Permanent residence permit for (ex-)privileged persons and their family members

A privileged person is someone who lives and works in the Netherlands as a diplomat, consular employee or international organisation. Privileged persons have a special privileged status.

An ex-privileged person is someone who no longer has the privileged status, through actions other than their own.

 

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• (ex-)Privileged person

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  These requirements apply to you as an (ex-)privileged person.

  • One of these situations apply to you.
    • You are or were employed at a foreign diplomatic or consular post. You were a member of the administrative, technical or support staff.
    • You are or were employed at an international organisation.
    • You are or were a senior management member, including the head, of an international organisation. 
  • Directly before the application you have lived in the Netherlands for 10 years or more with a privileged status. Did you work for an international organisation? In that case you can add periods in which you have had a Dutch residence permit to the 10 years.
  • You meet the income requirements. 
  • You do not pose a threat to public order and national security. 
  • You are registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) of your city or town (in Dutch: gemeente).
  • You passed the civic integration exam or you do not have to take the civic integration exam. Find out more on the page Civic integration for more secure residence permit and naturalisation.

  International organisation exists for less than 10 years

  Is the international organisation where you work allowed to exist no longer than 10 years? And have you lived in the Netherlands for 5 continuous years as an employee of this organisation? Then you can apply for a permanent residence permit.

• Family members of (ex-) privileged persons

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  Are you a family member of a (ex-)privileged person? Then you can also apply for a permanent residence permit. For you the following requirements apply:

  • You are 18 or older at the time of the application for the residence permit. If you are under 18, you need to apply for a temporary residence permit. 
  • You have lived in the Netherlands for at least 10 years with a privileged status. Did your family member with the privileged status work for an international organisation? In that case you can add periods in which you have had a Dutch residence permit to the 10 years.
  • You do not pose a threat to public order and national security. 
  • You are registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) of your city or town (in Dutch: gemeente).
  • You passed the civic integration exam or you do not have to take the civic integration exam. Find out more on the page Civic integration for more secure residence permit and naturalisation.

  International organisation exists for less than 10 years

  Does the international organisation for which your family member has worked shorter than 10 years? Then you can apply for permanent residence if you have lived in the Netherlands for 5 continuous years while your family member worked as an employee of this international organisation.

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• 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 application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply. 

  Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

• 2. Collect documents open minus

  The application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.

  Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

• 3. Apply open minus

  You submit the application in writing by post. 

• 4. Pay for the application open minus

  The application costs € 228,00. Are you under 18? Then a different amount applies. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs.

  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 6 months. This is called the 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.

• 3. Decision on application open minus

  You will receive a message with the decision. The decision will be positive or negative.

  • Positive decision: you will get an MVV and a residence permit.
  • Negative decision: you will not receive an MVV and residence permit. You can object against this decision.
• 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 receive a residence permit. You can object against this decision. 
• 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.

Working with the residence permit

It says on the back of your residence permit whether you are allowed to work. You are free to work in the Netherlands with a permanent residence permit. Your employer does not need to have a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV) for you. It says on your residence document ‘Free to work, work permit not required’ (in Dutch: Arbeid vrij toegestaan, TWV niet vereist). 

Rights

With a residence permit for an 'EU long-term resident' or 'permanent residence permit' you have almost the same rights as someone with Dutch nationality. The difference is that you are not allowed to vote in national elections. And that you are not allowed to work in certain special government sectors. For example for the police or the army. In order to do so, you must first apply for Dutch nationality.

Legal obligations

You have an obligation to provide information. Find out more about your legal obligations on the page Obligations foreign national and sponsor of family member.

The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. What if you do not? Then you can get an administrative fine. 

Other applications

Replace residence permit 

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

Renew permanent residence permit

A permanent residence permit is always issued for 5 years. When it expires, you can apply for renewal. Visit the web page Renew permanent residence permit

• Living in the Netherlands 
• Travelling with a residence permit and a return visa