UK nationals in NL no longer need an invitation to apply for residency after Brexit

Last update: 12 October 2020

​All UK nationals and their family members living in the Netherlands who have not yet submitted an application for residency after Brexit should submit their application as soon as possible. You no longer need to wait for an invitation from the IND.

Please, submit your application on our Brexit website, before 31 December, 2020 and preferably earlier. In this way, the IND can still take a decision before the end of 2020. You and your family members can then demonstrate your right to continue living in the Netherlands from the beginning of 2021. According to the IND's records, several thousand UK nationals and their family members living in the Netherlands, have not yet applied for temporary or permanent residency after Brexit.

The IND is no longer sending out invitation letters

From 31 January 2020 (Brexit), the IND sent a letter inviting around 35,000 UK nationals and their family members living in the Netherlands to apply for a residence document online. This was so we could check and decide on applications from UK nationals who come under the Withdrawal Agreement* on time. The invitation letter (and in some cases an additional reminder letter) was sent to UK nationals and their family members who came to live in the Netherlands before 1 August 2020 and were registered in the Personal Records Database (Basisregistratie Personen or BRP) at their town hall.

Since August 2020, the IND is no longer inviting UK nationals to apply for a residence document. Are you a UK national and do you arrive in the Netherlands between 1 August and 31 December 2020? You and your family members can now apply immediately for residency if you have not already done so. This also applies if you came to live here earlier but did not receive an invitation. Or if you for some reason have lost your invitation.

*Different provisions apply to UK nationals who already have permanent EU residency. Or if you come to live in the Netherlands from 1 January 2021. Please visit our Brexit website for further information.

Brexit phone line

Due to the coronavirus crisis, these are difficult and uncertain times. It is important to notify the IND if for any reason you are not able to submit an application on time. Staff from the IND's dedicated Brexit phone line are happy to answer your questions regarding applications for residency after Brexit. The Brexit line is available from Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 17.00 on +31 (0)88 04 30410.

More information

Find out further information about applying for temporary or permanent residency after Brexit, making a biometrics appointment and delivery of residence documents on our Brexit website