Temporary Residence Permits In Netherlands
Navigating the maze of temporary residence permits in the Netherlands can feel like a daunting task, but fear not, expats!
We’re here to turn that complex process into a clear and manageable journey. Whether you’re here for work, study, or just an extended adventure, understanding the ins and outs of obtaining the right permit is crucial.
Let’s dive in!
What Is A Temporary Residence?
Most countries first provide temporary rather than permanent residence to immigrants. There are exceptions, like Canada or if you are applying to a residence by investment program.
But in most cases, especially in Europe, you will first get a temporary resident permit that you must renew a few months before it expires.
These permits can be for one year and up to 5 years.
Usually, your close family (spouse and children) can accompany you. Still, each jurisdiction can have different requirements for spouses (married, common-law) and children.
Whether they’re unmarried, physically or mentally dependent, enrolled in higher education, or under a certain age.
Temporary residence for business activity, such as entrepreneur or investor, requires the applicant to meet specific requirements to renew their permit.
Such as the continuation of business activity and the minimum amount of revenue.
There are also the regular requirements that are relatively common for most countries, such as:
- having a place to stay,
- having the means to support yourself and your family,
- having health insurance or having passed a health examination, sand
- being free of any criminal offenses.
Temporary residence is less secure than permanent residence, leaving the applicants uncertain.
There is always a risk that your permit will not be renewed, and if your business starts tanking, you might have to leave the country.
This is why applying for permanent residence is essential as soon as you qualify.
Extending your temporary residence the second or third time can increase the length.
For example, in business investment programs, many countries first offer a one-year residence permit. When the investor has proven that he has successfully set up his business, he can then renew for a two-year permit.
What Are The Types Of Netherlands Residence Permits?
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, which is only sometimes allowed.
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
- Netherlands EU Blue Card
Permanent Residence Permit
If you have lived in the Netherlands for five consecutive years, you may be eligible for a permanent residence permit, which allows you to stay indefinitely.
Who Needs To Apply For A Netherlands Residence Permit?
Unless you are a citizen of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland, you must apply for a residence permit to relocate to the Netherlands.
You do not require a residence permit to enter the Netherlands if you are a family member of an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen; nonetheless, you must apply for Verification against EU Law (certificate of legitimate residence).
If you intend to stay for an extended period, you must register with the local Dutch authorities even if you do not need Dutch residency permission.
If you do not fit into one of those two categories, you will require a Dutch residence visa to remain permanently in the Netherlands.
What Are The Conditions For A Netherlands Residence Permit?
To be eligible for a resident permit in the Netherlands, you will have to be able to fulfill the following general conditions:
- Your passport/identity document must be valid for your stay.
- It would help if you had sufficient financial means: Payslips/salary statements, documents showing your company shares, or a letter from a benefits agency.
- You must have health insurance, which must cover you for the entirety of your stay in the Netherlands.
- You must not pose “a risk to public order, national peace or national security.”
- You must show proof of your purpose of stay, such as an employment contract in the Netherlands, a document from a Dutch educational institution, or a marriage or civil partnership certificate.
- You may have to undergo a tuberculosis test, which should be done within three months of entering the Netherlands. If you have the disease, you must receive treatment for it.
Your residence permit could be removed if you do not enter the test within three months.
Individuals who are nationals of the European Union or Switzerland and hold a valid resident permit from one of these countries are exempt from having to take a tuberculosis test.
This includes those who have an EC residence permit for long-term residency from another EU country and their family members.
Remember that these are only broad guidelines. Depending on your reason for being here, you’ll need to fulfil extra requirements
For instance, a work visa and a student visa have different conditions and limitations.
Will You Need A Sponsor For A Netherlands Residence Permit?
You will likely require a sponsor if you want a residence visa in the Netherlands. Your sponsor is the individual or group interested in you traveling to the Netherlands.
For instance, a family member or partner can serve as your sponsor if you’re seeking a family visa, which allows you to live with your family.
Your educational institution is your sponsor if you wish to obtain a study visa, which allows you to live and study in the Netherlands.
Your employer is your sponsor if you need a work visa or residence permit to work in the Netherlands.
How To Apply For A Netherlands Residence Permit?
In some cases, an MVV visa (long-stay or type D visa) is required to apply for a Dutch residence permit. 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 authorization for a temporary stay or a provisional residence permit.
If you need an MVV visa, you (or your sponsor) can apply for 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 Dutch embassy/consulate. If your sponsor uses it for you, they can apply directly to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND).
The Civic Integration Exam
You must take a civic integration exam before becoming eligible for an MVV. The three-part civic integration exam measures your proficiency in Dutch and Dutch culture.
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 specific qualifications, like a university degree or Dutch language qualifications
The exam is taken through a computer at the Dutch embassy/consulate from which you apply.
If You Do Not Need An MVV
If you are not subject to an MVV visa, you must apply for your Dutch residence permit within 90 days of entering the Netherlands.
If you have not applied for a residence permit after 90 days, you are staying in the Netherlands illegally.
You can also apply for a residence permit in your home country, or your sponsor must apply for you at the IND.
Complete The Application Form And Necessary Documents
To apply for a Netherlands residency permit, you and your sponsor must submit several documents depending on the reason for your visit.
The documentation and additional criteria differ depending on the kind of Netherlands residency permit you’re requesting.
The documentation must be written in German, French, English, or Dutch. If not, they must be translated into Dutch by an authorized translator and presented with the original documents.
A government official in your nation must legalize or authenticate any foreign documents.
Every document you possess, such as birth and marriage certificates, bank statements, job contracts, etc., must be certified by an apostille stamp.
Before that, they must also be signed by an official from the issuing party and certified by a lawyer or notary public.
When you submit your application, you must pay a fee for it to be processed. The fee, which depends on your purpose of travel, is non-refundable.
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.
What Is The Difference Between Temporary Residence And Permanent Residence?
For someone unfamiliar with immigration terms, the difference between temporary and permanent residence can seem tricky to comprehend.
A residence permit can be temporary, permanent, and sometimes long-term. There is the apparent adjective in front of “residence” that can give it away:
- Temporary: This is when the permit lasts for a specific time. E.g., one year or two years
- Long-Term: This is when the amount of time is relatively long. E.g., ten years or 20 years
- Permanent: This is when the permit is for an indefinite amount of time. You can stay as much as you want
These concepts can look relatively easy to comprehend, but they can be complicated when over 200 jurisdictions have residence permits beside each other.
So, we will try to explain to each other as best we can. But first, many foreigners applying for a residence permit in another country require an entry visa to enter the country.
What Are The Reasons For Getting A Temporary Residence Permit?
If you have a residence permit for a temporary purpose, you cannot apply for a permanent residence permit or Dutch nationality.
These purposes of residence are temporary:
- Residence as an adoptive or foster child: This residence purpose will be temporary if the family member with whom the child is living has a residence permit for a temporary purpose.
Or if this family member has a temporary asylum residence permit.
- We await an application under Section 17 of the Netherlands Nationality Act (in Dutch: Rijkswet op het Nederlanderschap of RWN).
- Au pair.
- Cross-border services.
- Medical treatment.
- Intra-corporate transfer (Directive 2014/66/EU).
- Trainee, apprentice, and YWEP (gaining work experience).
- Seasonal labor.
- Study.
- Temporary humanitarian grounds.
- Exchange (Working Holiday and cultural exchange).
- Residence with a family member or relative: The family member with whom you live has a residence permit for a temporary purpose. Or if the family member has a temporary asylum residence permit.
- Orientation year for highly educated persons.
- Residence following a decision of the Minister for Migration if the decision says that the right of residence is temporary.
What Are The Reasons For Getting A Non-Temporary Residence Permit?
If you have a residence permit for a non-temporary purpose, you can apply for a permanent residence permit. However, you must meet the requirements for that residence permit.
These purposes of residence purposes are non-temporary:
- Residence as an adoptive or foster child: This residence purpose is non-temporary if the family member with whom the child lives has one of these nationality or residence permits.
- The family member is a Dutch national.
- The family member is an EU/EEA national or a Swiss citizen.
- The family member has a regular permanent residence permit or a permanent asylum residence permit.
- The family member has a regular temporary residence permit for non-temporary purposes.
- Paid employment as non-privileged military personnel or non-privileged civilian personnel.
- Paid employment.
- Work as a self-employed person.
- Foreign investor (wealthy foreign national).
- Economically inactive EU long-term resident.
- Long-term EU resident.
- Holder of a European Blue Card.
- Highly skilled migrant.
- Non-temporary humanitarian grounds.
- Permanent residence.
- Research under Directive 2005/71/EG.
- Research under Directive (EU) 2016/801.
- Residence with a family member or relative. Your family member has one of these nationality or residence permits.
- The family member is a Dutch national.
- The family member is an EU/EEA national or Swiss citizen.
- The family member has a regular permanent residence permit or a permanent asylum residence permit.
- The family member has a regular temporary residence permit for non-temporary purposes.
- Residence following a decision of the Minister for Migration if the decision says that the right of residence is non-temporary.
- Residence under the Withdrawal Agreement for British nationals and their family members.
- Residence with your minor Dutch child (Chavez-Vilche
Conclusion
Securing a temporary residence permit in the Netherlands doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. With the right information and a bit of preparation, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying all that this vibrant country has to offer.
Remember, every expat’s journey is unique, so don’t hesitate to seek help if you need it. Here’s to making the Netherlands your home away from home!
Settle Smoothly!
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