Netherlands Permanent Residence: 5 Years, A2 Civic Integration and €254 Fee

Under the Netherlands’ standard regular permanent-residence route, the baseline is at least five consecutive years with a valid Dutch residence permit, civic integration at at least A2 unless exempt, and a €254 application fee for applicants aged 18 or older; a different fee applies to those under 18. The applicant must also maintain their main residence in the Netherlands, renew permits on time, hold a current non-temporary residence permit, meet the applicable income requirements, and register in the BRP. The IND must decide within six months, although it may extend that period.

These requirements are stated on the Immigration Service Netherlands (IND), “Permanent residence permit”; the official-source verification date is 27 May 2026 and applies to every rule, threshold, fee and processing period below.

What does the standard five-year route require?

Requirement	Netherlands regular permanent-residence rule
General eligibility	The applicant must meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
Residence history	A valid Dutch residence permit must have been held for at least five consecutive years.
Main residence	The applicant’s main residence must have been in the Netherlands throughout the qualifying five-year period.
Permit continuity	Residence permits must always have been extended in time.
Compliance	The applicant must have complied with the conditions of the residence permit throughout that period and must still comply when applying.
Current residence status	The applicant must currently hold a valid residence permit issued for a non-temporary residence purpose. It must remain valid when the permanent-residence application is submitted.
Income	The applicant must meet the applicable income requirements, described by the IND as independent, sustainable and sufficient income.
Population registration	The applicant must be registered at the local town hall in the Basisregistratie Personen, or BRP, the Netherlands’ population register.
Civic integration	The applicant must have passed the civic-integration examination at at least A2 level or be exempt from it.
Information	During the application for the current residence permit, the applicant must not have supplied false information or withheld information.

How are the five years counted?

The standard period is based on five consecutive years, not simply reaching a fifth anniversary. Only years from the age of eight count toward the period.

The IND also recognises that exceptions to the standard five-year period exist. For children, the IND states that a child can apply only if the child is at least 13 and has held a valid residence permit since reaching the age of eight. Those age conditions do not remove the other general and route-specific requirements.

Which residence permit can result from the application?

When an applicant seeks permanent residence, the IND first checks whether the applicant qualifies for a Dutch residence permit for a long-term EU resident. The applicant does not need to arrange that eligibility check separately.

The two relevant permit categories are different:

• A type V residence permit is the Dutch residence permit for a long-term EU resident.
• A type II permit is the Dutch permanent regular residence permit.

A type V long-term EU resident permit can make applying for a residence permit in another EU country easier, but it does not remove that country’s own requirements.

When can the application be submitted?

An applicant may apply from three months before the current Dutch residence permit expires. The permit must still be valid on the application date.

Someone who has already lived in the Netherlands under a residence permit for more than five years may choose when to apply and does not have to wait until the permit is nearly expired. Any applicable exceptions or special categories should be checked before relying on this timing.

How is the application submitted and paid?

Before applying, the applicant should confirm that the residence history, current permit, income position, BRP registration and civic-integration status meet the relevant requirements.

The application process is as follows:

• The application form lists the required documents, and all documents should be collected before submission.
• Official foreign documents must be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
• The application can be submitted online or in writing by post.
• Online applications require DigiD login, and supporting documents can be uploaded through the online application.
• The written application form is available only in Dutch.
• An online application must be paid immediately through iDEAL | Wero.
• Applicants submitting a written application receive a letter explaining how to pay.

The €254 fee applies to applicants aged 18 or older. The IND states that a different amount applies to applicants under 18.

How long does the IND have to decide?

The IND must make its decision within the stated six-month decision period. This is a decision deadline, not an assurance that every application will be completed on a particular day.

The decision period may be extended if more time is required, for example because the application is incomplete. The IND says it will send a message if this occurs, but the official material does not give a fixed length for every extension.

An applicant may await the processing of the application in the Netherlands and can follow its progress through My IND. The decision is sent as a letter following a reassessment of the applicant’s situation.

A positive decision may result in one of the following, depending on the applicant’s circumstances:

• A type V long-term EU resident permit;
• A type II permanent regular residence permit; or
• An extension of the current residence permit.

If the applicant does not qualify for permanent residence or the relevant EU resident permit, the IND will assess whether the current residence permit can be extended. A negative decision means that no residence permit is granted, although the decision may be challenged through the applicable objection procedure.

When a permit is ready for collection at an IND desk, the applicant receives a letter and must make an appointment.

What employment status applies while the application is processed?

The back of the current residence document identifies the holder’s employment status: whether working is allowed and whether a work permit, or TWV, is required.

If the permanent-residence application is submitted before the current permit’s end date, the applicant keeps the employment status shown on that document while the application is being processed.

If the current document has expired and no decision has yet been issued, the applicant can make an appointment for a residence endorsement sticker. The sticker states whether work is allowed, but a TWV will usually still be required to work.

After a permanent residence permit is granted, the holder may work freely in the Netherlands, and the employer does not need a TWV.

What does the granted regular permit provide?

A permanent residence permit has no end date. The physical residence document is valid for five years and may be renewed every five years.

The permit holder must continue providing information to the IND and report changes in their circumstances. The IND checks compliance with these obligations and may impose an administrative fine if they are not met.

If the residence document is damaged, lost or stolen, a replacement must be requested. A document that is approaching expiry can be renewed.

Frequently asked questions

Does a break in residence-permit continuity invalidate the five-year period?

Under the standard route, yes: the IND requires a valid Dutch residence permit for at least five consecutive years and timely extensions. Because the IND also recognises exceptions, an applicant with a permit gap should check whether an exception applies rather than assuming either eligibility or ineligibility.

Does everyone have to pass an A2 civic-integration examination?

The applicant must pass the civic-integration examination at at least A2 level unless the IND grants an exemption. Passing the examination does not replace the other residence, income, registration and general requirements.

Can the permanent-residence application be filed before the current permit expires?

Yes. The application may be submitted from three months before the current permit expires, provided that the permit remains valid on the filing date. An applicant who has already lived in the Netherlands under a residence permit for more than five years may choose when to apply.

Is the €254 fee the same for children?

No. The €254 fee stated by the IND applies to applicants aged 18 or older. A different amount applies when the applicant is under 18.

Must the applicant leave the Netherlands while the application is processed?

The IND states that the applicant may await processing of the application in the Netherlands. This is distinct from the employment status that applies while the application is under review.

This is general information about the Netherlands’ regular permanent-residence route, not a personal eligibility assessment. Confirm the current position with the IND and, where relevant, the Dutch authority or consulate handling the case before applying.

Sources

• Immigration Service Netherlands (IND) — Permanent residence permit