Returning to the Netherlands
Requirements
Requirements if you were born in the Netherlands as a Dutch citizen
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone. If you do not have a valid passport or other travel documents the IND will not see this as a reason to reject your application.
- You have lived in the Netherlands with the Dutch nationality.
- You have finished a minimum of primary school in the Netherlands.
Requirements if you were born abroad as a Dutch citizen
- You are 18 years old or older.
- You do not live in the country of your nationality. For example, you have the Surinamese nationality and you do not live in Surinam.
- You have special ties to the Netherlands. For example, through education, upbringing or work. The special ties are shown in at least one of the following situations:
- As a Dutch citizen you finished a minimum of half of your primary education in the Netherlands, Caribbean Netherlands, or on Aruba, Curaçao, or Sint Maarten.
- As a minor, you finished a study programme that focused more on the Netherlands than was customary at the time in that country.
- You were employed as a public servant in the Netherlands. Or your work or social status is focused on the Netherlands.
- You passed the Civic Integration Exam Abroad (in Dutch: basisexamen inburgering buitenland). Or you have an exemption and do not need to take the examination.
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
Requirements if you have lost your Dutch nationality after your naturalisation:
- You are 18 years old or older.
- Your Dutch nationality was withdrawn because you did not give up your other nationality after you became a Dutch citizen. Or you gave up the Dutch nationality for that reason.
- You lived in the Netherlands for at least 3 consecutive years at the time you obtained the Dutch nationality. During that time, you had a valid residence permit or a valid residence under EU law.
- You did not live outside the Netherlands.
- You applied for a residence permit within 2 years after losing your Dutch nationality.
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
Requirements if you made a request to establish Dutch citizenship:
- You made a request under Section 17 of the Netherlands Nationality Act (in Dutch: Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap or RWN) to the District Court of The Hague (’s-Gravenhage).
- Your request demonstrates that there is a good chance that the court will decide that you are a Dutch citizen.
- The IND has decided that you may wait for the court’s decision in the Netherlands.
- You do not live outside the Netherlands.
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone. What if you do not have a valid passport or other travel documents? That is no reason for the IND to reject this application.
Requirements if you are a minor and have lived in the Netherlands:
- You are under the age of 18.
- Your reception and legal representation has been provided for in the Netherlands.
- You have lived in the Netherlands for at least 10 consecutive years, with the Dutch nationality, with a valid residence permit or under EU law. The Netherlands is likely the most appropriate country for you to live in, if the following applies to you. You did not live in the Netherlands for 10 years, but you did live in the Netherlands for 5 years right before you applied for this residence permit. The IND assesses this and looks at:
- why you are returning to the Netherlands;
- how long you have lived in the Netherlands and in your country of origin;
- your education in the Netherlands and abroad;
- your work experience in the Netherlands and abroad;
- your knowledge of the Dutch language;
- family members who live in the Netherlands; and
- previous attempts to return to the Netherlands.
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
Requirements if you have used Section 8 of the Repatriation Act (Rw) to return to the Netherlands:
- One of the following situations must apply to you:
- You are a returnee. This means that you used the Repatriation Act (in Dutch: Remigratiewet or Rw) to go and live in your country of origin.
- You are the partner of a returnee and left the Netherlands together. Before you left, you lived in the Netherlands for at least 3 years with a valid residence permit, under EU law or as a Dutch citizen.
- You are the child of a returnee and live together with your parents in the Netherlands. You are submitting the application together with one or both of your parents.
- You are the child of a returnee and lived with your parents in the Netherlands when you were under 18. You turned 18 years within 1 year of your departure from the Netherlands and want to return to the Netherlands independently.
- You are returning to the Netherlands within 1 year of your departure. Or you have submitted the application for the residence permit within 1 year of your departure.
- You have not used the Repatriation Act before to return to the Netherlands.
- You have passed the Civic Integration Exam Abroad (in Dutch: basisexamen inburgering buitenland). Or you have an exemption and you do not have to take the examination.
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
Process and costs
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1. Check requirements open minusA valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application. Except in de following 2 situations:
- You have lost your Dutch nationality after your naturalisation.
- You made a request to establish Dutch citizenship.
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 application form lists which documents you need. This form is only available in English. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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3. Apply open minusYou apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time at the Dutch representation (embassy or consulate) abroad.
Make appointment at Dutch embassy or consulate
Before you can apply for the MVV and the residence permit, you must make an appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of origin or country of residence.
The country of origin is the country of which you have the nationality. The country of residence is the country where you have been allowed to stay for more than 3 months, because you have a residence permit there or are waiting for a decision on your residence application. If there is no Dutch embassy or consulate in your country of origin or country of residence, you can make an appointment at the nearest Dutch embassy or consulate.
During appointment at Dutch embassy or consulate
Bring the completed application form, your passport photo and your valid passport with you to the appointment. In certain situations, you must bring extra documents with you. On the application form you will find out this applies to you. A staff member of the Dutch embassy or consulate will register your application and fill in the application date on the application form. The staff member also fills in the details of the Dutch embassy or consulate. Afterwards, you will get the form back. You will receive confirmation of receipt with your personal V-number.
The Dutch embassy or consulate will also take your biometric data: your fingerprints will be recorded and you will write down your signature. These data are needed for the residence permit.
Send application to IND
Has the application been filled in completely? And have you collected all required documents? Then you must send your own application including the documents to the IND in the Netherlands. You must do this within 3 weeks of the date that is stated on your application form by the embassy or consulate. You can find out on the form where you must send the application.
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3. Apply open minusYou can submit the application in writing by post. You do this within 3 months after you have travelled to the Netherlands.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 243,00. Do you come under Section 8 of the Repatriation Act? Then the application is free of charge. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs.
The application form explains how you must pay the costs. Pay the costs within 3 weeks of the date the Dutch embassy or consulate has filled in on your application form.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application usually costs € 243,00. Do you come under Section 8 of the Repatriation Act? Then a different amount applies. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs.
You will receive a letter which explains how you can pay.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 90 days. 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 you a letter.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 90 days. 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 you a letter.
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6. Decision on application open minusYou will receive a message with the decision. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get an MVV and a residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not receive an MVV and residence permit. You can object against this decision.
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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 receive a residence permit. You can object against this decision.
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7. Make appointment for MVV visa sticker and travel to the Netherlands open minusYou can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV.
Make appointment within 3 months of decision
You will have to make an appointment at the Dutch representation. This is the embassy or consulate where you submitted the application. You have to make the appointment within 3 months after the IND has taken a decision on your application.
Valid passport required
Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months when the Dutch representation places the MVV visa sticker in the passport. The MVV is valid for 90 days.
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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.
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8. 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
Written application forms
Written application forms
The residence permit
Other things you need to know about the residence permit:
TB Test
Did you indicate at the time of the application that you will take a tuberculosis (TB) test? Then make an appointment with the public health service (in Dutch: Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after you have received your residence permit. Take with you to the appointment:
Working with the residence permit
The back of your residence permit says ‘Free to work. Work permit not required (in Dutch: Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist). TWV stands for tewerkstellingsvergunning which means work permit in Dutch. You may work in the Netherlands without a work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV).
Legal obligations
You have an obligation to provide information. This means that you must notify the IND of 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, you may receive an administrative fine.
Validity of residence permit
The humanitarian non-temporary residence permit is valid for 5 years.
The residence permit issued when you are waiting for Dutch citizenship to be established is valid for 1 year. Or a shorter time if the court decides earlier.
The permanent residence period remains valid. You receive this only if you lived in the Netherlands as a minor. You must, however, extend the permanent residence permit every 5 years.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit humanitarian temporary is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
The residence permit humanitairian non-temporary is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
The permanent regular residence permit is type II.
The residence permit for long-term EU residents is type V.
Other applications
Replacement of residence permit
Has your residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Visit the web page residence permit damaged or change of details or residence permit lost or stolen.
Extension of residence permit
Will your residence permit expire soon? Then you can extend your residence permit.
Permanent residence permit
Have you had a residence permit for 5 consecutive years? Then you can apply for a permanent residence permit.