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Number of residence permit applications increased enormously in 2021
In 2021, the IND received many more applications for a residence permit and Dutch passport than in 2020. The increase in the number of applications is on all fronts. Below we will discuss a number of categories.
Knowledge & Talent
In 2021 there was a huge increase in the number of applications for highly skilled migrant, intra-company transfer and European blue cards compared to 2020. In 2021, in total 22,840 applications were submitted. In 2020, 13,710 applications had been submitted. This is an increase of 67% compared to 2020. Of these 22,840 applications, 94% were granted in 2021. In 2020 that was a fraction lower: 91%.
The top 3 nationalities of the most applications in 2021 for a highly skilled migrant, intra company transfer and European blue card are:
- India
- China
- Turkey
The United States has fallen out of the top 3 in 2021. In 2020, the top 3 countries with the most applications in this category were as follows: 1. India, 2. China and 3. USA.
Family
In 2021, 42,690 applications for a residence permit in the context of family reunification were submitted. In 2020, that number was 32,730. This means an increase of 30% in 2021. In 2021, 82% of the applications were approved and in 2020 that percentage was 80%. So almost the same approval rate.
Top 3 nationalities in 2021 were: India, Turkey and Syria.In 2020: it was exactly the same: India, Turkey and Syria.
Dutch citizenship
The number of applications for a Dutch passport (naturalization as a Dutch citizen) has increased enormously in 2021 compared to 2020 and 2019. An increase of almost 50%. In 2021, 59,680 applications were submitted. Of these, 98% were granted. In 2020 there were 43,660 applications, of which 97% were granted. And in 2019, 44,400 applications were submitted, of which 97% were also granted.
The significant increase in the number of applications is a direct result of the high number of asylum applications in 2015 and 2016. That is because after 5 years, a foreign national can submit an application for naturalization.
That the high number of applications is indeed related to the high influx of asylum seekers is also apparent from the top 2 nationalities that have applied for a Dutch passport. These are foreigners from Syria and Eritrea.
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