Permanent residence (verblijfsvergunning onbepaalde tijd)

What are the conditions for a permanent residence permit?

You have had a valid Dutch residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years (years from age 8 count), your main residence was in the Netherlands the whole time, your current permit has a non-temporary purpose, you meet the income requirement, you are registered in the BRP, you always extended in time, and you passed the civic integration exam at A2 or are exempt. For the EU long-term resident permit, years with a study permit count half and other temporary permits do not count.

When can I apply, how long does it take and what does it cost?

Your permit must still be valid when you apply. You can apply from 3 months before your current permit expires; if you have already lived here for more than 5 years with a permit, you choose when to apply. The IND must decide within 6 months. The fee on the IND page we checked is €254.

Turkish nationals pay €85 (€46 under 18) according to the IND fee page we checked.

What if my current permit expires while I wait?

You may wait for the decision in the Netherlands. If you applied before your permit ended, you keep the work status on your current residence document. If your document has expired and there is no decision yet, make an appointment for a sticker in your passport; with that sticker you usually need a work permit (TWV) to work, so check this with your employer. Travelling abroad while your permit is not valid may require a return visa: check the IND travel rules first.

Permanent residence or naturalisation: what is the difference?

With permanent residence you keep your nationality; the permit has no end date but the card is renewed every 5 years, and the permit can still be withdrawn if you move your main residence abroad. With naturalisation you become a Dutch citizen and can get a Dutch passport, but you usually have to renounce your current nationality unless an exception applies. Naturalisation costs more and the IND can take up to 12 months, against 6 months for permanent residence.

How long can I stay abroad without losing my permit?

For regular permits, the IND assumes you moved your main residence abroad if you were outside the Netherlands for more than 6 continuous months in one calendar year, or for more than 4 continuous months in each of 3 calendar years in a row. The IND can then withdraw your permit. For the EU long-term resident permit, the IND also looks at more than 12 continuous months outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. Ask the IND before a long stay abroad.

For nationality: Turkish

Are Turkish nationals exempt from the A2 diploma for permanent residence?

Not according to the IND exemption list we checked (updated 27 August 2026): it has no exemption based on Turkish nationality. The IND page for Turkish citizens only mentions an exemption for the humanitarian non-temporary permit in certain situations. Turkish nationals do pay a lower fee: €85 instead of €254 on the IND fee page we checked.