Leaving the Netherlands | IND (2024)

You are leaving the Netherlands voluntarily. For example because you are returning to your country of origin. You do not have to end your residence permit. But there are some things you need to take care of before you leave the Netherlands.

Inform your local council

Do this at the Civil Affairs Department (in Dutch: afdeling Burgerzaken) of the local council in your area. Your local council (municipality) will deregister you from the personal records database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP). They will let the IND know you have deregistered.

Inform the IND of you departure

In certain situations, you must also inform the IND of your departure. You can do this yourself, or your sponsor (for example your partner or employer) can do this for you.

You must inform the IND of your departure in these situations:

• You dit not inform your local council of your departure within 4 weeks after leaving the Netherlands.
• You have an asylum residence permit and are leaving the Netherlands voluntarily. Always use this declaration:

Do you have EU, EEA or Swiss nationality? Then you do not have to inform the IND of your departure.

Informing the IND of departure online

Do you want to inform the IND of your departure online? Then use the online notification form.

Are you a recognised sponsor? Then use the notification form in the Business Portal.

Informing the IND of departure in writing

Do you want to inform the IND of your departure in writing? Then use the relevant form relevant for the residence purpose of your residence permit:

Leave the Netherlands on time

On time means that you leave before your residence permit expires. What happens if you do not leave the Netherlands on time? Then the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (KMAR) can impose a return decision on you. You can also receive an entry ban.

Are you in the Netherlands without a valid residence permit? Then you are illegal and the government can oblige you to leave the Netherlands. What happens if you do not leave the Netherlands yourself? Then the government can force you to leave.

Foreign nationals detention

Do you have to leave the Netherlands but do you not leave voluntarily? And is there a risk that you will not do so? Then you could be placed in foreign nationals detention. This is a way to keep someone available for departure from the Netherlands. It is not meant as a punishment. Find out more about foreign nationals detention.

You can be placed in a detention centre. You will stay there until you leave the Netherlands. Can you be removed in a short period? Then you can be placed in a deportation centre.

Appeal against foreign nationals detention

Do you disagree with the foreign nationals detention? Then you can appeal. Find out more about appealing against foreign nationals detention (in Dutch).

The card is property of the Dutch government. Invalidate the residence document before you give it back to the IND. You do this by cutting a corner off the document, or by making a hole in it.

There are different ways to give the residence document back to us:

• Send the card in an envelope to this postal address:
  IND Bureau Documenten
  Postbus 49
  9560 AA Ter Apel
• Enclose the card with the Notification form for foreign nationals. The form contains the address:
  

  Reporting form for foreign nationals 7597 (PDF,177.44 KB)

• Hand the card back to an IND desk. First make an appointment for this by calling the IND. Do not forget to fill in a Notification form for foreign nationals and bring it to the appointment.

You get help when you leave the Netherlands. It does not matter whether you leave voluntarily or are made to leave.

Getting assistance with passport or other travel document

Organisations that provide help for departure

There are different organisations that can help you when you leave the Netherlands:

• Nederlands Migratie Instituut (available in Dutch)
• International Organisation for Migration (IOM)
• Repatrioation and Departure Service (DT&V)

• ​Return decision
• Entry ban

Rules and regulations

• Article 62 Aliens Act (Vreemdelingenwet 2000)
• Article 63 Aliens Act (Vreemdelingenwet 2000)