Netherlands Lowers Fees for Residency Applications

According to the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service, the country has decided to make adjustments to the fees after taking into account price increases as well as wage developments, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.

“From January 1, 2023, new fees apply. They are adjusted each year based on price increases and wage developments (indexing). As of the new year, the IND will also implement a number of improvements,” the statement of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service reads.

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service explains that adjustments of the fees have a number of advantages for the applicants and the same points out that applicants will now be able to apply for a permanent residence permit sooner than before.

According to the source mentioned above, foreigners will be permitted to obtain a permit that is valid for five years so they do not have to apply as well as pay for its extension each year.

“Because it will become more affordable, applicants can choose a permanent residence permit sooner. This means that someone will get a permit that is valid for five years, so they do not have to apply and pay for an extension every year,” the Immigration and Naturalisation Service stressed.

Apart from making it possible for the applicants to save money, the authorities said that by applying new fees they aim to give applicants a stronger right of residency, which will help them find a job in the Netherlands as well as integrate.

Among many changes, the Dutch authorities have decided to lower the fee for self-employed people applying for residence permits and extensions. The fee for self-employed individuals applying for a residence permit has been lowered almost four times compared to last year – from €1,446 to €350.

Moreover, since January 1, 2023, the fee for those applying for a residence permit on permanent humanitarian grounds has been lowered from €1,109 to €210, and the extension fee of the residency permit for this particular residence permit has been lowered from €397 to €210.

The fee for all other purposes of residency has also been lowered from €1,109 to €210 and its extension now is €210.

The residence permit fee for witnesses reporting human trafficking and any form of violence has also been lowered (from €410 to €210).