How do I change the purpose of my residence permit?
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Detailed explanation, checklist and sources
Apply for the new residence purpose before your current permit expires. Reporting a change alone does not replace that application.
On this page
1. Identify the change
Your residence purpose is the reason you may live in the Netherlands. After separation, ending cohabitation, a partner's or parent's death, leaving your parents' home or ending studies, check whether the current conditions still hold. If not, investigate another purpose promptly. Changing purpose differs from replacing a lost card or extending the same permit.
2. Check independent residence
A change does not automatically grant another permit. Permanent residence may be possible after five years of lawful temporary residence, subject to further requirements. Non-temporary humanitarian residence may provide an independent basis, for example after five years with a partner, one year as a minor child with a parent, or a partner's/parent's death. The separate IND conditions on previous status, integration and the family member's status still apply. Exceptional circumstances or violence require specialist advice; divorce alone does not always give independent residence.
3. Choose the application
Use the IND page for your intended purpose, such as work, study, partner, orientation year or non-temporary humanitarian residence. Use that purpose's application and evidence; no universal form grants every new right. Check who applies, income or employer/course requirements, any MVV exemption, documents, legalisation/translation and current fees. Changing employer or school does not always change the residence purpose.
4. Avoid a residence gap
Apply while your current permit is still valid. IND says this usually allows consecutive permits, not that every timely application prevents a gap. A gap may delay permanent residence or naturalisation. Record both the card's expiry and when circumstances changed; do not wait for expiry if the basis for residence has already ended.
5. Report relevant changes
For family residence, report relevant changes to IND within four weeks using the official notification form; add an explanatory letter if your change is not listed. During an application, report changes affecting the decision by letter or through your sponsor. A move reported on time to the municipality need not also be reported to IND; a late municipal notification does. Notification does not approve a new permit.
6. Keep evidence and follow up
Keep the application, evidence, payment and receipt; answer further requests by their stated deadlines. Decision periods, fees and possible extensions depend on the new purpose. Before working or travelling, separately check your rights while the application is pending; applying is not a general work or travel authorisation. If refused, promptly check the decision's remedy and deadline and obtain help where needed. Our preparation sends no application.
IND · Verblijfsdoel wijzigen ↗
Can I keep my partner permit after divorce?
It depends on your residence basis and any independent rights. Report the relevant change and promptly check whether another purpose applies. The expiry date on the card alone does not prove you still meet its conditions.
Documents to prepare
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- Current card, purpose and expiry
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- Deadlines, work/travel rights and decision
Contact with a lawyer
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View the current application processSources
Need personal assistance? Request a lawyer through our chat. We explain the next step; submitting a request does not engage a lawyer. The links below support the legal information.
IND · Verblijfsdoel wijzigen ↗IND · Humanitair niet-tijdelijk ↗IND · Plichten vreemdeling en referent familielid ↗Sources may be in Dutch. General information about Dutch law, not individual legal advice.