Netherlands Permanent Residence 2026: Rules and Costs
After five years in the Netherlands on the right kind of permit, you can ask to stay for good. One application covers two outcomes. The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) first checks whether you qualify as a long-term EU resident, and if not, whether you qualify for a Dutch permanent residence permit. The conditions overlap: five years, enough income, civic integration and registration at your town hall. This guide sets them out from the IND's pages, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
You need a valid Dutch residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years, with your main residence in the Netherlands throughout, and a permit for a non-temporary purpose today. You must have passed the civic integration exam at level A2 or be exempt, be registered in the population register, and meet the income requirement, which is €1,635.90 gross a month without holiday allowance from 1 July to 31 December 2026. The application costs €254, and the IND must decide within 6 months.
Two statuses, one application
| Long-term EU resident | Permanent residence permit | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | EU status that lets you live in the Netherlands indefinitely | The Dutch permanent permit, for people who do not meet the long-term EU resident requirements |
| Extra benefit | Makes it easier to apply for a residence permit in another EU country, if you meet that country's requirements | — |
| How the IND treats it | Checked first, automatically | Checked if you do not meet the long-term EU resident requirements |
| Fee for a first application | €254 | €254 |
If you meet neither set of requirements, the IND looks at whether it can extend your current permit instead.
Requirements for a permanent residence permit
- You have had a valid Dutch residence permit for at least 5 consecutive years. Only years from the age of 8 count.
- Your main residence was in the Netherlands during the entire 5-year period.
- You always extended your residence permit in time.
- You have always met the requirements for your permit and still do.
- You now hold a valid permit for a non-temporary purpose of residence.
- You gave no false information, and withheld none, in the application for your current permit.
- You meet the income requirements.
- You are registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP) at your town hall.
- You passed the civic integration exam at level A2 at least, or you are exempt.
Children can apply once they are at least 13 and have held a valid permit from the age of 8. People born in the Netherlands who are now 18, and people who arrived before the age of 3 and have lived there since, can only be refused if they are a danger to public order or national security.
Which permits do not count
A permit for a temporary purpose does not qualify you. The IND lists the temporary purposes:
- seasonal labour
- intra-corporate transfer
- cross-border services
- trainee and apprentice
- orientation year for highly educated persons
- au pair
- exchange, including the Working Holiday scheme
Study has its own rule for the long-term EU resident status: half of the years spent on a study permit count. Years on other temporary permits do not count at all.
Extra rules for long-term EU resident status
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| Absence from the Netherlands | No period longer than 6 consecutive months, and no more than 10 months in total, during the 5 years |
| European Blue Card holders, route 1 | At least 2 consecutive years in the Netherlands on a Blue Card, preceded by at least 12 consecutive months in another EU country on a Blue Card, and 5 consecutive years in the EU in total |
| European Blue Card holders, route 2 | 5 consecutive years in the Netherlands with a valid Blue Card now; absences of up to 12 consecutive months and 18 months in total are allowed |
The income requirement
| Who shows the income | Gross SV salary per month, 1 July to 31 December 2026 |
|---|---|
| You yourself | €1,635.90 without holiday allowance; €1,766.77 with it |
| A married, registered or cohabiting partner | €2,337.00 without holiday allowance; €2,523.96 with it |
| A family member who is a single parent | €1,635.90 without holiday allowance |
The IND asks for income that is independent, sustainable and sufficient. The SV salary is the social security salary printed on your payslip, the gross amount on which wage tax and national insurance are calculated.
Exceptions to the five years
You can apply without 5 consecutive years on a Dutch permit, if you meet every other requirement, in these cases:
- You have Belgian or Luxembourgian nationality.
- You are a privileged or former privileged person, or their dependent family member.
- You are an adult who lived in the Netherlands on a valid permit for 10 years or more before turning 18, and you applied to return before turning 28.
- You are an adult who lived in the Netherlands on a valid permit for 5 years or more before turning 18, and the Netherlands is the most appropriate country for you to live in.
- You are a former Dutch citizen who had lived in the Netherlands on a valid permit for 5 years or more when you became Dutch.
How to apply
- Check the requirements.
- Collect the documents listed on the application form. Official foreign documents must be legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
- Apply online with DigiD, or in writing by post. Your permit must still be valid. You can apply from 3 months before it expires, or at any time once you have lived in the Netherlands on a permit for more than 5 years.
- Pay €254. Online applicants pay immediately; written applicants receive a letter explaining how.
- Wait for the decision. The IND must decide within 6 months and can extend that period, for example if the application is incomplete. You may wait in the Netherlands.
- Collect the residence document at an IND desk by appointment once you receive the letter.
If you applied before your current permit ran out, you keep the right to work stated on your existing residence document while you wait.
What you get
- With a permanent residence permit you are free to work in the Netherlands, and your employer does not need a work permit for you.
- The residence document is renewed every five years. The renewal costs €85.
And citizenship?
Naturalisation is a separate application made at your town hall. The IND's decision period for it is 12 months, and the fee in 2026 is €1,139 for one person, or €1,454 together with a partner. A child under 18 naturalised with a parent costs €168.
Frequently asked questions
How long until I can get permanent residence in the Netherlands?
After at least 5 consecutive years with a valid Dutch residence permit, with your main residence in the Netherlands for the whole period.
How much does Dutch permanent residence cost?
€254 for a first application in 2026, for both the permanent residence permit and the long-term EU resident permit. Renewing the residence document every five years costs €85.
Do I need to pass the civic integration exam?
Yes, at level A2 at least, unless you are exempt. The IND requires proof of civic integration for a permanent permit.
Do study years count towards permanent residence in the Netherlands?
For long-term EU resident status, half of the years spent on a study permit count. A study permit is a temporary purpose, so you also need a permit for a non-temporary purpose when you apply.
How much income do I need for Dutch permanent residence?
If you show the income yourself, €1,635.90 gross a month without holiday allowance, for applications from 1 July to 31 December 2026.
How long does the IND take to decide?
The IND must decide within 6 months and can extend the period if it needs longer, for example because the application is incomplete.
Can I leave the Netherlands during the five years?
For long-term EU resident status you must not have been outside the Netherlands for more than 6 consecutive months, or more than 10 months in total.
Official sources
- Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) — Permanent residence permit (last update 20 May 2026)
- IND — Apply for a residence permit for long-term EU residents (last update 18 August 2026)
- IND — Exceptions to 5-year term for permanent residency
- IND — Required amounts income requirements
- IND — Fees: costs of an application
- IND — Becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. Income amounts are set for fixed periods and fees change on 1 January, so confirm them on ind.nl before you apply. Information, not legal advice.