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Permanent residence permits
Following an uninterrupted stay of at least 5 years in the Netherlands a foreigner may apply for a permanent residence permit.
In order to qualify for this, foreigners must first pass the inburgeringsexam (integration exam). Furthermore, the 5 year ‘uninterrupted residency’ criterion is strictly adhered to, and there can be no gap in the period in which the applicant has officially resided in the Netherlands. If you have filed your renewal within 4 weeks after expiry date of your residence permit, this will not be considered as a 'gap' by the IND.
'Formal procedural stay' is also not considered an interruption. However, this period does not counts for the 5 years. Read more about 'formal limited right of residence'.
Besides reviewing the length of residency, the Immigration Services (IND) will also make a judgement about an applicant’s ability to support themself. After an uninterrupted stay of 10 years this last criteria will no longer be reviewed.
While such a residence permit is issued as indefinite, the actual document in question will be valid for 5 years. Upon its expiration a simple renewal process is required in order to receive a new one.
