Ministerie van Justitie, Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst

The IND is responsible for the implementation of the immigration policy in the Netherlands. This means that the IND assesses all applications submitted by foreign nationals who wish to stay in the Netherlands or who wish to become Dutch nationals. These can be refugees who are under threat in their own country, or persons who wish to work and live in the Netherlands. They also include people who have lived in the Netherlands for so long that they feel Dutch and officially want to become Dutch nationals. 

Fast and accurate 

An immigration policy is required in order to direct the inflow of foreign nationals into the Netherlands. Not everyone can reside in the Netherlands or adopt the Dutch nationality. This is subject to certain conditions. These conditions are determined by a range of factors including: 

• country of origin 
• length of residence in the Netherlands 
• reason for residence 
• income or age            

The IND checks if the applicant meets these conditions. The IND aims to do this quickly and carefully: 

• quickly: clear rules and brief procedures 
• carefully: every application is assessed separately and objectively.            

IND is not responsible for the policy. 

The IND is an enforcement organisation. The IND is not responsible for the actual policy or the applicable conditions. The immigration policy is laid down by the government and the Upper and Lower chambers.