Netherlands Return Visa Policy Changed With New Requirements and Process in June 2025 – YOA

In a big replace introduced in June 2025, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) has revised the Return Visa (Terugkeervisum or TKV) coverage — a lifeline for a lot of worldwide residents who must journey overseas whereas ready for a brand new or prolonged Dutch residence allow.

This replace is significant for expats, college students, dad and mom of Dutch-born kids, and people beneath EU regulation verification processes. Here’s your full information to the newly up to date return visa coverage — who wants it, easy methods to get it, what it prices, and why it simply obtained simpler (or extra sophisticated) relying in your state of affairs.

What Is Dutch Return Visa and Who Needs One?

A Return Visa (TKV) permits non-EU nationals and not using a legitimate Dutch residence allow to re-enter the Netherlands after touring overseas. You might have one if:

• You’ve utilized for a residence allow extension or alternative.
• You’re switching to a unique function of keep (e.g. from study to work).
• Your residence card was misplaced, stolen, or broken.
• You’re the guardian of a child born in the Netherlands awaiting allow issuance.
• You’re making use of to stick with a Union or Dutch Union citizen beneath EU regulation.

Important: You should require a Schengen visa primarily based in your nationality. Use Nederlandwereldwijd.nl to check your visa standing.

Flown Out Without a Valid Dutch Residence Permit?

If you’ve quickly left the Netherlands and instantly realized your residence allow has expired, was stolen, or is lacking—don’t rush to ebook an IND appointment. That’s now not the right step in this example. Instead, in case you are overseas and and not using a legitimate allow, you have to apply for an Dutch entry visa (https://www.netherlandsworldwide.nl/visa-the-netherlands) by way of the closest Dutch embassy or consulate. This rule applies to all non-EU residents whose residence paperwork have lapsed whereas they’re exterior the nation.

Do You Even Need a Return Visa?

Not everybody requires a return visa to get again into the Netherlands. If you’re a nationwide of a rustic that doesn’t require a Schengen visa, and you’re nonetheless inside your visa-free window, you possibly can return to the Netherlands and not using a return visa. However, this isn’t a inexperienced gentle to journey carefree—airways, immigration officers, or authorities in different international locations should still ask to see a return visa earlier than permitting you to board or transit.

So, it’s at all times greatest to substantiate your eligibility and get written assurances earlier than making journey plans.

Where Can You Apply Inside the Netherlands?

For these at the moment in the Netherlands and needing a return visa, you have to apply in individual as per this June 2025 replace. The IND gives appointments at its Desks or Service Points throughout the nation. Residents in the Limburg province can undergo the Expat Centre in Maastricht, whereas these residing in Zeeland or the Brabantse Wal area can ebook an appointment on the IND Service Point in Goes.

All appointments have to be booked on-line, and observe that rescheduling is just not permitted. If that you must change your reserving, you’ll must cancel the prevailing appointment and safe a brand new one from scratch.

2025 Dutch Return Visa Fees Also Received an Update

The charge construction for NL return visas has additionally been clarified in this new June 2025 coverage adjustments as per following:

When Is the Return Visa Free?

You’re exempt from paying if:

• You entered on an MVV and haven’t but acquired your residence card.
• Your application is beneath: Stay with a (Dutch) Union citizen (EU regulation) or Chavez ruling (Dutch minor child)
• IND exceeded the choice deadline (statutory interval expired)
• You acquired a allow extension legitimate for beneath 1 month
• You maintain a diplomatic passport
• You’re a member of the family of EU/EEA/Swiss citizen already verified beneath EU regulation
• Fee waived by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
• You fall beneath the Status of Moluccans Act.

Processing Time & Visa Validity

The IND goals to course of return visa functions instantly throughout your appointment. If all paperwork are in order, the Netherlands visa might be issued on the spot. However, if extra checks are wanted, you’ll obtain the choice through letter inside two (02) weeks.

A normal return visa is legitimate for as much as three (03) months, although the validity interval may be shorter relying in your passport’s expiration date. In some circumstances, prolonged validity is granted: for instance, college students touring overseas for his or her research might obtain a return visa legitimate for as much as six (06) months, whereas these renewing everlasting residence permits can obtain one legitimate for as much as twelve (12) months. Moluccan residents are eligible for even longer durations—typically exceeding a 12 months.

Travel Rules With a Return Visa for Netherlands

Your return visa means that you can journey again to the Netherlands and even transit by way of different Schengen international locations alongside the way in which. However, it’s not a allow to remain in different Schengen international locations, resembling for tourism or visiting pals. Make positive that you simply journey with the similar passport the return visa was issued in, and affirm whether or not your visa is single or a number of-entry relying in your particular approval and following is the abstract of it: