In order to immigrate to the Netherlands from India, the Indian national will need to apply for and obtain a long-stay visa, the MVV. The main steps for obtaining a Netherlands PR for an Indian are described in this article by our team. Our Netherlands immigration specialists can assist those who wish to relocate to the Netherlands from India.
Nonetheless, we know that in order to migrate to the Netherlands from India, one will need to make a number of important decisions for himself/herself, as well as other family members, if applicable.
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Long-term stay in the Netherlands
Foreign nationals who wish to immigrate to the Netherlands from India will need to remain in the country for longer than 90 days.
The MVV (Machtiging tot Voorlopig Verblijf) is a visa made available to citizens of certain countries (including India) who plan to remain in the Netherlands for more than 90 days. This allows the Indian citizen to travel to the Netherlands and stay here until he or she picks up the residence permit (according to the purpose of stay, see below).
In most cases, the long-stay visa is applied for before the scheduled travel to the Netherlands, and the application is submitted to the Dutch Embassy in New Delhi or at another Consulate.
Making an appointment to receive your MVV is subject to an application and certain costs (as outlined below by our immigration experts in the Netherlands).
Long-term stays in the Netherlands are typically applied for the following purposes:
- Employment: for an Indian national who has an employment agreement with a Dutch employer; this can also include intra-company transfers to a Dutch head office; conditions apply on the part of the employer;
- Business: for entrepreneurs who are able to open a company that complies with certain requirements for innovation;
- Study: one can also immigrate to the Netherlands from India for study purposes, when accepted by one of the Dutch Universities or another recognized educational institution;
- Family reunification: available to the spouse or another family member of an individual who already lawfully resides in the Netherlands or is a Dutch citizen.
For those who migrate to the Netherlands from India for paid employment, the employer in the Netherlands will apply for a residence permit with the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Dutch residency for Indian investors
The Netherlands encourages foreign direct investment, and Indian entrepreneurs can relocate to Europe based on the Dutch residence permit for foreign startups. This residence permit is valid for 1 year, and the applicant must show that the startup they will be launching in the Netherlands is an innovative one.
Entrepreneurs from outside the EEA or Switzerland can enter the country and reside here for a temporary period if they (together with their facilitator or on their own) propose and receive approval for a new business idea.
While this route to immigrate to the Netherlands to India is different from coming to the country for the purpose of seeking employment with a Dutch company that will act as a sponsor, Indian entrepreneurs can find significant opportunities for launching a business in the heart of Europe.
Some of the most important conditions for Indian entrepreneurs who want to relocate to the Netherlands to start a business are listed below by our Netherlands immigration specialists:
- Make sure that the startup company’s service or offered product is innovative;
- Present a business plan that includes the relevant steps for turning the idea into a lucrative business;
- Provide proof of sufficient resources and the ability to reside in the Netherlands;
- Work with a facilitator in the Netherlands. Our Dutch immigration lawyer can give you more details about the conditions that apply to facilitators.
The authorities will carefully analyse each application and approve or reject the business proposal. Because the application process for this type of visa and residence permit is subject to conditioning (i.e., having a sound business plan), the process can take as much as 3 months in some cases.
Indian entrepreneurs in the Netherlands can, at the end of the one-year startup residence permit, apply for a residence permit for self-employed individuals. Certain conditions will continue to apply, however, as long as the business venture remains a successful one, the applicant will be able to show that they have sufficient income from their business in the Netherlands and that they comply with the other requirements (for accommodation, tax payments, etc.).
If you want to relocate to the Netherlands from India as an entrepreneur, our team can assist you. We can also provide more details on company registration with the Chamber of Commerce.
Examples of costs for those who immigrate to the Netherlands from India
The decision to move to the Netherlands is an important one, and it should be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis.
While some of the costs are general ones, such as those for making the travel and accommodation arrangements, others will be visa and/or residence permit-specific.
Those who want to move to the Netherlands from India will apply for an entry visa and residence permit, as previously stated, the MVV.
Some of the following application costs apply:
- A residence permit for an intra-corporate transferee has a cost of EUR423;
- An Indian national who applies for a permit to remain in the Netherlands after finishing his or her studies will pay a fee of EUR254 for the first application related to the change in purpose of stay (from the student permit to the job-seeking permit);
- For seasonal labour, a foreign national will pay a fee of EUR254 for the first application and the same fee when extending the permit;
- Foreign investor permits are subject to different costs, and the fee for extending such a permit is EUR 1,406.
Please keep in mind that these fees can be subject to change and do not include legal or notary fees or any additional costs that may arise.
Our team can give you more details about the Netherlands PR for an Indian.
Living in the Netherlands
Permanent residence is obtained after a minimum, continuous, and lawful stay in the Netherlands.
Some of the key matters are highlighted below by our team:
- Certain issues, such as the MVV application and securing employment, are taken care of before arriving in the country, while others, such as making sure that the driving license is valid for use, are dealt with after arrival.
- In order to immigrate to the Netherlands from India, one will also need to consider his or her family’s situation (if applicable) and find out whether or not their partner also needs a visa.
- The goal of the relocation process will be to obtain a Netherlands PR for an Indian, the permanent residence card based on which the holder will be allowed to remain in the country and, if he or she sees fit, start the citizenship by naturalization process.
- Before applying for citizenship, those who wish to immigrate to the Netherlands from India will also need to consider civic integration, an ongoing process once the foreign national arrives in the country.
When working with our team in order to relocate to the Netherlands from India, we will provide the needed information on the documents required by the Dutch authorities.
If you are interested in other ways in which you can remain in the country, you can discuss your options with our team. A residence permit in the Netherlands can be issued to family members and the applicant’s partner (subject to conditions), for study purposes, for au pairs, and for exchange purposes, and more. The validity of the permit varies, along with the needed supporting documentation.
Permanent residency and citizenship in the Netherlands
For many Indians, remaining in the country for long-term purposes is a way in which they will ultimately be able to apply for Dutch citizenship. Most Indian citizens will be able to become Dutch citizens through the naturalization procedure, once they have completed the minimum number of years they need to spend in the country. If you are ready to apply, you can reach out to our team.
If you want to immigrate to the Netherlands from India, the following general conditions apply for citizenship by naturalization:
- Be 18 years of age or older;
- Live in the Netherlands for at least 5 consecutive years and have a valid residence permit during this entire time. The residence permit must still be valid at the time of the naturalization ceremony. Otherwise, it must first be extended;
- Comply with the integration requirements (sufficient language knowledge, civic integration, etc.);
- Renounce the current nationality;
- Take the declaration of solidarity during the naturalization ceremony.
If you are an Indian national interested in acquiring Dutch citizenship and are also interested in doing the same for your minor children who accompanied you to the country, you must know that children cannot apply for naturalization themselves, but will be included in your application.
As in the case of residence permit applications, those who make their submission for Dutch citizenship status are subject to certain fees. Those for naturalization are the following:
- € 1,139 for the naturalization of one person;
- € 1,454 when the applicant goes through the naturalization process together with a partner;
- € 168 for children who will be naturalized together with their parents.
Our Netherlands immigration experts can give you more information about these requirements and will also answer questions, upon request, about particular situations based on nationality.
Move to the Netherlands from India with our help
Our immigration lawyers also assist other foreign nationals who wish to relocate to the Netherlands. We can help American citizens apply for a visa under the DAFT treaty, a special agreement between the two countries that was designed for those who are able to open a business with a minimum investment amount or engage in freelance activities (with some exceptions).
Whether you are an Indian citizen or a national of another country who has questions on how to relocate to Holland, our Dutch immigration lawyer can assist you.
Contact us if you want to immigrate to the Netherlands from India.