A new application
- Usually an MVV from abroad first
- Your sponsor – employer or partner – applies
- You must meet today’s conditions
- Earlier years may not count towards permanent residence
Coming back
Your route back to the Netherlands
How you return depends on what you kept when you left.
Dutch citizens
Settling back in
1
Register
Register at the municipality within 5 days of arrival – you leave the RNI.
2
Health insurance
Take out Dutch health insurance within 4 months – it starts from your arrival date.
3
DigiD and allowances
Request DigiD and apply for allowances you are entitled to.
4
Tax
File an M form again for the year you return.
Former permit holders
Applying again
A faster way back
- The option procedure after 1 year of legal residence
- No full naturalisation needed
- Conditions apply – check first
- We check whether you qualify
Family
Coming back together
Partner from abroad
The partner route – with the income requirement and often the exam abroad.
The EU route
Lived together in another EU country? EU law can bring your family back without the income requirement.
Children
Children of a Dutch parent are often Dutch. Others need a family permit.
Read more: partner-visa.nl · the EU route.
FAQ
Questions about returning
Do I need a visa to return as a Dutch citizen?
No. Dutch citizens can always return. You only need a valid passport or ID card.
My permit was withdrawn while I was abroad. Can I object?
Yes – within the deadline in the decision. We prepare the objection and represent you.
Can my foreign partner come with me?
Yes, with a partner permit – or through the EU route if you lived together in another EU country.
Do my earlier years in the Netherlands still count?
For permanent residence an absence can break the 5-year period. For naturalisation, ask us first.
Related routes
Staying, coming back or moving on
Stay
Permanent residence
Five years in? A permanent permit or EU long-term resident status travels better.
eu-permanent.nl Open website CitizenshipDutch citizenship
Naturalisation or the option procedure – and keeping your Dutch passport.
dutch-citizenship.nl Open website FamilyPartner visa
Coming back with a partner from abroad? The partner route explained.
partner-visa.nl Open website EU lawThe EU route
Lived with your family in another EU country? EU law may bring you back together.
yari-immigration.nl/eu-law-eu-route.html Open websiteInformation valid for 2026, based on ind.nl, government.nl, netherlandsworldwide.nl, belastingdienst.nl, svb.nl and cbs.nl. Rules can change – always check the latest information with us or on the official websites.