Leaving the Netherlands permanently: what do you need to do?

If you want to leave the Netherlands, you must report this to the municipality where you live. You can do this at your municipality’s civil affairs office. The municipality will then remove you from the

Find out more about how to deregister with the municipality.

Be sure to report your departure to the IND as well

If you have an asylum residence permit and leave the Netherlands voluntarily, you must also report your departure to the IND.

You can notify the IND of your departure in writing. To do so, you must fill out the form that corresponds to your residence permit. Read more about this on the IND website.

If you did not report your departure to the municipality on time, you can report it online to the IND.

Sometimes a referent can do this for you as well. A referent could be, for example, your partner, employer or school.

Taking care of practical matters

Before you leave, there are a few practical matters you will need to take care of. These include your housing, job, school, financial matters and important documents. For example, you can:

• Cancel your rent and subscriptions

• Cancel your health insurance

• Notify your employer and terminate your employment contract

• Stop your benefits or allowances

• Notify your school or childcare centre

• Discuss debts or payment arrangements

• Manage your banking affairs

• File your tax return

If you have children, ask their school for documents, report cards or proof of enrolment. This might come in handy.

Assistance from the International Organization for Migration (IOM)

If you are considering leaving the Netherlands and returning to your country of origin, you can get help from

You can start by having a conversation with IOM. Everything you discuss with IOM will be kept confidential.

For example, IOM can help with:

• Discussions about your return and advice in your own language

• Help with planning your trip and help with booking a flight

• Advice on travel documents and assistance with applying for a travel document

• Reimbursement of certain costs associated with travel documents

• Assistance at the airport upon departure, during a layover or upon arrival, as needed

• A small financial contribution for the initial period after arrival

• Reimbursement for travel from the airport to your final destination

Sometimes additional assistance is available. For example, for

In some cases, IOM may also contact colleagues in your country of origin. They can provide information about the situation there. If you need other kinds of assistance, IOM can sometimes refer you to another organisation.

Find out here how to get in touch with IOM.

Assistance from the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V)

Would you like to return voluntarily to your country of origin? If so, you may be able to receive assistance with your departure from

For example, DT&V can help with:

• Information and advice on voluntary return

• Arranging travel documents

• Payment for travel documents

• Booking a flight

• A small amount for the initial period after returning (€200 per adult and €40 per minor child).

Sometimes, additional assistance is available for vulnerable individuals. For example, for unaccompanied minors, victims of human trafficking or people with medical conditions.

REAN programme

Basic departure support is part of the REAN program. REAN stands for Return and Emigration Assistance from the Netherlands. This programme is intended for migrants who wish to return voluntarily to their country of origin but do not have enough money to arrange their return on their own.

Click here if you need help from the Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V).

Additional support for returnees

In some cases, you may be eligible for additional support if you voluntarily return to your country of origin. This support can help with:

• Preparing for your departure

• The first few days after arrival

• The initial period after returning

In addition to basic departure support, adults can also receive additional help. This may include, for example:

• €630 upon arrival in the country of origin.

• Reintegration assistance in the amount of €2,450.

Reintegration assistance is usually not provided as cash deposited into your bank account. You receive assistance in kind. This means that the assistance is used for practical needs, such as housing, training or finding a job.

These amounts apply to people who are eligible for return assistance. It does not matter whether you are leaving with the assistance of the IOM, an NGO or the European Reintegration Program (EURP).

Please note: the rules and amounts are subject to change. Therefore, always check with the IOM, the DT&V or a repatriation organisation to find out what support is available to you.

• VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN)

• International Organization for Migration (IOM)

• Repatriation and Departure Service (DT&V)

• Solid Road

• Stichting ROS

• Stichting WereldWijd

Whether you receive support and what you are entitled to depends on your personal situation. Your contact person at VWN or your social worker can assist you with this.

Your residence permit is the pass you received from the IND. This pass is the property of the Dutch government.

If you are leaving the Netherlands permanently, you must return the pass to the IND. There are two ways to do this:

• You send the pass to the IND by post

• You hand in the pass at an IND office

Send your pass by post

First, invalidate the pass before sending it. You can do this by cutting off a corner of the pass. You can also punch a hole in it. Then you can send the pass to the IND Document and Identity Office.

You can also send the pass along with the foreign national reporting form

Handing in your pass at an IND office

Would you like to hand in the card in person at an IND office? If so, make an appointment with the IND first.

Bring the following to your appointment:

• Your residence document

• The completed foreign national reporting form.

If you are leaving the Netherlands with the assistance of the IOM, you must personally hand in your residence permit at an IND office.

If you want to leave the Netherlands permanently, do not make a decision too quickly. Leaving permanently can have consequences for your residence permit, your job, your housing and the possibility for you to return to the Netherlands in the future. Seek advice from the IND, the IOM VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN) or a lawyer. That way, you will have a better understanding of what your decision means and can avoid problems down the road.

If you leave with the assistance of the IOM, this assistance is intended for people who wish to return permanently and do not plan to come back to Europe. Upon departure, you usually sign a departure declaration. By doing so, you give consent to have your right of residence revoked.

If you do want to return to the Netherlands at a later date, you can only do so if you are once again eligible to enter the Netherlands or live here. For example, with a visa, a new residence permit or, in some situations, a new asylum application. Therefore, always seek advice from a lawyer, VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), or the IND before you leave permanently.