A residence permit is a mandatory document that expats must have for legal residence in the country. Find out what are the requirements for foreigners to obtain a document and what procedure for obtaining a residence permit is relevant in 2024

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The Netherlands is an economically developed country in Europe, which is known for its favorable living conditions, thanks to the long-standing principles of democracy, loyal laws and a low level of crime. Life here attracts expats from Turkmenistan, Ecuador, Latvia and many other parts of the world.

If you want to stay in the Netherlands for longer than three months, you may need to apply for a residence permit in the country. The document registration procedure has several stages.

How to get a residence permit in the Netherlands? We tell.

Who needs to apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands?

Foreigners who want to move to the Netherlands and who are not citizens of one of the states of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland need to obtain a residence permit in the Netherlands. Foreigners in this category only need to register with the Dutch local authorities if they plan to stay in the country for a long period of time.

It is also not necessary to obtain a residence permit in the Netherlands for persons who are family members of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen. This category of foreigners must submit an application for confirmation of compliance with EU legislation (certificate of legal residence).

If you do not fall into one of these two categories, you will need a residence permit for a long-term stay in the Netherlands.

Requirements for a residence permit in the Netherlands

To be eligible for a residence permit in the Netherlands, you must meet a number of the following requirements:

1. Your passport/identity document must be valid for the duration of your stay in the Netherlands.

2. You must have sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay in the Netherlands. For proof you can provide payslips/salary statements, documents proving that you own shares in the company or a letter from an aid agency, etc.

3. Have a health insurance policy that must cover the entire period during which you will live in the Netherlands.

4. A foreigner must not create risks for public order, national peace or national security.

5. You must have confirmation of the purpose of your stay. For example, an employment contract in the Netherlands, a document from a Dutch educational institution or a marriage or civil partnership certificate.

6. You may have to take a test for tuberculosis. This must be done within three months of entering the Netherlands. If you have a disease, you must undergo treatment. If you do not pass the analysis within three months, your residence permit may be taken away.

Exempted from tuberculosis test: EU/EEA citizens; persons with a valid residence permit in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland; persons with a residence permit in the EU for long-term residents from another EU country and their family members.

Importantly! These are just general conditions. Depending on the purpose of your stay, you will need to fulfill additional requirements. For example, a student visa has different requirements and restrictions than a work visa.

In order to safely move, travel or work in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.

How to get a residence permit in the Netherlands?

Step 1 – Apply for a long-term visa to the Netherlands

The Netherlands long-term visa or MVV visa (type D) is also called a temporary residence permit or a temporary residence permit in the Netherlands. This allows the holder to enter the Netherlands while they await the processing of their application for a residence permit in the Netherlands.

Depending on the purpose of your travel, when you apply for an MVV and/or residence permit, you will need to apply for one of the following visas:

- Netherlands family visa – issued to people who want to obtain a residence permit in the Netherlands to join a family member or partner living in the Netherlands.

- Work visa to the Netherlands - for those who want to live in the Netherlands as an employee. You may also need an additional Dutch work permit.

- Student visa to the Netherlands – if you are a foreign student who has been accepted to a Dutch educational institution, you can apply for a Dutch student visa or a Dutch student permit.

- Netherlands Au Pair Visa – If you are 18-30 years old, the Netherlands Au Pair Visa allows you to stay with a host family for one year, where you can do light domestic work in exchange for board and lodging.

- Netherlands Self-Employed and Startup Visa – If you want to move to the Netherlands to start your own business or work as a freelancer, you will need to apply for a Netherlands Self-Employed and Startup Visa.

Stage 2 – Take the Civic Integration Exam

If you need to get a long-term visa to the Netherlands, you will have to pass a civic integration test beforehand. It consists of three parts, during which your knowledge of the Dutch language and the laws of society are tested.

Adults between the ages of 18 and 65 must take the exam, with the exception of:

- Citizen of Turkey

- If you apply for a residence permit as part of the adoption procedure, for paid work, au pair, exchange, study, treatment or as independent persons in accordance with an international agreement.

- If you have a certain qualification, such as a university degree or Dutch language qualification.

The exam is taken via computer at the Dutch embassy/consulate from where you apply.

Step 3 – Fill out the application form and prepare the necessary documents

Based on the purpose of your stay, you and your sponsor will need to provide a suitable package of documents in order to apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands.

Documents must be in Dutch, English, French or German. If not, they must be translated by an official Dutch translator and submitted together with the originals. Any foreign documents must be legalized or certified by a government authority in your country.

All your documents, including birth and marriage certificates, bank statements, employment contracts, etc., must be legalized with an apostilled stamp. Before that, they must also be signed by an official of the issuing party and/or certified by a lawyer or notary public.

Step 4 – Pay the application processing fee

In most cases, the fee for obtaining a permit is 154 euros.

Step 5 – Wait for the application to be processed

It usually takes up to 90 days to process an application for a residence permit in the Netherlands. You will then be notified whether you have been granted a residence permit.

If your application is accepted, you can obtain a residence permit in the Netherlands at the IND office. The permit contains your personal information, purpose of stay, validity period, V-number and employment status.

How long is a residence permit valid in the Netherlands?

The duration of your residence permit in the Netherlands depends on the purpose of your stay, but can last up to five years.

Once your residence permit in the Netherlands has expired, you can apply for an extension in some cases.

If you are not allowed to extend your residence permit in the Netherlands, you must apply for another permit with a different purpose of stay.

Programs available for immigration to the Netherlands

You can choose one of the following programs to immigrate to the Netherlands:

- Marriage - if one of the spouses is a citizen of the country, then you can apply for a residence permit. After a year, you can apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands. In case of divorce, the non-resident should leave the country.

- Work - before employment at the enterprise, the employer provides the state with evidence that there is no employee who is a citizen of the Netherlands or one of the EU countries for this position. The requirements for a foreigner are to have a higher education, work experience in this specialty, to know the Dutch language, to pass a medical examination. The immigrant receives a residence permit for a period of 12 months and the possibility to extend the permit. After 5 years of residence in the Netherlands, a permanent residence permit can be issued.

- Family reunification - the owner of a residence permit in the Netherlands can invite his wife and minor children from another country, but the main requirement is to provide family members with finances and housing.

- Doing business - if a foreigner wants to do business in the Netherlands, he can register a company on the territory of the state or buy 25% of the shares of an already existing business. The requirements for the authorized capital are 120,000 euros. After that, a residence permit is issued for a foreigner and his family for a period of 12 months with the right to an extension and the possibility of obtaining a permanent residence permit after 5 years. You can also buy real estate worth 1,250,000 euros.

- Education - it is necessary to provide a contract with an educational institution and confirm the availability of funds to pay for education and accommodation.

- Treatment – ​​in case of need for long-term treatment in Dutch clinics, a residence permit is issued for the period of the full course of treatment.

- Refugees - in case of danger in the native country of a foreigner, it is possible to acquire refugee status. In this case, the residence permit is issued for 5 years.

In general, the procedure for obtaining a permanent residence permit is a rather lengthy process that requires the fulfillment of a number of conditions and compliance with requirements, in particular, knowledge of the language and financial well-being. But life in the Netherlands is very comfortable, so many willing people from different countries go through this procedure every year.

We will remind you! In 2024, the Netherlands will experience an acute shortage of highly qualified professionals, with the largest number of vacancies available in the country in the healthcare, finance, industry and IT sectors. We have already told what a foreigner needs for employment in the Netherlands in 2024.

Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld

To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.

Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:

Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents for Netherlands;

Legal advice on immigration to Netherlands;

Travel insurance for foreigners in Netherlands;

Medical insurance all over the world.