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Appointment for return visa

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On this page you make an appointment to apply for a return visa.

What is a return visa?

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). Together with a valid passport, the return visa allows entrance to the Netherlands.

Do you still have a valid residence permit when you travel back to the Netherlands? Then you do not need a return visa.

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Are you currently abroad and is your residence permit no longer valid?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 you might need an entry 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.

When can you apply for a return visa

  • You have a nationality that requires 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. And you have not yet received a decision or a new residence document.
  • Or you are in a different situation and you have an urgent reason to be travelling abroad.

Sometimes you do not need a return visa

Are you not subject to a visa requirement? And are you awaiting a first application for residence, or is has your current residence permit expired? Then you can travel back to the Netherlands within your visa-exempt term. You do not need a return visa.

Are you unsure whether or not you will be travelling within your visa-exempt term? Or does another organisation require a return visa, such as an airline or customs authorities? Then it is advisable to apply for a return visa nonetheless. Please check this with the other organisation before departure.

Make an appointment

The return visa is valid for a maximum of 3 months. And becomes effective on the date of your appointment. Therefore, do not schedule your appointment earlier than two weeks before your departure abroad.

You can choose which location you want to go to.

Apply for return visa in Amsterdam, Den Haag, 's-Hertogenbosch, Zwolle or Utrecht

Would you like to apply for a return visa at an IND Desk in Amsterdam, Den Haag, 's-Hertogenbosch or Zwolle? Or at an Expat Centre in Utrecht? Then you can make an appointment at the IND. 

Make appointment at IND

Apply for return visa in Goes

Do you live in the province of Zeeland or a municipality in the Brabantse Wal? Then you can make an appointment at the IND Service Point in Goes.

Make appointment in Goes

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

Apply for return visa in Nijmegen

Do you live in the Nijmegen or Arnhem area? Then you can make an appointment at the IND Service Point in Nijmegen.

Make appointment in Nijmegen

Pay for return visa

A return visa costs € 197,00. Turkish nationals and their family members with rights on the Association Agreement EG-Turkey pay € 57,00.

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:

Information about your appointment

 

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.
  • Do or did you already have a residence permit in the Netherlands? Or a Foreign Nationals Identity Document (VI) type W or W2? Then bring your (expired) residence document or VI.
  • Have you lost your residence document or Foreign Nationals Identity Document (VI) type W or W2? Or has it been stolen? Then bring the report of the loss or theft reported to the police.
  • Are you applying for a return visa for business or urgent reasons? Then bring documents showing why you have to travel abroad, what your date of departure is, and what date you will be travelling back to the Netherlands.

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.

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.

The IND usually decides 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. The visa is valid from the date of the appointment. In the event of a negative decision, you will not receive a return visa.

Is the IND not able to decide on your application immediately because more research is needed? Then you will receive a letter with the decision within 2 weeks after your appointment. 

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.

A return visa and a valid passport (or other travel document) allow you to travel back to the Netherlands. Usually, a return visa is a 'single-entry' visa. It means you can use it to travel to the Netherlands only once.

A return visa is only valid for returning to the Netherlands. You are not allowed to stay in another Schengen country for a holiday using this visa. You are allowed to travel through other Schengen countries using a return visa without needing an additional visa. Both on your outbound and return journeys

Are you traveling via a country that is not part of the Schengen Area? Or do you want to go on holiday to another (Schengen) country? Check with the embassy or consulate of that country to see if you need an additional visa.

 

The return visa is valid from the date of your appointment. And will be placed in your passport during the appointment.

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 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 applied for extension of your residence permit for the purpose of study. You have not yet received a decision. You have to go abroad for your studies for a longer period of time. The return visa is valid for up to 6 months.
  • You have applied for renewal of your permanent residence document. The permanent residence document that you currently hold is no longer valid. The return visa is valid for up to 12 months.
  • You are Moluccan. The return visa can be issued for 12 months or more.

A1/5.3 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines (Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000)​

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