Apply for a residence permit for long-term EU residents

Last update: 9 September 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.

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
  • 1. Check requirements open minus
  • 2. Collect documents open minus
  • 2. Collect documents open minus
  • 3. Apply open minus
  • 4. Pay for application open minus
  • 5. Wait for decision on application open minus
  • 6. Decision on application open minus
  • 7. Collect residence permit open minus

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

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).

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.

Type of residence permit

The residence permit is type V, residence permit for long-term residents.

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.
 

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