Main residency
Situations of moving main residency
In the following situations the IND may assume that you have moved your main residency outside the Netherlands.
- You have been abroad longer than allowed. How long you may stay abroad depends on the type of right of residence you have.
- When you left the Netherlands, you used a remigration scheme. For example, a scheme under the Remigration Act (in Dutch: Remigratiewet or Rw).
- Signals about changes in your situation, for instance:
- You are no longer registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) of your local council (in Dutch: gemeente). Find out more about the BRP on www.government.nl.
- You have been deregistered from the Tax and Customs Administration (in Dutch: Belastingdienst) before departure abroad.
- The Aliens Police (AVIM) have been notified of your departure abroad.
- You resign or are dismissed, or your employer’s business stops. Or you stop your own business.
- You cancel a bank or giro account.
- You regularly (periodically) have money transferred to an address outside the Netherlands.
- You buy off your pension rights.
- Your home in the Netherlands has been emptied and your home contents (possessions) have been moved abroad.
- Your home in the Netherlands has been let or sublet to other people.
Consequences of moving your main residency
Does the IND consider that you have moved your main residency abroad? In that case the IND can withdraw your residence permit. The IND can also decide not to extend your residence permit. Do you have a right of residence in the Netherlands under EU-rules? When moving main residency you will lose your right of residence.
Type of right of residence and rules on moving main residency
The period you may remain abroad depends on the type of right of residence you have. See for each type of right of residence when the IND considers that your main residency has been moved.
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Temporary or permanent residence permit regular
open minus- You have been outside the Netherlands for more than 6 continuous months. The IND counts these 6 months per calendar year (January to December). We do not add up separate periods. Your stay outside the Netherlands was not due to force majeure, but your own choice.
- For 3 years in a row, you have been outside of the Netherlands for more than 4 continuous months. The IND counts these 4 months per calendar year (January to December). We do not add up separate periods. You have moved the centre of your activities abroad. This means that you cannot prove that you carry out the largest part of your activities in the Netherlands. The IND looks at this per person.
Examples of moving main residency
- You were outside the Netherlands from 1 April 2024 to 1 November 2024. This is more than continuous 6 months.
- In 2021, 2022 and 2023, you were outside the Netherlands from 1 July to 1 December. This is more than 4 continuous months for 3 calendar years in a row.
Examples of not moving main residency
- You were outside the Netherlands from 1 November 2023 to 1 June 2024. This is more than 6 continuous months. However, these months are not in the same calendar year: therefor the period from 1 November to 1 January doesn't count.
- In 2021, 2022 and 2023, you were outside the Netherlands from 1 December to 1 May. This is more than 4 continuous months (December to April, inclusive) for 3 years in a row. However, these months are not in the same calendar year: therefor the period from 1 December to 1 January doesn't count. This means that you were outside the Netherlands for 4 continuous months (1 January to 1 May) for 3 calendar years in a row, but not more than 4 months.
Exceptions for temporary residence permits regular
In the following situations, you have not moved your main residency:
Residence permit for study
You may stay outside the Netherlands for a maximum of 1 continuous year. This is allowed if you are temporarily going abroad for education so you can complete your studies in the Netherlands. Your residence permit must be valid during the entire period abroad. Are you going to study temporarily in a different EU country? And has your educational institution notified the IND of this? In that case you will be allowed to study in the other country for a maximum of 360 days in total. We add up any separate periods.
Residence permit as a highly skilled migrant and scientific researcher under Directive 2005/71/EC or researcher under Directive 2016/801
You may stay outside the Netherlands for a maximum of 8 months per 12 months. But only if this is for work purposes. We add up any separate periods. You must continue to meet the requirements of your residence permit. Does your employer in the Netherlands send you to another EU member state to work there? Then you will be seconded. As a seconded employee, you may stay in the other EU country for longer than 8 months. Your employer must report this to the IND in time.
Residence permit for intra-EU-mobility
Are you temporarily going to another EU country for intra-EU-mobility? In that case you may temporarily deregister from the BRP. Your employer, educational institution or research institution must notify the IND of this in time.
Residence permit as a foreign investor
You are allowed to stay outside the Netherlands for a total of 8 out of 12 months. We add up separate periods. You must still meet the requirements of your residence permit.
Residence permit for intra-corporate transferee (Directive 2014/66/EU)
Do you work in a different EU country with a residence permit for short-term or long-term mobility? Then you do not move your main residency.
Partner of posted official at Dutch embassy or consulate
Are you the (married) partner of an official who is/has been posted at a Dutch embassy or consulate abroad? And does this official fall under the supplementary collective agreement for central government staff posted abroad (in Dutch: ACRU)? Then you do not move your main residency.
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Temporary or permanent residence permit asylum
open minusDo you have an asylum permit? And are you going to live abroad? Then the IND can assess whether you still need asylum protection. The IND assesses this on a case-by-case basis.
Would you like to know more? Then ask for advice from a legal assistance provider, such as an asylum lawyer or Legal Services Counter (Juridisch Loket). -
Residence permit for long-term EU residents
open minusThe IND assumes that you have moved your main residency in the following situations:
- You have been outside the EU, EEA or Switzerland for more than 12 continuous months. The period of 12 months will start again after a stay of a few days in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
- You have been outside the Netherlands for more than 6 continuous years, but within the EU, EEA or Switzerland. The period of 6 years will start again after a stay of a few days in the Netherlands.
Exceptions
In the following situations, you have not moved your main residency:
- You are staying in another Member State of the EU/EEA or in Switzerland for more than 6 years for study purposes.
- You have been in one of the Schengen countries for 12 months or longer. And you have not been outside the Netherlands for more than 6 continuous years.
- You previously had a European blue card or were a family member of the holder of a European blue card. And you show that you have not been outside the Schengen Area for more than 24 continuous months.
- You have been deregistered from the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP). This usually has no consequences for your status as a long-term EU resident.
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Residency under EU rules
open minusYou are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. Or you are the family member of an EU, EER or Swiss citizen. You have a right of residence in the Netherlands under EU rules. The period during which you are allowed to stay outside the Netherlands depends on the reason for your absence from the Netherlands. In the following situations the IND assumes that you have moved your main residency and you lose your right of residence:
- You are outside the Netherlands for more than 6 months out of a period of 12 months (we add up separate periods). And you do not have an important reason for this absence from the Netherlands.
- You have an important reason for your absence from the Netherlands or you are assigned to work abroad temporarily. But you are outside the Netherlands for more than 12 continuous months. Important reasons are for example: pregnancy, childbirth, serious illness, study or vocational training.
Are you staying outside the Netherlands for military obligations? In that case, the IND does not assume that you have moved your main residency.
Permanent residency under EU rules
You are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. Or you are the family member of an EU. EER or Swiss citizen. You have a permanent right of residence in the Netherlands under EU-rules The IND assumes that you have moved your permanent residency if you have been outside the Netherlands for more than 2 continuous years. Then you have lost your right of residence.
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Right of residence under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement
open minusYou are a UK citizen or the family member of a UK citizen. You have a residence document ‘Residence Document Withdrawal Agreement’ for temporary residency in the Netherlands. The IND will withdraw your right of temporary residence if you have moved your main residency. In the following situations the IND assumes that you have moved your main residency:
- From 1 October 2023: You are outside the Netherlands for more than 6 months out of a period of 12 months (we add up separate periods). And you do not have an important reason for this long absence from the Netherlands. For example, pregnancy, childbirth, serious illness, study or vocational training.
- From 1 April 2024: You are outside the Netherlands for more than 12 continuous months.
Permanent residency Brexit Withdrawal Agreement
You are a UK citizen or the family member of a UK citizen. You have a residence document ‘Permanent residence document Withdrawal Agreement’ for permanent residency in the Netherlands. The IND assumes that you have moved your main residency if you have been outside the Netherlands for more than 5 continuous years. If so, the IND will withdraw your right of residence.