Your Guide to a Lost Residence Permit in the Netherlands

If you’re an expat from a non-European country and planning to live in the Netherlands for more than 90 days, you need a residence permit. For many expats coming to the Netherlands for work, a residence permit also serves as a work permit. It is the most important document and proof of identification throughout your stay in the Netherlands. It requires a sponsor, for example, your employer if you’re working, and must be renewed every five years. Your residence permit is also required to get your medical insurance and apply for a driver’s license.

A Dutch residence permit acts as a visa, allowing you to travel across countries in the Schengen region. It also speeds up the immigration process at Dutch airports.

In other words, your residence permit provides you with almost the same benefits as a Dutch national while retaining your original nationality.

Serving as one of the most essential documents, you cannot afford to lose your residence permit. You must always keep it secure in a place where it cannot be stolen or lost. Keep it in a separate card holder and away from your money and other items if possible.

Once you receive your permit, scan it and keep a digital copy on your phone or your email drafts.

A residence permit can get stolen or lost even after taking the necessary precautions. Losing your permit can be quite stressful. However, there is a detailed process you can follow in any case if you lose your permit.

Losing Your Residence Permit

Losing your residence permit in the Netherlands can be quite a headache. It is one of the most important documents you should always carry. Hence, it is recommended that you scan your residence permit and keep a digital copy handy at all times.

If you lose your residence permit for any reason, you must follow certain steps before getting a new one.

• Register a police complaint: Once you realize your residence permit is lost or stolen, you must first visit your nearest police station. Then, you must file an official written report regarding your lost permit, including all the essential details.
• Contact the IND: Apply for a new residence permit with the IND, the Department of Immigration and Naturalization. You can apply online or in writing. Include a copy of your police report with the application.
• Pay for the application: The IND will brief you about the exact costs you need to pay for a new application. If your employer is the sponsor, they will bear the application costs.
• Wait for the decision: The IND takes about six to eight weeks to decide on your application status. They will inform you once they have made the decision. During the application process, your police report serves as official proof of your lost residence permit status. Carry a copy of the police report at all times till you receive your new permit from the IND.
• Collect your new residence permit: The last step after the IND’s decision is to go and collect your new residence permit.

Losing Your Residence Permit Outside the Netherlands

Losing your residence permit while traveling outside the Netherlands can be quite troublesome for a non-EU/EEA citizen, as you need a valid permit to return to the country. You must follow a couple of procedures before you can apply for a new permit with the IND.

• File a police complaint in the foreign country: You must report the loss of your permit to the police in the country you’re visiting. The report should be in English, Dutch, German, or French.
• Check the temporary visa requirements: Your nationality depends on whether you need a temporary visa to return to the Netherlands. Check whether you need a visa to enter the Netherlands. In some situations, you may not require a temporary visa. In other cases, you may need to apply for an entry visa, which you can show at the border control or to the airline, depending on your mode of transport.
• File a police complaint in the Netherlands: Once you return to the Netherlands, you must file a new report about your lost permit with the Dutch police. You must show the report filed in the foreign country to the police. If the report is not in the required language, you must get it translated.
• Contact the IND: Apply for a new residence permit with the IND and follow their instructions till you receive your new permit. Keep a copy of the police report handy during this time.

We hope you never have to lose your residence permit in or outside the Netherlands. But in the worst case, if you do, you know the procedures to follow and the precautions to take.