If you want to stay in the Netherlands for longer than three months, you may have to apply for a Netherlands Residence Permit. A Dutch residence permit allows you to stay in the country for up to five years. Whether or not you need a residence permit for the Netherlands depends largely on your nationality.
In some cases, you will also need to apply for an MVV visa.
Who Needs to apply for a Netherlands residence permit?
- If you want to move to the Netherlands, you will have to apply for a residence permit unless you are a citizen from the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
- If you are a family member of a citizen from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you do not need a residence permit for the Netherlands, but you will have to apply for Verification against EU Law (certificate of lawful residence).
- If you do not need a Dutch residence permit, you will be required to register with local Durch authorities if you are planning on staying long term.
- If you do not fall under one of those two categories, then you will need a Dutch residence permit to stay in the Netherlands long-term.
Conditions for a Netherlands Residence Permit
In order to be eligible for a residents permit for the Netherlands, you will have to be able to fulfill the following general conditions:
1) Your passport/identity document must be valid for the duration of your stay
2) You must have sufficient financial means. This could be payslips/salary statements, documents showing you own shares in a company, or a letter from a benefits agency.
3) You must have health insurance. It has to cover you for the entirety of the time you will be living in the Netherlands.
4) You must not pose “a risk to public order, national peace or national security.”
5) You must show proof of purpose of 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 enter a tuberculosis test. This should be done within three months of entering the Netherlands. If you have the disease, you must receive treatment for it. If you do not enter the test within three months, your residence permit could be taken away.
7) Exempt from a tuberculosis test are: EU/EEA nationals; individuals with a valid resident permit from an EU/EEA country or Switzerland; individuals with an EC residence permit for long-term residents from another EU country and their family members.
Keep in mind these are just general conditions. Based on the purpose of stay, you will be required to meet additional conditions. For example, a student visa has different requirements and restrictions than a work visa.
Will I need a sponsor for a Netherlands residence permit?
Yes, you will most likely need to have a sponsor if you want to get a Netherlands residence permit. Your sponsor is the person or organization who has an interest in you going to the Netherlands.
For example, if you are applying for a residence permit to stay with family (family visa), a family member or partner can be your sponsor. If you want to get a residence permit to study in the Netherlands (study visa), your educational institution is your sponsor. If you want a residence permit to work in the Netherlands (work visa), then your employer is your sponsor.
How to apply for a Netherlands residence permit?
Check to see if you need an MVV
In some cases, in order to apply for a Dutch residence permit, an MVV visa (long-stay or type D visa) is required. Whether or not you need one depends on your nationality.
An MVV visa allows the holder to enter the Netherlands while they wait for their residence permit application to be processed. An MVV is also called an authorisation for temporary stay or a provisional residence permit.
- If you need an MVV visa, you (or your sponsor) can apply for both the MVV and the Dutch residence permit through the Entry and Residence Procedure (TEV).
- If you are applying yourself, this is done at your country’s Duch embassy/consulate. If your sponsor is applying for you, they can apply directly to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
The civic integration exam
If you need to get an MVV, you will have to enter a civic integration exam beforehand. The civic integration exam is a three-part exam that tests your knowledge of the Dutch language and society.
Adults aged 18-65 have to enter the exam except:
- Turkish nationals
- If they are applying for a residence permit adoption, paid employment, au pair, exchange, study, medical treatment, or as independent persons under an international treaty
-If they have certain qualifications, like a university degree or Dutch language qualifications
The exam is taken through a computer at the Dutch embassy/consulate you are applying from.
If you do not need an MVV
If you are not subject to an MVV visa, you will have to apply for your Dutch residence permit within 90 days after entering the Netherlands. If after 90 days, you have not applied for a residence permit, it means you are staying in the Netherlands illegally.
You can also apply for a residence permit while you are in your home country or your sponsor will have to apply for you at the IND.
1) Complete the application form and necessary documents
- Based on the purpose of your stay, you and your sponsor will have to provide several documents in order to apply for a Netherlands residence permit.
- The documents and other requirements differ based on what type of Netherlands residence permit you are applying for.
- The documents have to be in Dutch, English, French or German. If they are not, they have to be translated by an official Dutch translator and submitted along with the originals. Any foreign documents have to be legalised or authenticated by a government authority in your country.
- All your documents, including birth and marriage certificates, bank statements, employment contracts etc., have to be legalized with an apostille stamp.
Before that, they also have to be signed by an official from the issuing party and/or certified by a lawyer or notary public.
2) Pay the application fee
When you submit your application, you have to pay a fee for it to be processed. The fee price depends on your purpose of travel and it is non-refundable.
3) Wait to see if your application has been accepted
The Netherlands residence permit application usually takes up to 90 days to be processed. After that, you will be notified whether or not you have been granted your residence permit.
If your application is accepted, you can collect your Dutch residence permit at an IND office in the Netherlands. The permit contains your personal information, purpose of stay, validity, V-number, and work status.
For How Long is the Netherlands Resident Permit Valid?
The validity of your Dutch residence permit depends on the purpose of your stay, but it can be as long as five years.
After your Netherlands residence permit expires, in some cases you can apply for an extension. But in other cases, like if you are there to work as an au pair, a seasonal worker, on an exchange programme etc., you cannot.
If you are not allowed to extend your Netherlands residence permit, you have to apply for another permit with a different purpose of stay.
Types of Netherlands Residence Permits
Based on validity
- Temporary Residence Permit. This permit allows the holder to remain in the Netherlands for up to five years. After five years, they may extend their permit, though that is not always allowed.
- Permanent Residence Permit. If you have been living in the Netherlands for five consecutive years, you may be eligible for a permanent residence permit. This allows you to stay in the Netherlands indefinitely.
Based on purpose
You can apply for a temporary residence permit in the Netherlands based on your purpose.
These types of temporary Dutch residence permits or visas include:
- A Netherlands Work Visa
- A Netherlands Study Visa
- A Netherlands Family Visa
- Netherlands Au Pair Visa
- Netherlands Working Holiday Visa
- DAFT Visa
The Netherlands is filled with beautiful and diverse countryside, medieval yet modern cities that are full of life, an overflowing amount of tulips, and welcoming people. If the Netherlands has convinced you to move to the beauty and comfort that it offers, you might need to acquire Dutch citizenship to enjoy its quirks fully.
How Can I Get Dutch Citizenship?
You can obtain Dutch citizenship through one of the following pathways:
- Naturalization.
- Birth.
- Option procedure.
- Marriage.
Acquiring Dutch citizenship allows you to enter any other European country with the opportunity to study and work there as well.
Benefits of Dutch Citizenship
Besides the beauty that the Netherlands has to offer, becoming a Dutch citizen has many benefits.
The pros of obtaining Dutch citizenship include:
- You will be named a legal national in the Netherlands and you will no longer be considered a foreigner.
- The opportunity to obtain a Dutch passport as you will be registered in the BRP-Municipal Personal Records Database.
- You will officially become an EU citizen which allows you to move freely in any EU country.
- You will be eligible to vote in Dutch elections.
- You will be entitled to the Dutch healthcare system.
- You will be eligible to become a police officer a soldier, obtain a judiciary position and even apply for mayorship.
- You will be entitled to pass on Dutch citizenship to your children.
Dutch Citizenship by Naturalization
You are eligible for obtaining Dutch citizenship by naturalization if:
- You have been living in the Netherlands with a permanent residence permit for at least five years.
- You have been living in the Netherlands and you are an EU/EEA national.
- You have been living in the Dutch Caribbean with a residence permit. The Dutch Caribbean includes Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Eustatius, Sint Maarten, and Saba.
Dutch Citizenship by Birth
You are eligible to obtain Dutch citizenship by birth if one of your parents was a Dutch citizen at the time of your birth. The exact conditions depend on the year you were born. If you were born before January 1st, 1985
If you were born before January 1st, 1985, you can gain Dutch citizenship if your father was a Dutch citizen at the time you were born (whether you were born in or outside of the Netherlands).
You do not qualify for obtaining Dutch citizenship by birth if you were born to a Dutch mother and foreign father. You can apply for Dutch citizenship by the option procedure instead.
If you were born after December 31st, 1984
If you were born after December 31st, 1984, you can get Dutch citizenship if:
- Your mother held Dutch citizenship when you were born, or
- You were born in wedlock to a Dutch father and non-Dutch mother, or
- You were born out of wedlock to a Dutch father and non-Dutch mother, but your father acknowledged you before your birth, or
- Your father held Dutch citizenship and acknowledged your birth after March 1st, 2009 but before you turned seven.
Dutch Citizenship by Option Procedure
You can obtain Dutch citizenship by the option procedure if you have Dutch origins, such as:
- You were born before January 1st, 1985 to a Dutch mother and a foreign father, or
- You have a parent who also obtained Dutch citizenship with the option procedure., or
- You are a minor, born to a Dutch citizen parent under one of the following circumstances:
1. Your parents were married when you were born.
2. You were acknowledged before you were born.
3. Your Dutch mother was not married when you were born.
4. One of your parents died before they could apply for Dutch citizenship via the option procedure.
5. You want to regain your Dutch citizenship as a means to restore your EU rights.
To be eligible for Dutch citizenship by the option procedure, you will be asked to submit additional documents that prove your relationship with the Dutch parent as well as proof that your parent held Dutch citizenship by the time you were born. Once your application gets accepted, the Dutch diplomatic mission will hold a ceremony that confirms your citizenship.
Note: Minors cannot apply for Dutch citizenship on their own. A parent or guardian must submit the option statement on their behalf.
Dutch Citizenship by Marriage
If you have been married to a Dutch citizen and have lived together with them in the Netherlands for more than three years, you can obtain Dutch citizenship by marriage. You will be asked to submit additional documents such as a marriage certificate as well as a statement of your place of residence.
How to Apply for Dutch Citizenship?
- Applying for Dutch citizenship in the Netherlands: To apply for Dutch citizenship, you must start your application with the nearest municipality. The municipality will then forward your application to Naturalisatiedienst – IND (Immigration and Naturalization Service). If you are from the Dutch Caribbean you must apply to the Cabinet of the Governor.
- Applying for Dutch citizenship abroad: If you live abroad, you can apply for Dutch citizenship at a Dutch embassy or consulate-general. If you are applying for naturalization, you also have to pass the civic integration examination beforehand, which you can also take at a Dutch embassy or consulate-general.
Documents Required for Dutch Citizenship
For your Dutch citizenship application, you must collect documents such as:
1) Your valid passport. You may also need to submit copies of your passport pages, if applicable.
2) Birth certificate. Your birth certificate from your country of origin; this document must be legalized or apostilled.
3) Application form. To get the application form online, you must have a DigiD which is an online platform used for identification purposes.
If applying for naturalization as a Dutch citizen:
4) Proof of your five-year residency in the Netherlands.
5) Passed integration exam. If you are exempted from the civic integration test, you must submit proof of your exemption.
If applying for Dutch citizenship by marriage:
6) Marriage certificate.
7) Proof you have lived with your spouse in the Netherlands for at least three years.
If applying for Dutch citizenship by birth:
8) Any documents proving you have a Dutch ancestor (parent/grandparent).
If applying for Dutch citizenship by the option procedure:
9) Any documents proving you are entitled to Dutch citizenship due to an ancestor (e.g. marriage certificates, birth certificates, naturalization certificate, etc).
Note: You may need to submit additional documents depending on the circumstances of your application. The municipality in which you submit your application will notify you of the full list of required documents. However, it is a good idea to start collecting any relevant birth or marriage certificates in a timely manner.
Civic Integration Exam for Dutch Citizenship
To obtain Dutch citizenship, you have to pass a civic integration exam and obtain the integration diploma. The exam tests your Dutch language reading, listening, writing and fluency skills, as well as your knowledge of Dutch society.
The civic integration exam is not required to obtain citizenship via the option procedure.
If you fail any of the test sections, you are allowed to retake that section. The test sections that you pass will be saved until you pass the other sections as well. You will be asked to pay for every section you retake. Each section costs around €50.
Does The Netherlands Allow Dual Citizenship?
The benefit of dual citizenship in the Netherlands is complicated and depends on a few factors. If you acquire citizenship through naturalization, you might be asked to renounce your initial citizenship and can therefore not hold dual citizenship. On the other hand, you are entitled to dual citizenship if you acquire Dutch citizenship by birth or descent.
Dual citizenship also depends on your home country’s requirements. Some countries require you to undergo military service before acquiring second citizenship.
How Much Does Dutch Citizenship Cost?
The cost for all the Dutch citizenship requirements are:
- Dutch Citizenship by Naturalization for one person €945
- Dutch Citizenship by Naturalization for couples €1,206
- Dutch Citizenship by Naturalization for a child together with his parents €139
- Permanent Asylum Permit Holders €703
- Partners with Permanent Asylum Permit €965
- Dutch Citizenship Integration Test €350
You will obtain a document that states the application payment and you will be asked to present the document for your application process.
