The IND in figures

The number of applications for residence permits has already been increasing for a longer time. And this is expected to increase even more in the years to come. Moreover this does not make the work of the IND easier. Increasingly more substantiation is needed to decide on a residence application. Notwithstanding that the IND does more than can be expected of the organisation on the basis of the agreed capacity, the number of cases that have been outstanding for a long time is increasing.

Each month the IND publishes a survey of the main current figures and developments.

Monthly figures January 2026

Asylum: First asylum applications

The IND made 1,980 decisions on first asylum applications in January. This is less than expected (2,700). The organisation received 2,070 applications in the first month of this year. The numbers of applications received and decisions made are therefore nearly the same. The number of pending applications rose slightly from 48,840 to 48,920.

Asylum: Dublin procedure (track 1)

The IND is able to monitor the number of applications in the Dublin procedure closely and it made 890 decisions in January. The caseload is increasing because the IND is waiting for responses from the Member States in which the applicants previously applied for asylum

Asylum: Safe Country procedure (Track 2)

The number of track 2 asylum applications – in other words those from EU citizens and applicants who have already been given protection elsewhere in the EU – is low, as is therefore the number of decisions made by the IND.

Asylum: General and extended asylum procedure (Track 4)

The IND made 2,140 decisions in the general and extended asylum procedure in January, which is just below the target of 2,250. In January, 1,800 applications were received and the number of pending applications decreased from 51,860 to 51,510.

Asylum family reunification

The IND made decisions on 2,140 applications for family reunification in January. There were 1,090 new applications. A further 2,700 applications were received in the first month of 2025. The number of pending applications decreased from 52,750 to 51,700.

Relatives and family

The IND processes the vast majority of applications for residence with family or a partner within three months. It made 3,270 decisions in these cases in January and a further 5,440 applications are pending.

Residence permit knowledge and talent

Permits for knowledge and talent cover highly skilled migrants, graduates who are embarking on an orientation year, and workers who have been transferred to a European branch of their company. The IND processes the vast majority of applications within a month. In January, 1,710 decisions were taken on these kinds of applications and 1,390 new applications were received.

Study

There is always a peak in applications for study permits during the summer and in November and December and the IND takes measures to ensure that decisions on these applications can be made quickly. The IND received 170 such applications in January and made 270 decisions.

Labour migration

The IND made 580 decisions on work migrant applications in January and received 580 new applications. Labour migration involves permits for paid employment, work as a self-employed person or start-up, cross-border services and applications based on the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty.

Naturalisation

The IND made decisions on 4,290 naturalisation applications in January, with a total of 4,260 people actually proceeding to apply for Dutch nationality.

Service desk

Applicants made a total of 28,173 appointments to collect residence documents from the IND desks in January and only had to wait for 5 days on average. A total of 37,998 appointments were made to provide biometrics (fingerprints, signature and photos). It was possible to make appointments within 5 days on average.