Resident permit for long-term EU residents for an indefinite period: what does this mean?

A long-term EU resident permit is a European residence permit valid for an indefinite period. This permit is for people from outside the

To obtain this residence permit, you must meet a number of conditions. There are various ways to do this.

1. You have been living in the Netherlands for at least 5 years

You have been living in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years. During that period, you have always had a valid Dutch residence permit.

During these five years, you were not allowed to spend too long outside the Netherlands. You were not allowed to spend more than 6 months at a time outside the Netherlands. In total, you were not allowed to spend more than 10 months outside the Netherlands.

2. Or: you have a valid European Blue Card

You can also apply for this residence permit if you have a valid

• At the time of your application, you have been living in the Netherlands for at least two consecutive years. During that period, you have had a valid European Blue Card at all times.

• Prior to that, you had been living in another EU country for at least 12 consecutive months. You also had a valid European Blue Card there.

• In total, you must have lived in the European Union for at least 5 consecutive years with a valid residence permit. This may have been in different EU countries.
  
  For the purposes of these 5 years, you may include the following residence permits:

• A European Blue Card

• A residence permit for a

  highly skilled
  job

• A residence permit for research purposes

• An asylum residence permit

• A residence permit for study purposes. The period spent studying counts as half the total.

During these five years, you were not allowed to spend too long outside the European Union. You were not allowed to spend more than 12 consecutive months outside the EU. In total, you were not allowed to spend more than 18 months outside the EU.

1. Or: you have been living in the Netherlands for 5 years and currently have a European Blue Card

You can also apply for this residence permit if you have been living in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years with a valid residence permit. You currently have a valid European Blue Card.

During these five years, you were not allowed to spend too long outside the Netherlands. You were not allowed to spend more than 12 months at a time outside the Netherlands. In total, you were not allowed to spend more than 18 months outside the Netherlands.

Conditions that apply to all three situations

The following conditions also apply to all three situations:

• You have always complied with the conditions of your residence permit or residence document. And you are still complying with them now.

• You currently have one of the following residence permits or residence documents:
  

• A residence permit for

  indefinite duration, type II
  or a residence permit for indefinite duration, type IV

• An asylum residence permit for a

  fixed term, type III.

• A standard residence permit for a

  fixed term, type I
  . This permit must not be for the purpose of temporary residence.

If you previously had a residence permit for study purposes, those years count as half.

However, if you previously held another temporary residence permit, those years do not count towards the total. Examples of reasons for temporary residence include:

• Seasonal work.

• Transfer within a company.

• Cross-border services.

• Internship position.

• A year of exploration for highly qualified individuals.

• Au pair.

• Exchange programmes, such as a working holiday or cultural exchange.

The following terms and conditions also apply:

• You meet the income requirements

  .

• You meet the civic integration requirement

  .

• You are registered in the

  Dutch population register (BRP)
  . This is the population register of the municipality where you live.

• You have a valid passport or another travel document.

• You do not pose a threat to public order or national security.

You are allowed to stay in the Netherlands whilst the IND is processing your application. The IND usually has to make a decision within 6 months. Sometimes the IND needs more time, for example if your application is incomplete. In that case, you will receive a notification from the IND. You can track your application via Mijn IND.

If the IND takes too long to reach a decision

Has the decision deadline passed? And have you not yet received a decision? If so, you can find out what you can do if the IND is late in making a decision. This information is available on the IND’s website.

Working whilst your application is being processed

The back of your current residence permit states whether you are allowed to work. It also states whether your employer

Did you submit your application for long-term EU resident status before the expiry date of your current residence permit? If so, you will retain the same labour market status whilst your application is being processed.

This also applies if your current residence permit expires in the meantime and you have not yet been issued with a new residence document.

You will receive the IND’s decision in a letter. The decision may be favourable or unfavourable.

Favourable decision: You will be granted a resident permit for long-term EU residents.

Unfavourable decision: You will not be granted a resident permit for long-term EU residents. You may then lodge an appeal against the decision.

If you do not meet the conditions

Do you not meet the conditions for a resident permit for long-term EU residents? And do you not yet have a residence permit for an indefinite period? In that case, the IND will assess whether your current residence permit can be extended. You do not need to submit a new application for this.

If you have a residence permit as the parent of a Dutch child, different rules apply

Do you have a residence permit as a family member of a Dutch child under the age of 18? This is also known as a

Is your current residence permit due to expire? If so, you can renew it. You can check the IND website to see whether you meet the conditions for a different residence permit.

Collecting a residence permit

You will receive a letter from the IND when your residence permit is ready. The letter will state which IND office you can collect the permit from.

You can only collect your residence permit if you have made an appointment.