Apply for a residence permit for long-term EU residents

Last update: 7 April 2024

You want to apply for a residence permit for long-term EU residents. Find out what the requirements are and how you can apply for the permit.

For whom is the application for long-term EU residents?

You can apply for a residence permit for long-term EU residents in this situation.

You have the nationality of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
You have a permanent residence permit. Or you have a temporary residence permit with a non-temporary residence purpose.
You want a residence permit which you can use to apply more easily for a residence permit in one of the other EU countries with a residence permit for long-term residents.

Requirements

These are the requirements for a residence permit for long-term EU residents:

You have lived in the Netherlands with a valid Dutch residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years. In these 5 years, you have not been outside the Netherlands for a period longer than 6 consecutive months. In total, you have not been outside the Netherlands for more than 10 months.

Or:

You have a valid European Blue Card and all of these situations apply to you:
- At the time you apply for a long-term EU residence permit, you lived in the Netherlands for at least 2 consecutive years. During this period, you had a valid Blue Card. Prior to that, you lived in another EU country outside of the Netherlands for at least 12 consecutive months, with a valid Blue Card.
- You lived in the European Union for at least 5 consecutive years with a valid residence permit. During this period, you may have lived in different countries of the EU. The minimal stay of 5 years counts the period that you lived in an EU country with a:
  - European Blue Card
  - Permit for a highly skilled job
  - Research permit
  - Asylum permit
  - Study permit. You may count this period for 50%.
- In those 5 years, you have not been outside the European Union for a period longer than 12 consecutive months. In total, you have not been outside the European Union for more than 18 months.

Or:

You have lived in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years with a valid residence permit. You currently have a valid European Blue Card. In these 5 years, you have not been outside the Netherlands for a period longer than 12 consecutive months. In total, you have not been outside the Netherlands for more than 18 months.

Other requirements you also have to meet

You have always met the requirements for your residence permit or residence document. And you still meet these requirements.
You now have one of the following residence permits or residence documents.
- a permanent residence permit (type II or type IV).
- a temporary residence permit (type I). This residence permit cannot have a temporary residence purpose.
  Did you previously have a residence permit for a temporary purpose? The years that you had this temporary residence permit do not count. Did you previously have a residence permit for study before? Half of these years count. The temporary purposes of residence are:
  - seasonal labour
  - intra-corporate transfer
  - cross-border services
  - trainee and apprentice (gaining work experience)
  - orientation year for highly educated persons
  - au pair
  - exchange (Working Holiday and cultural exchange)
You meet the income requirements.
You meet the civic integration requirement.
You are registered in the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP). This is the population register of the area where you live.
You have a valid passport or other travel document.
You are not a danger to public order or national security.

Process and costs

These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit.

Show details Hide details

1. Check requirements open minus

A valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application

Make sure you meet the requirements.
1. Check requirements open minus

Make sure you meet the requirements.
2. Collect documents open minus

The written application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply. You can upload the documents in the online application.

Have official documents from abroad legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
2. Collect documents open minus

The written application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply. You can upload the documents in the online application.

Have official documents from abroad legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
3. Apply open minus

You can submit the application online or in writing by post.

Your residence permit must still be valid when you apply. You can apply from 3 months before your current residence permit expires.

Have you already lived in the Netherlands with a residence permit for more than 5 years? Then you can choose when to apply yourself. You do not have to wait until your residence permit has almost expired.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 228,00. Are you younger than 18 years old? Then, a different fee applies. See the page Fees: application costs for an explanation.

When you apply online, you pay the fee immediately with iDEAL internet banking. Are you applying in writing? Then you will receive a letter which explains how you can pay.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

You may await the processing of your application in the Netherlands. The IND must take a decision within a 6-month decision period.

We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send a message.

Follow the application in My IND.

IND late with decision

Has the decision period passed and you still have not received a decision on your application? Find out what you can do if the IND is late deciding.

Working during the application

The back of your current residence document states whether you are allowed to work and whether you need a work permit (TWV). This is the employment status. Did you apply before the end date of your current permit? Then you will keep the employment status on your current residence document while your application is being processed. Even if your permit expires in the meantime and you have not yet received a new residence document.
6. Decision on application open minus
You will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: You will get a residence permit.
- Negative decision: You will not get a residence permit. You can object to this decision.
Permanent or extension

What if you do not meet the requirements for a long-term EU resident? And you do not have a permanent residence permit yet? Then we will check if you meet the requirements for a permanent residence permit. What if you do not meet these requirements either? Then we will see if we can extend your residence permit. You do not need submit another application for this.

Residence document as a family member of a minor Dutch child

Do you have a residence document for residency as a family member of a minor Dutch child (Chavez)? And do you not meet the requirements for a long-term EU resident? Then you cannot have other permanent residency. Is your current residence document about to expire? Then you can extend the residence document. Or check whether you meet the requirements for another residence permit.
7. Collect residence permit open minus

When the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.

Application forms

You can submit this application online. You need DigiD with SMS verification and internet banking (iDEAL). Do you have an asylum residence permit (type III or IV)? Then use the written application form.

Online application form application regular permanent residence or EU-long term resident

Apply online

Written application forms

Download the correct form.

I have a regular residence permit (type I or II). Or a residence document as a family member of a minor Dutch child (Chavez).

Aanvraag verblijfsvergunning EU langdurig ingezetene of een verblijfsvergunning regulier voor onbepaalde tijd 6009 (PDF, 568.87 KB)

I have an asylum residence permit (type III or IV).

Aanvraag Verlenging verblijfsvergunning asiel bepaalde tijd; of Verblijfsvergunning asiel onbepaalde tijd; of EU verblijfsvergunning voor langdurig ingezetenen 6011 (PDF, 519.88 KB)

The residence permit

Find out what else you need to know about the residence permit

Working with the residence permit

You are free to work in the Netherlands with the residence permit for long-term EU residents. Your employer does not need a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV) for you. The back of the residence document says in Dutch ‘Arbeid vrij toegestaan, TWV niet vereist’. (Free to work. Work permit not required.)

Legal obligations

You have an obligation to provide information. This means you must inform the IND of any changes in your situation. Find out more about your obligation to provide information.

The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. If you do not do, you may get an administrative fine.

Validity of residence permit

A residence permit for long-term EU residents does not have an expiry date. The residence document is valid for 5 years and you can renew it every 5 years.

Other applications

Replace residence permit

Has the residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Visit the web page residence permit damaged or change details or residence permit lost or stolen.

Extend the residence document

Will the residence document expire soon? Then you can extend the residence document.