netherlands for longer than 1 year with their residence permit for exchange purposes.

Do you have a question about:

- (Re) gaining Dutch citizenship Naturalisation
- Do I have the Dutch nationality?
- Renunciation of another nationality (not your Dutch)
- Loss of Dutch nationality
- Renunciation of Dutch nationality

A lot of information is available on the webpage becoming a Dutch citizen. Can you not find the answer to your question there? Please contact us by phone.

Do you have a question about:
- Policy-related questions about Dutch nationality, for example 'dual nationality'
- Questions about amendments to the Dutch Nationality Act
- Dutch passport or other ID or travel document
- Questions about integration

A lot of information is available on www.rijksoverheid.nl. Can you not find find the answer to your question there? Then ask your question via the contact form on Information Rijksoverheid https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/contact

​The option procedure is a quick and easy way to acquire Dutch citizenship. Option can only be requested by specific categories of foreign nationals. Option has a number of advantages:

• For option you usually do not have to renounce your nationality. There is one exception. You are aged 18 or over. You apply for Dutch nationality under the option procedure on the grounds that and you have lived in the Netherlands from the age of 4 with a valid residence permit. Then you will have to renounce your nationality.
• For option you also do not have to demonstrate that you are sufficiently integrated in the Netherlands. For the option procedure, therefore, there is no test of your knowledge of the Dutch language.
• The costs are lower than for naturalisation.

​The renunciation requirement applies to you also. Because your nationality cannot be determined does not mean you are designated as a 'stateless person'. In the legal procedure concerning foreign nationals you indicated a nationality, and under this nationality you received your residence permit. You must renounce this nationality.

After 5 years of lawful residence in Netherlands, an EU citizen may submit an application for naturalization. The EU citizen does not need to prove residence in the Netherlands with a residence document. This is also not required for a request for naturalization. The EU citizen must sign a declaration in the municipality where he/she lives. This states that he/she has lived in the Netherlands for the last 5 years. In that period of time not more than 6 months may have been spent outside the Netherlands.

​It is not possible for a married woman (or man) to have her own last name changed to that of her (Dutch) spouse in the naturalisation procedure. This is because under Dutch law a person may not use the last name of his spouse in official documents. You may use the last name of your husband in everyday life.

​No, you cannot receive an exemption. The requirement is the satisfactory completion of a degree at an institution of learning above the elementary educational level. The preliminary phase of a professional or university degree (HBO or WO) is not a complete degree, it is only a portion of a degree.

Usually you can get proof from the foreign country where you lived that you were both registered in the persons administration there at the time the application for naturalisation was submitted. Unfortunately not all countries have a persons administration. If that is the case then there are also other documents that are acceptable. For example, a lease, bank statements or official documents from the Government/the authorities. It is important that both your names are on these documents, plus the address where you lived. Statements from family, friends or neighbours are not sufficient.

​The main rule is that you had a valid residence permit continuously for five years before you can become a naturalized citizen of the Netherlands. The 5 years begin all over again if you change your identity (your personal details). The new period starts on the day that your identity is changed in the Personal Records Database (BRP) of the municipality where you live. For example:

You have received a residence permit on 1 June 2015. You could apply for Dutch citizenship on or after 1 June 2020. But on 1 March 2017 you go to the municipality with a birth certificate. This birth certificate states a different name than on your residence permit. On 15 March 2017 the municipality changes your registration in the BRP to the name on the birth certificate you have submitted on 1 March 2017. You now have to wait until 15 March 2022 before you can apply for Dutch citizenship.

Sometimes no new term of 5 years is started after you change your identity. This is when the change is minimal. For example, a change in spelling from 'Mahammed' to 'Mohammed'. Or if you cannot be blamed for the change. For example, because you had a very good reason when you entered the Netherlands for not divulging your true identity. Or if the authorities in the country of origin previously made an error regarding your identity and this error has been adopted in the Netherlands by the municipality where you live. The IND takes a decision when processing your application for naturalisation whether you are to be blamed for the change of identity.

It is very important the your new details also appear on your residence permit. You have to have your residence permit renewed for this.

Whether you have the Dutch nationality by the fact that one of your (grand)parents is/was a Dutch national depend on various factors. You can become a Dutch citizen through birth or acknowledgement. It does not matter whether you were born in the Netherlands or abroad. Check for more information the page Dutch citizen by birth or acknowledgement. For an exact answer for your situation, you can contact your municipality. If you are residing outside the Netherlands you can contact the Dutch representatives (an embassy or a consulate) in your country of stay.

You can automatically lose your Dutch nationality by voluntarily taking another nationality. Find more information via Loss and the revoking of Dutch nationality.

​This depends on whether you are married and what country you would move to.

You are married or registered partners

Moving abroad will not change anything for the application for naturalisation. This only does not apply when you move to the country of your partner's nationality. You cannot become a Dutch citizen when living in the country of which you have the nationality. 

You are unmarried partners

A move abroad does have implications for the application for naturalisation. This is because as unmarried partners you must live together in the Netherlands for the entire naturalisation process.

​No. The Netherlands must be the designated country for the medical treatment. This means that you cannot get a comparable medical treatment in your own country or in another country that is more suitable to receive the medical treatment.

Before you leave the Netherlands you have to arrange a number of things. For example, deregistration with the municipality and handing in your residence document.

​Yes. You and your family members must meet the conditions for family reunification.

​You can get more information about benefits from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) and from your municipality.

Applying to social assistance benefits or other benefits from public funds may sometimes have consequences for your right of residence.

In the Netherlands you can find a house either through a housing cooperative or through a private landlord. For general information on buying and renting please go to the site www.rijksoverheid.nl.

​If your residence permit is still valid you may travel with your residence permit via 1 of the Schengen countries. If your residence permit is no longer valid, you are not allowed simply to travel via another country. It is best if you get in touch with the embassy or the consulate of the country you wish to stopover in. It may be that you need to have a visa.

​You have to leave the Netherlands before your residence permit expires. There is no departure period. If you remain in the Netherlands after your residence permit has expired you could receive a return decision or perhaps even an entry ban.

​The repatriation and return of foreign nationals is a joint process involving many different agencies: the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V), the Aliens Police, International Organisation for Migration, the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA), Royal Netherlands Marechaussee and the municipality where you live. Read more about Leaving the Netherlands.

​During your stay in the Netherlands for medical treatment your family members with independent residence permits are not allowed to work. On the residence permits the following employment status is stated: 'work not permitted' (in Dutch: 'arbeid niet toegestaan').

​Yes, but this will not stop the process of your removal. You will still be removed. Your complaint will perhaps be dealt with while you are already back in your country of origin.