Turkish citizens and living in the Netherlands

Turkish employees and their family members often pay lower costs when applying for a residence permit in the Netherlands. The costs are also lower when applying for extension, a return visa, or replacement of a residence document.

Are you a Turkish citizen working in the Netherlands and you want to bring your spouse or registered partner to the Netherlands to live with you? In this case, you and your partner must both be at least 18 instead of 21 years old.

Only (recognised) sponsors can apply for some residence permits. This rule does not apply to Turkish employees. You can apply for these residence permits yourself:

• Paid employment;
• Highly skilled migrant;
• Researcher under Directive (EU) 2016/801.

IND decides faster on the application of a recognised sponsor

Still, the IND advises you to have your recognised sponsor apply for you. This is because the IND decides faster if a recognised sponsor applies. Do you want to apply yourself? Then use one of the following forms:

MVV needed

Do you need a provisional residence permit (MVV) and do you want to work as a researcher or highly skilled migrant? 

No MVV needed

Do you not need a MVV? 

Find out the decision period for your residence permit application.

Are you applying for a residence permit as a self-employed person? Then the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (in Dutch: Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland or RVO) assesses whether your company is of essential interest to the Netherlands. Essential interest means that the company must add value to the Netherlands. The RVO assesses this according to a points system. A company must get a minimum number of points. This points system does not apply to Turkish nationals. The RVO only assesses your company by looking at your business plan.

These are the aspects RVO looks at in the business plan:

• Your company is financially healthy.
• Your company provides something that is needed in the Netherlands.
• Your company helps the Dutch economy to grow.
• Your company can do well in the free-market economy.
• Your company does not disrupt the free-market economy or labour market.

The business plan must have a financial explanation for every part.

Are you a Turkish citizen and do you work in the Netherlands on a self-employed basis or in paid employment? Then you no longer need a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV) for paid employment after 3 years with the same employer. Normally, this is only after 5 years.

These are the requirements for this residence permit:

• You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
• You have been working for the same Dutch employer for at least 1 year.
• You have a valid residence permit to work for this employer. And this residence permit is valid for the full period you work for this employer.
• You are still working for the same employer.

Use the form:

If you get this residence permit your employer does not need a work permit (TWV) for you. Are you going to work for another employer? And you did not yet work for the same employer in the Netherlands for 3 years in total? Then your new employer does need a TWV.

These are the requirements for this residence permit.

• You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
• You have lived in the Netherlands with a Turkish employee for at least 3 years with a residence permit for stay as a family member. The Turkish employee has a residence permit for a non-temporary purpose.
• You meet the requirements for extension of the residence permit for stay with a family member.

Use the form:

You can look for and carry out work in paid employment or start working on a self-employed basis with this permit. These are the requirements for this residence permit.

• You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
• You have had at least 3 years of marriage, or a registered partnership, with a Turkish employee who has a residence permit with a non-temporary purpose.
• The marriage or registered partnership has ended.
• You lived in the Netherlands at least 1 year, right before your marriage or registered partnership ended. And in this year, you had a residence permit for stay with your spouse or registered partner.
• You must submit your application after your marriage or registered partnership has ended. Or when you no longer live together.

Use the form:

These are the requirements for this residence permit.

• You now have a residence permit for finding and carrying out work (orientation year).
• You found a job when this residence permit was valid.
• You meet the income requirements.

Use the form:

Did you apply for a residence permit? And has the IND not made a final decision yet on your application after 3 years? Then you can ask the IND to issue the permit you requested based on the 3-year policy. These are the requirements for this residence permit:

•  You have the Turkish nationality.
• You fall under Association Law because you work in paid employment. Or because you are, or want to become, self-employed.
• You applied for a residence permit. The IND has been processing this application for 3 years and has not taken a final decision.
• You were allowed to wait in the Netherlands while your application was being processed.
• It is not your fault that it takes long to process the application.
• There are no counter indications. Counter indications are reasons to reject your application. For example because you pose a risk to public order.

 
There is no form for the 3-year policy. You must write a letter to the IND. In this letter, you ask to issue the permit you applied for based on the 3-year policy. You must do this before the IND takes a final decision on your application. Go to our Contact Page for the IND address.