Apply for a residence permit for long-term EU residents
For whom is the application for long-term EU residents?
You have the nationality of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland. You want to live indefinitely in the Netherlands.
You have a temporary residence permit with a non-temporary residence purpose. Or you have a permanent residence permit. With the permit for long-term EU residents you can apply more easily for a residence permit in one of the other EU countries with a residence permit for long-term residents.
Requirements
These are the requirements for a residence permit for long-term EU residents:
- You have lived in the Netherlands with a valid Dutch residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years. In these 5 years, you have not been outside the Netherlands for a period longer than 6 consecutive months. In total, you have not been outside the Netherlands for more than 10 months.
Or:
- You have a valid European Blue Card and all of these situations apply to you:
- At the time you apply for a long-term EU residence permit, you lived in the Netherlands for at least 2 consecutive years. During this period, you had a valid Blue Card. Prior to that, you lived in another EU country outside of the Netherlands for at least 12 consecutive months, with a valid Blue Card.
- You lived in the European Union for at least 5 consecutive years with a valid residence permit. During this period, you may have lived in different countries of the EU. The minimal stay of 5 years counts the period that you lived in an EU country with a:
- European Blue Card
- Permit for a highly skilled job
- Research permit
- Asylum permit
- Study permit. You may count this period for 50%.
- In those 5 years, you have not been outside the European Union for a period longer than 12 consecutive months. In total, you have not been outside the European Union for more than 18 months.
Or:
- You have lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years with a valid residence permit. You currently have a valid European Blue Card. In these 5 years, you have not been outside the Netherlands for a period longer than 12 consecutive months. In total, you have not been outside the Netherlands for more than 18 months.
Other requirements you also have to meet
- You have always met the requirements for your residence permit or residence document. And you still meet these requirements.
- You now have one of the following residence permits or residence documents.
- a permanent residence permit (type II or type IV).
- a temporary residence permit (type I). This residence permit cannot have a temporary residence purpose.
Did you previously have a residence permit for study? Half of these years count. Did you previously have an other residence permit for a temporary purpose? These years do not count. The temporary purposes of residence are:- seasonal labour
- intra-corporate transfer
- cross-border services
- trainee and apprentice (gaining work experience)
- orientation year for highly educated persons
- au pair
- exchange (Working Holiday and cultural exchange)
- a temporary asylum residence permit (type III) based on international protection. Or you have a temporary asylum residence permit (type III) because your family member has a permit based on international protection.
- You meet the income requirements.
- You meet the civic integration requirement.
- You are registered in the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP). This is the population register of the area where you live.
- You have a valid passport or other travel document.
- You are not a danger to public order or national security.
Permanent residence permit
Do you have a temporary residence permit with a non-temporary residence purpose? And do you not meet the requirements for a residence permit for long-term EU residents? Then you may be eligible for a permanent residence permit.
Process and costs
These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit.
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1. Check requirements open minusA valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application
Make sure you meet the requirements.
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1. Check requirements open minusMake sure you meet the requirements.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe written application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply. You can upload the documents in the online application.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe written application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply. You can upload the documents in the online application.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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3. Apply open minusYou can submit the application online or in writing by post.
Your residence permit must still be valid when you apply. You can apply from 3 months before your current residence permit expires.
Have you already lived in the Netherlands with a residence permit for more than 5 years? Then you can choose when to apply yourself. You do not have to wait until your residence permit has almost expired.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 243,00. Are you younger than 18 years old? Then, a different fee applies. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs.
When you apply online, you pay the fee immediately with iDEAL internet banking. Are you applying in writing? Then you will receive a letter which explains how you can pay.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusYou may await the processing of your application in the Netherlands. The IND must take a decision within 6 months. This is called the decision period.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send a message.
Follow the application in My IND.
IND late with decision
Has the decision period passed and you still have not received a decision on your application? Find out what you can do if the IND is late deciding.
Working during the application
The back of your current residence document states whether you are allowed to work and whether you need a work permit (TWV). This is the employment status. Did you apply before the end date of your current permit? Then you will keep the employment status on your current residence document while your application is being processed. Even if your permit expires in the meantime and you have not yet received a new residence document.
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6. Decision on application open minusYou will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: You will get a residence permit.
- Negative decision: You will not get a residence permit. You can object to this decision.
Permanent or extension
What if you do not meet the requirements for a long-term EU resident? And you do not have a permanent residence permit yet? Then we will check if you meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit. What if you do not meet these requirements either? Then we will see if we can extend your residence permit. You do not need submit another application for this.
Residence document as a family member of a minor Dutch child
Do you have a residence document for residency as a family member of a minor Dutch child (Chavez)? And do you not meet the requirements for a long-term EU resident? Then you cannot have other permanent residency. Is your current residence document about to expire? Then you can extend the residence document. Or check whether you meet the requirements for another residence permit.
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7. Collect residence permit open minusWhen the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.
Application forms
You can submit this application online. You need DigiD with SMS verification and internet banking (iDEAL). Do you have an asylum residence permit (type III or IV)? Then use the written application form.
Online application form application regular permanent residence or EU-long term resident
Written application forms
The residence permit
Find out what else you need to know about the residence permit
Working with the residence permit
You are free to work in the Netherlands with the residence permit for long-term EU residents. Your employer does not need a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV) for you. The back of the residence document says in Dutch ‘Arbeid vrij toegestaan, TWV niet vereist’. (Free to work. Work permit not required.)
Legal obligations
You have an obligation to provide information. This means you must inform the IND of any changes in your situation. Find out more about your obligation to provide information.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. If you do not do, you may get an administrative fine.
Validity of residence permit
A residence permit for long-term EU residents does not have an expiry date. The residence document is valid for 5 years and you can renew it every 5 years.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type V, residence permit for long-term residents.
Other applications
Replace residence permit
Has the residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Visit the web page residence permit damaged or change details or residence permit lost or stolen.
Extend the residence document
Will the residence document expire soon? Then you can extend the residence document.
See also
- Permanent residence permit
- Living in the Netherlands
- Travelling with a residence permit and return visa
- Apply for a regular permanent residence permit
- Apply for a permanent asylum residence permit
- Becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation
Rules and regulations
- Chapter 3, Subsection 5 Aliens Act (Vreemdelingenwet 2000)
- D1 Aliens Act Implementation Guidelines (Vreemdelingencirculaire 2000)
