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This section covers the process we followed when we moved to The Netherlands in 2021, your situation might be slightly different and therefore all the information provided in this page is based on our experience. My recommendation is to use a company that specliases in these applications as it does make the process easier and less stressful.
I have a German passport (dual citizenship) and my husband is South African, when we immigrated, due to our situation, we decided that I would travel first (June 2021) and he would come 1 month later. Unfortunately 1 month turned into 4 months later.
I already had a indefinite contract signed and we already had a rental contract (you can read more about this in Preparing for the move. When we were ready for him to come over (our dogs had their flight booked and our house had been sold), he applied for a Facilitation (Type C) Visa at VFS Global and booked his ticket to fly over.
Once he landed, this is when the process kicked in. We had decided to use Elizette's services for the application as it would be easier and we did not know all the rules concerning verification against EU Law. She and Janine provided a lot of information that really helped us along the way. Due to covid, our process was done fully online however I think currently you would have to make an appointment and take all the original documents as well as copies with you to the IND. In the below process, I mention scans / copies but that was due to our having to do everything online.
Important Notes:
I had to be registered at the Gemeente already and have my BSN before his application could be submitted.
I needed to have an employment contract with a Dutch company and they had to complete an Employers Statement.
The process:
Get the relevant documents ready and fill out what you can on the form in the meantime.
Fly to The Netherlands on the 90 day facilitation visa.
When you arrive, scan in your passport, the personal details page with the exit and entry stamps.
Complete the rest of the information in the application forms.
Submit the forms and documents to the IND.
In about 2 - 3 weeks you will receive a letter from the IND with the following information:
The date they will reach a decision (you are allowed to be in the country up until this date).
Payment instructions to pay for the service (you have to pay within 1 week otherwise they cancel your application).
Approval that you can now register at the Gemeente.
Approval that you can now start working while you are waiting for the outcome.
Work is freely permitted and a work permit is not required.
Request for a passport photo and biometrics.
Make an appointment at the IND for the passport photo and biometrics.
Register at the Gemeente to get your BSN Number.
You can read about what documents to take with you in Arriving in The Netherlands.
Don't forget to take the IND letters with you.
You should receive the letter about the decision by the time they mentioned in the first letter you received. This letter will have the following information:
How long the permit is valid for.
Confirmation that you can work without a specific work permit.
Confirmation that a residence permit card will be issued to you.
At this point, the EU citizen will also receive a letter from the IND asking for biometrics so that your residence card can be issued as well.
EU Citizen should make an appointment at the IND for the passport photo and biometrics.
You should receive the last letter from the IND with the date that you can collect your actual residence permit card.
EU Citizen should receive the last letter with the date that you can collect your actual residence permit card.
This is the timeline of our process, please note this was in the middle of Covid so things were a little different. The process still went very quickly in consideration but that may also be due to less people travelling at that time. I'm not sure what the waiting times are at the moment.
25 Aug 2021 - Facilitation (Type C) Visa appointment.
1 Sep 2021 - Recieved passport with Visa.
14 Oct 2021 - Arrived in NL.
20 Oct 2021 - Submitted appliation to IND.
6 Nov 2021 - Received 1st letter from IND - they confirmed they would make the decision by 20 April 2022.
17 Nov 2021 - Registered at the Gemeente.
18 Nov 2021 - Biometric appointment at IND.
22 Nov 2021 - Received 2nd letter from IND approving his resident permit for 5 years - I also got a letter on this date asking me to make an appointment for biometrics so that I could also be given a residence card.
27 Nov 2021 - Received 3rd letter from IND letting Ryan know he can collect his residence card.
10 Dec 2021 - Collected residence permit
When you scan your documents in, make sure they are very good quality scans in colour and label them with your Initials, Surname and the document that was scanned.
Please note, documents must be in english, dutch, german or french. If they are in afrikaans, they need to be translated. The birth and marriage certificates need to be apostilled by DIRCO (they don't accept High Court apostilles).
EU Passport (in colour, with all the pages)
Employment Contract with Dutch Company
Employers Statement
BSN Confirmation (in colour)
30% Approval letter
Rental agreement (proof of address and a place to live)
Signed Application form - Registration for citizens of the Union (Proof of entitlement to residency status)
Passport (in colour, with all the pages, especially the one with the exit / entry stamps)
Signed Application form - Application for verification against EU law
Unabridged Marriage Certificate with an Apostille from DIRCO
Unabridged Birth Certificate with an Apostille from DIRCO
We did not need to complete the "Declaration of relationship" as we are married and provided a marriage certificate. If you are not married, you will need to complete this form and provide proof of the long term relationship (shared bills etc)
I will only mention fields that are perhaps not clear enough or I had questions about.
1.1 - V Number: we were not sure what the V Number was when we completed the form. I did not have a V Number as the EU Citizen as I did not require a visa.
2 - I chose work in employment/for an employer as I had a indefinite contract
Make sure you put the right number of attachments that you included, date and sign the document.
I will only mention fields that are perhaps not clear enough or I had questions about.
1.1 - V Number: you can find this number on the visa in your password, it is the number under the remarks section on the right side of the personal information and its a 10 digit number.
2 - Select "you are the spouse, partner or registered partner of an EU citizen (non dutch).
Make sure you put the right number of attachments that you included, date and sign the document.