Appointment for return visa

Last update: 28 October 2024

You are going on a trip abroad, but you temporarily do not have a valid residence permit. Or your residence permit expires while you are abroad. For the return trip to the Netherlands, you need a return visa (TKV). On this page you make an appointment to apply for a return visa.

When can you apply for a return visa

You can make an appointment for a return visa if the following applies to you:

Due to your nationality, you require a visa for the Schengen area. First go to Nederlandwereldwijd.nl and check whether or not you need a visa.

You have submitted one of the applications listed below. You have not yet received a decision or a new residence document:
- Application to stay with a Union citizen (verification against EU law).
- Application to stay with a Dutch Union citizen (verification against EU law).
- Application to stay with your minor Dutch child (Chavez).
- First application for residence permit for a child born in the Netherlands.
- Application for extension of your residence permit.
- Application for a different residence permit (change in purpose of stay).
- First application for a permanent residence permit (regular or asylum)
- Application for replacement because your residence document has been lost or stolen. You have a report of the loss or theft reported to the police.
- Application for replacement because your residence document is damaged or has the wrong personal details. You have to show this residence document.
- Your application for verification against EU law has been rejected. You registered an objection or appeal and you are allowed to await the procedure in the Netherlands.
You are in a different situation and you have an urgent reason to be travelling abroad.

Abroad without a valid residence permit

Are you currently abroad and is your residence permit no longer valid? Or has it been stolen or lost? Then u might need a return visa for your return trip to the Netherlands. In this case, you do not make an appointment at the IND. Please, check Netherlandsworldwide.nl for more information on how to apply for an entry visa abroad.

Sometimes you do not need a return visa

Are you not subject to a visa requirement? And is your residence permit no longer valid? Then you can travel back to the Netherlands during your visa-exempt term. For this, you do not need a return visa. Sometimes other authorities or organisations (such as an airline or customs) will nonetheless demand a return visa. Please check with the other authority or organisation before departure.

Make an appointment

You can choose which location you want to go to to apply for a return visa.

Make appointment at IND Desk or IND Service Point

Apply for return visa in Maastricht

Do you live in the province of Limburg? Then you can make an appointment at the Expat Centre Maastricht.

Make appointment in Maastricht

Pay for return visa

A return visa costs € 177,00. Turkish nationals and their family members with rights on the Association Agreement EG-Turkey pay € 52,00.

You pay the entire amount at the IND-desk or IND Service Point. The preferred way of payment is by debit card or contactless. But you can also pay with cash. Payment by credit card is not possible.

Sometimes a return visa is free of charge

You do not have to pay for a return visa in the following situations:

You have travelled to the Netherlands with a valid provisional residence permit (MVV). But your regular residence document is not ready yet.
You have submitted one of the following applications:
- Application to stay with a Union citizen (verification against EU law).
- Application to stay with a Dutch Union citizen (verification against EU law).
- Application to stay with your minor Dutch child (Chavez).
You have submitted an application. The statutory period has ended and the IND has not yet issued a decision. Read more on decision periods.
Your residence permit has been extended. The extension is valid for less than 1 month. You have therefore received a decision, but no residence document.
You have a valid diplomatic passport.
You are a family member of a EU, EEA or Swiss national. In a previous application, the IND has already determined that you fall under EU law.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has said that you do not need to pay any fees.
You fall under the Status of Moluccans Act ('Wet betreffende de positie van Molukkers').

Information about your appointment

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What to bring to your appointment
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Bring the following documents to your appointment:
- Your valid passport or other travel document.
- Your appointment code. This code is in the email you receive when you make an appointment online.
- Your (expired) residence document or your (old) Foreign Nationals Identity Document (type W or W2).
- Have you lost your residence document or Foreign Nationals Identity Document, or has it been stolen? Then bring the report of the loss or theft reported to the police.
Appointment for a child born in the Netherlands
As the parent of the child, you must bring the following documents to the appointment:
- Your valid passport or valid residence document.
- The child's valid passport, or the (copy of) birth certificate, or the (copy of) registration of the child in the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP) at the municipality.
Applying in person for return visa
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You must apply for the return visa yourself. You cannot have someone else do this for u. Children under 18 years are apply together with a parent or legal representative.
Decision on application return visa
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The IND will decide on your application immediately during the appointment. The decision will be either positive or negative. In the event of a positive decision, the return visa will be placed in your passport immediately. In the event of a negative decision, you will not receive a return visa.
Reschedule or cancel an appointment
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Have you made an appointment, but are you unable to attend? It is not possible to reschedule your appointment. There is a link in the email with the appointment confirmation. Click on that link and cancel your appointment. And then make a new appointment.
Have you made an appointment for multiple people? You can only cancel the entire appointment and not for just 1 person.
Travelling with a return visa
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With a return visa and a valid passport (or other travel document) you can travel back to the Netherlands. The return visa allows for you to travel through other Schengen countries. This is permitted during both the outbound trip and the return trip. You do not need any additional visa or permit for this. A return visa does not allow for you to stay in another Schengen country, such as on holiday.
Validity of a return visa
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A return visa is valid for up to 3 months. But this depends on your personal situation. Is your passport valid for a shorter period than that? Then the return visa will be valid until 1 month before the expiration date of your passport.
In the following situations, a return visa is valid for more than 3 months:
- You are waiting for a decision on your application to extend your residence permit for the purposes of study. You must remain abroad longer for your studies. The return visa is valid for up to 6 months.
- You have applied for a new permanent residence document. Your current permanent residence document is no longer valid. The visa is valid for up to 12 months.
- You are Moluccan. The visa can be issued for 12 months or more.
Rules and regulations
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A1/5.3 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines (Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000)

Appointment for return visa

When can you apply for a return visa

Abroad without a valid residence permit

Sometimes you do not need a return visa

Make an appointment

Apply for return visa in Maastricht

Pay for return visa

Sometimes a return visa is free of charge

Information about your appointment

What to bring to your appointment

Appointment for a child born in the Netherlands

Applying in person for return visa

Decision on application return visa

Reschedule or cancel an appointment

Travelling with a return visa

Validity of a return visa

Rules and regulations