Frequently asked questions

If you wish to stay in the Netherlands after your studies, you have to apply for a new residence permit. As a graduate you can make use of the orientation year for graduates. With your permit for the orientation year you have one year to find work in the Netherlands, for example as a highly skilled migrant. 

Have you graduated? Your residence permit for study purposes will remain valid until 3 months after you deregister from your educational institution. 

You can also apply for a start-up residence permit. This gives you one year to start an innovative company.

Do you have the possibility to do scientific research? Your employer or research institute can apply for a residence permit for you as a researcher highly skilled migrant, or as a researcher under directive (EU) 2016/801.

If you have a residence permit for another EU country, you are not automatically allowed to live and work in the Netherlands.

With a residence permit from another EU country, you can enter the Netherlands without a visa and stay for up to 90 days. Do you want to stay in the Netherlands for more than 90 days? Then you must apply for a Dutch residence permit and sometimes also an entry visa (mvv).

Do you also want to work in the Netherlands? Then you may need a work permit (TWV). Your employer can apply for a TWV at UWV.

If you change your employer, both you and your employer must notify the IND according to regulations. In practice, your employer will deregister you but it is your responsibility to check the deregistration with your employer. Whether you have to apply for the new residence permit depends on the residence permit you currently hold. 

Only notify the change of employer

You or your employer only has to notify the change if you have one of the following residence permits:

• highly skilled migrants;
• European blue card;
• Intra-Company Transfer (ICT Directive);
• scientific researcher (Directive 2005/71/EG); or
• researcher/research worker permit (Directive (EU) 2016/801).

You do need to keep satisfying the conditions of your residence permit.

Notify and apply for new residence permit

Do you have a single permit (GVVA) for residence and work? You or your employer have to submit a new application. In such a case the IND again asks advice of the Netherlands Employees Insurance Agency (UWV) whether you fulfil the criteria of the Foreign Nationals Employment Act. Is the advice from the UWV is positive and is your residence permit still valid for a period of 3 months or longer? You will receive only a new additional document. Is your residence permit valid for less than 3 months? You will receive a new residence permit and a new additional document.

Notify and apply for a new work permit at UWV

Do you hold a residence permit for paid employment (only residence permit)? Your new employer has to apply for a new work permit (tewerkstellingsvergunning, TWV) from the Employment Insurance Agency (UWV). Have you worked for 5 years continuously? Then you are usually free to work in the Netherlands and you don't need a work permit (TWV) anymore. Always have your employer inform at UWV if a TWV is necessary.

You no longer meet the requirements of you residence permit

If you do not meet the requirement of your residence permit anymore, it will be revoked. See whether you meet the requirements of another residence permit for work and apply for that permit. 

A researcher that wants to apply for a residence permit highly skilled migrant, needs to have an employment contract (or appointment decision). A researcher based on the Directive (EU) 2016/801 only needs a hosting agreement.

A permanent residence permit or long-term resident EU permit does not expire. Has your permanent residence card or long-term resident EU document expired? You are still allowed to work. However, you can apply for renewal of your residence document. 

Is there any maintenance or malfunction with DigiD?

DigiD is not part of the IND. Check with Logius (Dutch only) if there is maintenance or a malfunction with DigiD. 

Is there no maintenance or malfunction with DigiD, but you are unable to log in?

This may have a number of causes:

• You are not using the correct username or password. Check that you are using the correct details. Pay attention to the use of upper and lower case letters.
• You have not activated your DigiD. First activate your DigiD with the activation code you received by letter.
• Your DigiD is blocked. Wait until the blockage is lifted and try again.
• Your DigiD has expired because you have not used it for 3 years. If so, reapply for your DigiD.

Are you using old software on your computer or mobile device? It may not meet DigiD's minimum security requirements. 

Check whether you have completed all the fields on the page. Then click 'Next'.

Make sure your internet browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Chrome) is up to date. Otherwise, the 'Next' button won't work. 

Update your browser and try again.

Many questions include an explanation. Click on the link by the question. This will bring up a text that explains the question.

Use our written form to submit your application. There may be several reasons why you cannot (yet) submit your application online.

Are you mentioned on the back of the residence card as the parent with whom the minor child is staying? Then you are a social sponsor. You can submit an application for an extension of the residence permit of your minor child.  You log in with your own DigiD.

You can only upload documents requested on the application form.

Did you already send in your online or written application and now you want to upload additional documents? You can do this as long as we haven't made a decision on your application. 

Go to Uploading documents after your application and read how you can upload more documents.

The quality of an uploaded photo is not good enough. Send a photo card by post to the IND. 

Please contact the IND. We can check if we received your application.

If the IND has not received your application, we will return the money to your bank account. You can make a new application.

The IND will refund the excess amount to your bank account. You do not need to do anything.

1. In your online application find the menu button (upper left of the page).
2. Click 'Save'.

Often you will get a follow-up question depending on your search engine or browser preferences.

For example, are you working with Internet Explorer? Then below on your screen you will see the text: 'Do you want to open or save the file?' If you choose 'save', Internet Explorer will save a file in your Downloads folder. The saved file has the extension .tfa.

Your online application is now saved on your own computer.

1. Go to ind.nl and find the online application form you need.
2. Log in with your DigiD and SMS code.
3. Click the menu button (upper left of the screen) and select 'Open'.
4. Click 'Select a file'. This will open a programme (Explorer/Finder) to find documents on your computer.
5. Go to the Downloads folder.
6. In the Downloads folder, select the .tfa file you saved before.

You can only upload PDF files with a maximum of 8 MB per file. Do not password protect PDF files for ind.nl. Read more about uploading documents.

The online application you want to save is stored on your computer as a TFA file.  If you upload additional documents, the file may become too large. Due to a technical limitation, you cannot reopen a saved TFA file that is larger than 25MB.

Instead, you can save your application without uploading first. When you reopen your application, you can upload additional documents.  After that, you can submit your application.

A group of undertakings exist of two or more companies for which is recognised that according to national law they are linked. The companies are linked in one of the following ways:

• An undertaking holds a majority of the other undertaking's subscribed capital, directly or indirectly.
• An undertaking controls a majority of the votes attached to the other undertaking's issued share capital, directly or indirectly.
• An undertaking can appoint more than half of the members of that undertaking's administrative, management or supervisory body, directly or indirectly. 
• The undertakings operate under the central supervision of the parent company.

This definition is differs from the definition of a group of undertakings in the Foreign Nationals Employment Act.

In a network organisation the local partners are only linked through a set of agreements that each division needs to uphold. The local partners all own there own company.  Neither of the parties in a cooperation possesses a majority of another partner organisation. Therefore, they are not part of a group of undertakings.

If economic activities take place at a charity  or non-profit organisation that organisation falls within the scope of the ICT Directive. All other conditions will have to be met as well. 

The EU Court considers any activity that is to offer goods or services on a market as an economic activity.

Manager: 
An employee holding a senior position, who primarily directs the management of the concern (host entity), or a department or subdivision. The manager is receiving general supervision or guidance principally from the board of directors or shareholders of the business. Or equivalent persons. The position includes:

• Directing the host entity or a department or subdivision of the host entity.
• Supervising and controlling work of the other supervisory, professional or managerial employees. 
• Having the authority to recommend hiring or dismissing personnel. And authority in other matters of personnel policy. 

Specialist: 
A person possessing specialised knowledge essential to the host entity's areas of activity, techniques or management. This knowledge is assessed on two points: 

1. The specific knowledge the host entity is looking for.   
2. Whether the employee has a high level of qualification for the type of work or activity. This includes adequate professional experience and possible membership of an accredited profession. 

Trainee: 
A person with a university degree who is transferred to a host entity for careerd development purposes or in order to obtain training in business techniques or methodes. The trainee is paid during the transfer. 

A trainee is already at least 3 months employed with the group of undertakings. There is no minimum term for apprentices. A trainee also must have a Master's degree from university. This does not apply to an apprentice. 

If the product or service of the start-up permit is part of the existing company's core business, there is no need to register a new company.

Yes, that's possible. A non-EU or non-EEA citizen can apply for a start-up residence permit, even if the company in question has participated in an accelerator programme in the past. But this third person must still fulfil all requirements for the start-up permit. This includes having an agreement with a trustworthy and qualified facilitator.

No, the facilitator does not have the legal position of sponsor (referent). But the facilitator does have certain obligations. These are stated in the  agreement that the facilitator and the applicant of the residence permit for start-up sign.

No, you cannot. A Dutch residence permit allows you to enter the Netherlands. It does not give you the right to work in other countries. If you want to work in another Schengen member state, you will have to apply for a residence permit and/or a work permit in that country.