You want to voluntarily leave the Netherlands and return to your country of origin. Or you want to go live in another country. What should you do before you leave? Where can you get help for the return to your country of origin?
In your municipality, you are registered with the Personal Records Database (BRP) as a resident. Before you leave, you must therefore deregister with the municipality. You do this by informing the Civil Affairs Department (burgerzaken) of your municipality that you are leaving the Netherlands. The municipality will notify the IND about your deregistration.
If you have notified the municipality, prior to your departure, that you are leaving the Netherlands, then it is not necessary for you to also report this to the IND.
Did you not notify the municipality that you are emigrating? Please use the Notification form for foreign nationals or one the notification forms for sponsors (depending on your purpose of stay).
If you did not notify the municipality and did not report your leaving the Netherlands to the IND, then de IND can impose a fine.
Your residence document is the property of the Dutch government. You must, therefore, return your residence document before you leave the Netherlands. You can send your document to:
IND Bureau Documenten
P.O. Box 7025
8007 HA Zwolle
Kindly make the document invalid before mailing it. You can do this by making a cut in the document or perforate it. Please do not cut the document in half.
It is also possible to hand in your residence document at the IND desk in your region. Please call us to make an appointment.
It is important that you leave the Netherlands on time. Leaving the Netherlands on time, means that you leave before your residence permit is no longer valid. If your residence permit is no longer valid, you are no longer entitled to stay.
If you remain illegally in the Netherlands, the AVIM (police) or Marechaussee can impose a return decision. The return decision may state that you have to leave within 4 weeks, but it could also state that you have to leave the Netherlands immediately. You can also get an entry ban for Europe. This does not apply to EU/EEA citizens and their family members.
There are a number of organisations that can help you in your departure from the Netherlands. Information about remigration in general can be obtained from the Netherlands Migration Institute (NMI). You can also call the NMI: 030-236 4245.
Sometimes you can use a repatriation scheme. For information on the repatriation scheme of the Repatriation Act, please contact the Social Insurance Bank (SVB). You can also call the SVB: 071-512 9610.
There are several projects in the Netherlands that can help you organise your repatriation and organise your future in your country of origin. The projects offer appropriate return assistance and opportunities for reintegration in various countries.
In order to leave the Netherlands, you need a valid passport or another travel document. If your passport or other travel document is no longer valid, please contact the embassy or consulate of your country.
Mediation from DT&V to get new travel documents
If you are unable to obtain a travel document from your embassy or consulate, the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V) can help you by mediating on your behalf. You can submit a request for mediation to the DT&V.
You must leave the Netherlands if you are in the Netherlands illegally. You can leave the Netherlands voluntarily. If you do not leave voluntarily, you will be deported from the Netherlands.
If you remain illegally in the Netherlands, the AVIM or Royal Netherlands Marechaussee can impose a return decision. The return decision may state that you have to leave within 4 weeks but it could also state that you have to leave the Netherlands immediately. You can also get an entry ban for Europe. This does not apply to EU/EEA citizens and their family members.
In order to leave the Netherlands to travel to your home country or another country you need a valid passport or other travel document. Is your passport or other travel document no longer valid? You can apply for a new passport at the embassy or consulate of your country.
Mediation from DT&V to get new travel documents
Are you not able to get a travel document? You can ask the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V) to help you. DT&V then applies for a replacement travel document at the embassy or consulate of your country. This replacement travel document is called a laissez-passer.
The embassy or consulate will first investigate your nationality and identity. Usually this is done by a 'presentation in person'. This means that you have an interview at the embassy or consulate. The embassy or consulate can thus determine if you are a national of that country. Sometimes, an additional investigation is done by the embassy or consulate in the country of origin. Once the embassy or consulate determines that you are a citizen of their country, you will get a travel document.
There are a number of organisations that can help you in your departure from the Netherlands.
There are several projects in the Netherlands that can help you organise your repatriation and organise your future in your country of origin. The projects offer appropriate return assistance and opportunities for reintegration in various countries.
Return via the International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) assists foreign nationals who must leave the Netherlands. IOM assists in a voluntary return to the country of origin. IOM also assists in departure to a country other than your country of origin. You must have obtained a residence permit in this other country then. This is called onward migration.
In some cases, IOM offers a repatriation scheme. You can get a plane ticket with this scheme. IOM can also refund the expenses that you make travelling from the airport to your destination. You can also get a sum of money that helps you to pay the costs of your livelihood during the first period after returning to your home country.
The repatriation scheme is mainly intended for foreign nationals who stay in the Netherlands with the consent of the Government after a first application for a residence permit is rejected. Did you not not have permission from the Government to stay in the Netherlands? You might be able to participate in the repatriation scheme. There will first be an individual assessment to see if you are allowed to use the repatriation scheme.
If you want to use the repatriation scheme of IOM, then you must follow the following procedure:
If you still have on-going procedures for a residence permit, you must first cancel this.
More information is available via IOM.
If you can return to your home country within a very short time, you will be brought to a removal centre. You will leave the Netherlands from the removal centre. You may not leave the removal centre.
If return to your country of origin is not immediately possible, you can be put in a detention for foreign nationals. You will be put in detention for foreign nationals if there is a danger that you will not report to the Aliens Police (AVIM).
You generally leave the Netherlands by plane. You will be accompanied by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.
Appeal against detention of foreign nationals
You can submit an appeal against the detention for foreign nationals by filing a notice of appeal to the District Court in the Hague.
The appeal can be submitted by:
In an appeal to the District Court against the detention for foreign nationals, you must have a lawyer. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be assigned to you.
AVIM (Foreign National's Identification and Human trafficking Unit) is part of the Dutch police department. Until 2015 the unit was called Aliens Police (Vreemdelingenpolitie). AVIM supervises foreign nationals in the Netherlands. AVIM is located in almost every Dutch municipality.
You can reach AVIM via the general number for the police. In the Netherlands: 0900-8844. From abroad or with a foreign mobile phone: +31-343 57 8844.
The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee or Kmar) is a police department with military status. The Kmar is part of the Ministry of Defence, but also works for the Ministry of Security and Justice.
The Kmar has several tasks. Among other things the Kmar oversees the compulsory departure of foreign nationals without a residence permit and escorts them during their journey to their country of origin.