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Permanent asylum residence permit

Have you had a temporary asylum residence permit for 5 years and would you like to continue to live permanently in the Netherlands? Then you can apply for a permanent asylum residence permit. What are the conditions to obtain this residence permit? And how does the application procedure work?

Conditions

You have to meet the following conditions to obtain a permanent asylum residence permit:

  • From the moment the IND takes a decision regarding your application, you have had a temporary asylum residence permit for 5 years. Your temporary asylum residence permit is still valid when you submit your application for permanent asylum.

  • You still meet the conditions for a temporary asylum residence permit.

  • You are registered in the Personal Records Database of the municipality where you live. You do not need to prove this yourself. The IND checks whether you meet this condition.

  • You have a civic integration diploma or you are exempt from having to take the civic integration exam.

  • You have not provided any incorrect information or hidden any information that could cause the IND to reject your application for asylum.

  • You are not a danger to the public order or national security.

When can I apply for a permanent asylum residence permit?

When you can apply for a permanent asylum residence permit depends on your situation.

Are you extending your residence permit for the first time?

Then you can submit an application from 6 months before your residence permit expires.

Have you previously extended your residence permit?

And have you lived continuously and lawfully in the Netherlands for 5 years? If you fulfil the conditions for permanent asylum, you can submit an application at any time. In this case you do not need to wait until your current residence permit expires.

You need to submit an application while your temporary asylum residence permit is still valid. In this way you prevent problems and ensure that you can legally stay in the Netherlands. Are you submitting the application too late? Then you can lose your right to protection and other provisions in the Netherlands. The IND can also revoke your residence permit.

My residence permit is no longer valid. What should I do?

If your residence permit is no longer valid, you must request an extension as soon as possible. Did your residence permit expire before 1 October 2018? Then you may have a gap in your residence. Send a covering letter together with your application in which you explain why you are too late with your application.  

When will a decision be taken regarding my application?

The IND has 6 months to take a decision regarding your application. This period is called the decision period. The start date of the decision period is different in every case. This is because it depends on the date on which the IND receives your application.

Did you submit the application in the period between 4 weeks and 1 day before your residence permit expires?

The decision period starts when the IND receives your application. For example, your residence permit expires on 29 March. You submit an application on 25 March. Then the IND has 6 months from 25 March to take a decision.

Did you submit the application in the period between 6 months and 4 weeks before your residence permit expires?

The IND sets the start date of your application at 4 weeks before your residence permit expires. For example, your residence permit expires on 29 March. You submit an application on 21 February. The IND has 6 months from 1 March to take a decision.

The IND starts to consider your application only once your residence permit has expired. This is because it is only then that you have lawfully lived in the Netherlands for 5 years.

Costs

This application costs € 171.

  • Children under 18 pay € 57.

Apply online

You can submit this application online. For the online application you need:

Do you not yet have a DigiD? You can apply for a DigiD on www.digid.nl. If you have a DigiD, but have not yet set up SMS code verification, you can activate this on MijnDigiD.

Help logging in with DigiD + SMS and the DigiD app

  • Information about DigiD + SMS: see the explanation on DigiD for more information in different languages (Dutch, English, French and Arabic).
  • Information about the DigiD app: see the explanation in the DigiD app for more information (in Dutch and English).

Start the online application by clicking the Apply online button below.

Apply online

Checklist documents

The application form lists the documents that you have to enclose with the application.

Long-term EC resident

Would you like to apply for a residence permit as long-term EC resident? Submit your application via post.

Steps in the application process

1. Submit application and payment

Online
You can submit your application online. For this purpose, you need a DigiD with SMS code verification. You will need to pay the application costs immediately using iDEAL. Start your application by clicking on the Apply online button above. You can also find the button in the section Application forms and costs below.


Via post
You cannot or prefer not to submit your application online? Then send your application by post. You can find the application form on this page under Application forms and costs. Send the completed application form together with the required documents to the IND. After IND has received your application it will send you a letter stating how the fees are to be paid.

2. Receipt and check application

After your application has been received, the IND sends you a confirmation letter. The confirmation letter indicates the date on which the IND received your application. It also states the period within which the IND has to assess your application. This is the called the decision period.

Once you have received the confirmation letter, you can provide your biometric information at an IND desk. Please make an appointment online.

The IND will first check to see if your application is complete and that you have paid the fees. Are any documents missing, or is something incorrect? If so, the IND will send you a letter with a request to rectify the omission. This letter lists the documents that still need to be sent. Send the documents requested to the IND before the date specified.

3. Working during your application

​You currently have a temporary asylum residence permit. You can work as long as this permit is valid. You can also work while your application is being considered. Please note that your employer can sometimes ask for a valid residence document. If so, you can apply for an identity document for foreign nationals type W. This document states that you can work while your application is being considered. Are you unsure whether you need this document? Contact your employer. You do not need to have a work permit.

Request the identity document for foreign nations type W between 8 and 4 weeks before your residence permit expires. Then you can collect the document before your residence permit expires. When you collect the identity document for foreign nationals type W, you have to hand in your temporary residence permit, even if it is still valid.

4. Decision

​The IND checks to see whether you meet all the conditions. The IND has to make a decision within a period of 6 months.

  1. The IND will first check if you meet the conditions for a permanent asylum residence permit.
  2. Do you not meet the conditions for a permanent stay? The IND will check to see if you meet the conditions to extend your temporary asylum residence permit. You do not have to submit a new application for this.

You will receive a decision on your application following this assessment.

  • Negative decision

If you do not meet the conditions for permanent stay, you will not be given a residence permit. This decision is given in the form of a letter: the intended decision. The IND explains why you have not been given a residence permit. Do you disagree with the intended decision? You can write to the IND explaining why you do not agree. You must do this within 6 weeks. You can ask a lawyer to help you with this. You have to arrange this yourself.

The IND will assess your view given in your letter. There are then 2 possible outcomes:

    • The IND rejects your application.
      This decision is given in the form of a letter: the formal decision. You are not given a permanent asylum residence permit. You will receive information about the possibility to appeal. The IND does, however, extend the validity of your temporary asylum residence permit for the period of 5 years.

    • The IND does not give you a permanent asylum residence permit.
      This decision is given in the form of a letter: the formal decision. The IND also informs you about your rights and obligations.

  • Positive decision

If you meet all the conditions, you will be given a permanent asylum residence permit. This decision is given in the form of a letter: the formal decision. It also includes information about your rights and obligations. At the same time, your residence document will be prepared.  The IND will send you a letter to inform you when you can collect your residence permit.

Application forms and costs

Aanvraag Verlenging verblijfsvergunning asiel bepaalde tijd; of Verblijfsvergunning asiel onbepaalde tijd; of EU-verblijfsvergunning voor langdurig ingezetenen (foreign national)6011

​Use this form for the extension of your residence permit asylum, to apply for a permanent residence permit asylum or to apply for a residence permit long term resident EC. This form is only available in Dutch.

Checklist documents

The application form lists the documents that you have to enclose with the application. 

How to send documents to the IND:

  • You only send copies of your documents, single-sided and on A4 paper.
  • The copies must be complete and legible.
  • Write down your V-number or client number on each copy. If you do not know these numbers, then please write your name and date of birth on each copy.
  • Do not send USB sticks, CDs or DVDs.
  • You keep the original documents yourself. You have to show these documents to the Dutch representation abroad.
  • Documents have to be translated to Dutch, English, French or German.

Costs application

You do not have to pay for the application for extension of your temporary residence permit asylum.

For a permanent residence permit asylum or a residence permit long term resident EC you pay € 171. Children under 18 pay € 57.

Apply online  Download  

After the application

Collect your residence permit

The IND aims to have your residence permit ready within 2 weeks following your arrival in the Netherlands. The IND will send you a letter indicating when you can collect your residence permit. For this, you have to make an appointment online at the IND desk stated in the letter. Keep in mind that it is not always possible to visit an IND desk at short notice. Therefore, please schedule an appointment in time, but at least within 4 months after having received the letter.

Check to see if the information on your residence permit is correct while you are still at the IND desk. If something is incorrect, please inform the IND staff member at once.

Validity residence permit

A permanent residence permit has no end date. The residence document itself will always be issued for 5 years and can be renewed every 5 years. 

Right to work

The back of your residence permit shows if you are allowed to work. A permanent residence permit allows you to freely work in the Netherlands. Your employer does not have to have a TWV for you. Your residence permit states 'arbeid vrij toegestaan, TWV niet vereist' (work freely permitted, no work permit required).

Rights

Having a permanent residence document means you nearly have all the same rights as someone with Dutch nationality. The main differences are that you are not allowed to vote in national elections and you are not allowed to work in specific (Government) fields (such as the police, the army). You first have to apply for Dutch nationality for this. 

Legal obligations

There are a number of legal obligations you have to meet. 

The IND monitors your compliance with these legal obligations. Failure to meet these legal obligations may have consequences. 

Further applications

Replacement of residence permit

Is your residence permit damaged, lost or stolen? In that case, have the residence permit replaced.

Renew permanent residence permit

A permanent asylum residence document is always issued for 5 years. When it expires, you must apply for a renewal.

Becoming a Dutch citizen

After having had a residence permit for a period of 5 years, you may apply for Dutch citizenship. 

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Public order

Public order is peace and order on the street and in public spaces. The government organises and controls this peace and order in society. Someone who is a danger to the public order is someone who disrupts this order, for example, someone who commits an offence. The IND therefore checks whether an individual has any registered convictions. We also check whether that person is currently a serious threat to society.

DigiD with SMS code

Nowadays you can arrange many things yourself on government websites. With DigiD you log in to your personal account on government websites. Your DigiD consists of a username and password that you both choose yourself. Don't have a DigiD yet? Request this on www.digid.nl.

​To apply for a residence permit online you need to have a DigiD with SMS code. After logging in with your DigiD you will receive an SMS with a code. You will have to fill out this code as well to get access to the online application forms.

Do you have a DigiD but no SMS code verification? Please go to Mijn DigiD and log in. Choose 'Extra sms-controle aanvragen' and enter your mobile phone number. Within 5 days you receive a letter with an activation code. Activate the sms control functionality on the website of DigiD with this activation code.

TWV

​A TWV is a work permit. The employer applies for a TWV with UWV (Netherlands Employees Insurance Agency). UWV examines among other things if there is no employee with the Dutch, EU/EEA or Swiss nationality that is qualified for the job.