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The asylum procedure

The asylum procedure

When you apply for asylum in the Netherlands, the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) investigates whether you are entitled to a residence permit. Below you can read more about the asylum procedure, the waiting period and your rights.

Step-by-step plans (2)

The general asylum procedure

5 Steps

Have you arrived in the Netherlands by land? Then you apply for asylum through the general asylum procedure. You apply for this in the Dutch village of Ter Apel. Read here how this asylum procedure works.

You apply in Ter Apel

You will have a 1st interview with the IND in ter Apel

You are waiting for the 2nd interview with the IND

The 2nd interview with the IND

The IND will make a decision whether or not to grant you a residence permit

The border procedure: seeking asylum when you arrive at an airport or port

5 Steps

Did you arrive in the Netherlands by plane or ship? And do you not have a visa to enter the Netherlands? Then you apply for asylum through the border procedure. It is called this because you are not officially in the Netherlands yet. Read here how this asylum procedure works.

You report to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee

You will have a 1st interview with the IND during the asylum procedure at Schiphol Airport

You wait 6 days for the 2nd interview with the IND during the asylum procedure at Schiphol Airport

The 2nd interview with the IND in the asylum procedure at Schiphol Airport

The IND will make a decision whether or not to grant you a residence permit

Information

Requirements for an asylum residence permit

You can apply for asylum in the Netherlands under certain conditions. The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) assesses whether you meet those conditions. After that, the IND will also determine whether you will get an asylum a or b residence permit. You cannot apply for asylum in the Netherlands if you are abroad.

Have you arrived in the Netherlands airport Schiphol or via a port? Then report to the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMar) to request asylum.

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Arrival in the Netherlands at Schiphol Airport, another airport or at a port

Do you arrive by plane at Schiphol Airport, another airport or at a port in the Netherlands? And do you not have a valid visa and passport to enter the Netherlands? Then apply for asylum there. You then await your asylum application in a closed reception centre at Schiphol Airport.

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Accelerated procedure if you come from a safe country of origin

If you are from a country that is safe according to the Dutch government, your asylum application will be processed in a fast-track procedure. There is a good chance that the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) will reject your asylum application.

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The Dublin Procedure

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) may decide that another European country should process your asylum application. You will then enter the Dublin procedure. Read more here about how the Dublin procedure works.

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Here is what you can do to properly prepare for your asylum procedure in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, it can take a long time before your asylum procedure starts and you get your first interviews with the IND. You may not remember all parts of your flight story as well as you do now. Below you can read how best to prepare for the procedure if you have to wait a long time.

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Additional information about the asylum process if you are LGBTQIA+

Have you fled because you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex? And do you therefore want to apply for asylum in the Netherlands? If so, it is important that you tell your lawyer and the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) during the asylum procedure.

Man sits behind a desk in a room at a reception centre

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The extended asylum procedure

If the IND needs more time to process your asylum application, you will switch to the Extended Asylum Procedure (VA). The IND decides after the 2nd interview whether you will switch to the VA. The VA can take a few months or longer.

Parents laugh together with their infant son

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What you need to know about family reunification

You cannot apply for family reunification without an asylum residence permit in the Netherlands. If you have a high chance of getting an asylum residence permit, sometimes you can already prepare your application for family reunification.

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Submitting your documents to the IND during the asylum procedure

During your asylum procedure, you submit documents to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) to prove your refugee story. Read about which documents you need to submit and how to send them.

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Here is what you can do if the IND is late in deciding

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) must decide on your application in time. If this does not happen, you can officially ask the IND to make a decision within 2 weeks. This is called 'in gebreke stellen' (notice of default).

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