Life of Russians in Holland (Netherlands)

Reasons
Requirements
Refusal
Citizenship
Advantages and disadvantages

Democratic values, a developed economy, a high quality of life, low crime rates, a transparent legal system, lack of corruption, cleanliness, magnificent nature and a convenient location make the Netherlands one of the most attractive places to move to in 2021.

Immigration to the Netherlands is a multi-step process. The procedure for obtaining permanent residence consists of several stages:

Opening a long-term visa. It is required to enter the country.
Registration of a residence permit. Within 8 days of arrival, you must register with the municipality and bring your residence permit dossier to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND). The application is considered for 3 months. For this period, a temporary permit (MVV) is issued, which is a form pasted into the passport. After 3 months, an annual residence permit is issued, which is a plastic ID card with a chip embedded in it with the owner’s biometric data. The residence permit is subject to annual renewal: it is important to complete the procedure on time.
Obtaining permanent residence. First, the documents are submitted to the local Department of Civil Affairs, where, after paying the state fee, the dossier begins to be reviewed. If the documents are in order the applicant is invited to an interview: all questions and answers must be presented here in Dutch. If his knowledge is considered sufficient, then the documents with recommendations are transferred to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for a final decision.

After acquiring permanent residence in the Netherlands, a migrant can apply for citizenship through the naturalization procedure.

Reasons for moving to the Netherlands

Moving to the Netherlands can be carried out according to one of the programs adopted in the kingdom. On its basis, a long-term visa is opened to enter the country, and then, for the same reason, a residence permit of the kingdom is issued. The easiest way to immigrate to the Netherlands is to study, work, get married and have relatives for family reunification. Departure for permanent residence can take place on the basis of investment, opening a business or start-up. Long-term treatment or persecution at home can also lead to relocation and obtaining a residence permit.

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Study in the Netherlands

Moving to the Netherlands for a university study program is an excellent chance to get a prestigious diploma, a well-paid job, and then permanent residence in the kingdom. To enter the university, you must present a certificate of secondary education or a diploma. It is also necessary to pass an exam in English (IELTS, TOEFL) or Dutch, which depends on the chosen program of study. For foreign students, education in the kingdom is paid: the cost varies from € 6 to 15,000 for bachelor's degrees and from € 8 to 20,000 for master's degrees. You will also need funds for monthly accommodation and food. To pay, you can take out a student loan, receive a scholarship or grant, which can fully or partially cover the cost of training and expenses.

The university is responsible for issuing a student visa. Upon receipt of payment, the university sends a package of documents to the Dutch immigration service. The dossier is then sent to the embassy of the foreign student’s country of residence. When applying for a residence permit, a foreign student must provide the immigration service with a contract signed with an accredited university, which clearly states the faculty and specialty that the student is studying, the period of study and the address of residence. The contract must have the details of the parties. You also need to have enough money to live in the country. The residence permit is issued for a year with the possibility of extension for the entire period of study. After receiving the diploma, the graduate must find a job for a year, which in the future is a guarantee of obtaining permanent residence in the Netherlands.

Employment

Moving to the Netherlands under a work contract is the key to obtaining a residence permit. To open a work visa, you need to sign an employment contract with the employer and receive an invitation. Only the employer has the right to submit an application to the immigration service. To do this, he must inform the workers' insurance authorities and the Ministry of Labor about the open vacancy 6 weeks before signing the contract, posting information about it in a widely accessible manner for applicants. An employer can conclude a contract with a foreigner from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and other CIS countries only after he proves that there were no applicants for the vacant position from among the citizens of the Netherlands and the European Union, or the foreigner is of professional value for performing this work. For example, IT specialists are in high demand in the country. Read the article about how much you can earn as an IT specialist in the Netherlands.

Obtaining a work permit automatically involves the provision of a residence permit - the potential employee is issued a special single document (GVVA). The initial residence permit is valid for 1 year with the right to extension. Highly qualified specialists who have a Blue Card of the European Union receive a temporary residence permit immediately for a four-year period.

Business immigration

Moving to the Netherlands for business reasons is possible for foreigners who open their own company or who have purchased at least 25% of the shares of an operating enterprise. The business must be interesting for the economy of the country and the authorities, generate significant income and provide jobs for the citizens of the kingdom. The applicant himself must have entrepreneurial experience, a clear development plan, and the necessary amount of capital for business development. On this basis, a residence permit is issued to a foreigner and his family members immediately for a year with the possibility of extension. A year later, the commission evaluates and makes a verdict on the feasibility of running this business. If the decision is positive, the temporary residence permit is extended. A five-year period of residence under a residence permit gives the right to obtain a permanent residence permit.

Immigration to the Netherlands is also possible based on the opening of a Start-up project. The founder needs to present an innovative and promising product or service that will attract the interest of the authorities. He must also have capital to implement the project. A start-up project gives the right to obtain a long-term visa and a temporary residence permit valid for a year. If the business turns out to be successful in the future, you can obtain a regular residence permit, and after a while apply for permanent residence in the Netherlands.

Marriage to a Dutch citizen

Immigration to the Netherlands through marriage to a citizen of the kingdom is the easiest and fastest way to obtain citizenship status. Partners can also leave on this basis, since the country’s legislation recognizes civil marriages and same-sex unions along with official marriage. A foreigner's marriage or union with a Dutch citizen automatically entitles his spouse or partner to obtain a residence permit. At the same time, where to live is not specified by law; the main thing is to be in the country when submitting an application. Living together for 12 months makes it possible to apply for permanent residence, and after 3 years apply for citizenship. When applying for status, you must be prepared that the authorities will carefully check the validity of the close relationship. There may be numerous surveys and tests, examination of details, including small ones, and comparison of information. In the options with unregistered marriages, there is one important detail: when separating from a partner, even after acquiring permanent residence in the Netherlands, the foreigner must leave the country.

Family reunification

Moving to the Netherlands for reasons of family reunification is an easy way to obtain a residence permit. The law allows you to invite relatives from abroad - this applies to spouses and children under 18 years of age. The inviting party must comply with a number of conditions. Among them:

issuing an invitation;
obligation to provide material support for arrivals;
provision of living space.

A residence permit on this basis is issued for a year with the possibility of further extension.

Residence permit for investment

Moving to the Netherlands is also possible under the Millionaire Visa program, which has been in effect in the country since 2013. To implement the program, it is required to invest at least € 1,250,000 in the economy of the kingdom. The assessment of the feasibility of investments is carried out by the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands. At the same time, the investor is required to innovate in the direction of business and provide jobs for citizens of the kingdom. The investor’s dossier will also be checked: the foreigner must present documents confirming the legal origin of the invested capital. If the conditions are met, the investor will be provided with a residence permit valid for a year with the right of extension. In the future, the applicant can obtain permanent residence and resident status.

Treatment

A long course of treatment is a common reason for moving to the Netherlands. Foreigners who require long-term treatment (more than 3 months) can apply for a residence permit for the period required for full recovery. When completing the paperwork, you must provide a medical report and a contract with the institution where the treatment is taking place. You also need to confirm the availability of funds to pay for medical services and accommodation.

Refugee status

Immigration to the Netherlands is possible on the basis of acquiring refugee status. A migrant has the right to seek asylum in the kingdom if he is persecuted in his homeland for political, ethnic, religious, sexual reasons or his life is in danger. A foreigner can apply for asylum when crossing the border. To assess the level of threat, a specialist will be called in to make a decision on granting refugee status based on an interview with the applicant. Authorities are more willing to provide status in cases of sexual harassment due to their loyal attitude towards sexual minorities and in cases of criminal persecution. For religious or political reasons, the review process may be delayed. A positive decision is the basis for issuing a residence permit to a foreigner, valid for 5 years. After this time, the government monitors the situation in the migrant’s homeland and decides to either send him back or grant him permanent residence status in the Netherlands.

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How to open a business in Holland

To fully conduct business on Dutch territory and legally stay in the country for more than 3 months, foreign entrepreneurs from third countries, including Russia and Ukraine, will need to open a visa and obtain a residence permit (residence permit) in Holland. In general, local authorities are interested in attracting foreign investment, so there are no special restrictions on areas of activity. However, some procedural requirements will have to be encountered.

The issue of granting a residence permit is supervised by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND), and whether a businessman meets the Dutch criteria is a special unit under the local Ministry of Economics. First of all, a foreigner will need to open his own company or become a co-owner of a business (at least 25%) that will be of interest to the Dutch economy and generate profit. As a rule, an application for a residence permit is submitted after 12 months of operation of the company.

Procedure and cost of registering a company in Holland

According to the Doing Business agency, out of 190 countries in the world, Holland ranks 42nd . In general terms, the stages of registering a company are as follows:

Choosing a unique company name that complies with the local trade law and the requirements of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (hereinafter referred to as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry) of the Netherlands. The procedure is free.
Notarization of the Company Incorporation Act. The cost of services depends on the notary, on average about 1,750 euros.
Registration of a company with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and obtaining a registration number. This can be done online within a few hours, or by mail or in person, in which case it may take up to 5 days. Cost 50 euros.
Registration with tax authorities. Documents are submitted within a day, but the period for providing a certificate can take up to 1-1.5 months.
In case of hiring workers, registration with the social insurance service.

During and after registering a business in Holland, in most cases, you will need to use the services of local accountants, lawyers and auditors.

Requirements for immigrants

A migrant has the right to obtain permanent residence in the Netherlands if he has been in the country with a residence permit for a five-year period as an employee of a Dutch company, businessman or investor. Graduates of Dutch universities who are employed within a year after receiving their diploma can also obtain permanent residence in the Netherlands. Foreigners who are in an official or civil marriage with a citizen of the country have the right to apply for permanent residence after one year of cohabitation. When applying for permanent residence in the Netherlands, a migrant must have a valid residence permit and not leave the kingdom for more than six months in the last 5 years. According to current legislation, an applicant for permanent residence in the Netherlands must meet the following requirements:

have no criminal record or administrative violations;
pass the exam for integration into society;
have a permanent, legal income of at least €1,500 per month (for migrants who have been living in the country for more than 10 years, this point is not relevant).

The presence of purchased real estate will be a significant plus when considering the application.

Required documents

Migrants applying for permanent residence status in the Netherlands are required to provide the migration service with a package of documents according to the basis. But the following list is basic for all cases:

application for permanent residence status;
internal and international passport;
birth certificate;
certificate of passing the language exam;
valid residence permit;
certificate of no criminal record.

Additional documents included in the dossier will depend on the grounds on which the applicant claims permanent residence.

Temporary and permanent

If at first immigration to Holland brings positive impressions, the citizen has a desire to change his status, such an opportunity appears after five years of living in the territory of the country. Only the official time of stay is counted. Permanent residence, which is given to someone who has lived for five years under a residence permit, applies to an unlimited period of time. However, in order to obtain such a permanent document, you will first have to confirm your knowledge of the local language, as well as successfully pass testing for integration into society. When the exams have been passed and the results are ready, you can submit an application to the migration service. Five years of official stay on the territory of the state must be continuous. If this condition is not met, the answer is guaranteed to be negative.

When applying for permanent residence, you need to remember that the service responsible for immigration to Holland has the right to independently assess how well-off the applicant is and whether he can pay for himself. This assessment is one aspect of naturalization, that is, the process of turning a foreigner into a permanent Dutch resident. However, if a person lives in the country without leaving for at least a decade, immigration authorities will no longer control his financial status. It is believed that this period of time is enough to create the basis for a stable life. But in the first decade you need to be prepared for inspections and assessments. Only official income is taken into account.

Reasons for refusal

The right to obtain permanent residence in the Netherlands can be denied if you provide knowingly false data or if there are doubts about the authenticity of the documents. Also common reasons for refusal are:

repeated violation of the administrative laws of the country (a fine of €450 may serve as a reason for refusal);
having a criminal record (even if it is old);
lack of a valid residence permit;
reluctance to renounce existing citizenship of another state;
lack of necessary funds for living (the amount is set at least € 1,500 per month);
failure to appear at the naturalization ceremony.

The last item on the list is very important. The naturalization ceremony is held annually on December 15 in the main square of Amsterdam. During the ceremonial process, an oath of allegiance is recited, and residents treat this with great respect. Not attending the ceremony would be an insult to the entire royal house. Only illness is accepted as a valid reason for absence.

Obtaining Dutch citizenship

Foreigners over 18 years of age can acquire Dutch citizenship in a variety of ways. The first of them involves going through the option procedure and is suitable for those who have lived in the country for quite a long time. The second method is naturalization. Foreigners who have received permanent residence status in the Netherlands and have fulfilled a number of conditions can apply for citizenship by naturalization. Those moving for business, investment, employment and refugee reasons must have lived in the country continuously for at least five years. For students who have graduated from university, 3 years of study and 2 years of work are taken into account, or the option of 3 years of study and 2 years of residence in marriage with a citizen of the kingdom is possible. Those living in an official or civil marriage for at least 3 years can also apply for citizenship. In addition to the established periods of residence, here is something else that needs to be observed:

have no fines or prison sentences in the last 4 years;
know the Dutch language at the level of fluent communication;
socially integrate into the society and culture of the kingdom;
have a legal income of at least €1,500 per month.

Acquiring the status of a Dutch citizen requires renouncing your existing citizenship of another state.

Residence permit for owners (authors) of Start-up projects, specialists, highly qualified specialists under the EU Blue Card program, members of their families:

Residence permit for authors & co-authors of innovative Start-up projects - owners of newly created companies,
Residence permit for specialists, provided that the employer is a recognized sponsor,
EU Blue Card for highly qualified specialists,
permanent residence status after 5 years of residence in the country,
possibility of applying for citizenship after 5 years of continuous residence (language proficiency, integration diploma).

Conditions for obtaining a residence permit:

sufficient financial resources,
housing in the Netherlands (long-term rent or ownership),
medical insurance,
no threat to public order and security.

Residence permit for authors & co-authors of innovative Start-up projects - owners of newly created companies:

cooperation with a reliable and experienced mentor (authorized business incubator),
the product or service is innovative,
availability of a step-by-step business plan for the transition from idea to business,
the entrepreneur and mentor are registered in the trade register of the Chamber of Commerce,
there are sufficient financial resources to implement the project and live in the Netherlands,
issued for a period of 1 year and extended for 2 years subject to a positive opinion from the mentor,
family members (spouse, registered partner and children under the age of 18) receive a residence permit without the right to work for the duration of the main applicant’s residence permit.

Residence permit for specialists, provided that the employer is a recognized sponsor:

gross monthly salary (including 8% paid holidays)

4 thousand 580 euros for workers over 30 years of age,
3 thousand 357 euros for workers under 30 years of age,
2 thousand 407 euros for graduates of a Dutch university with a bachelor's degree or higher, regardless of age,

issued for a period of up to 4 years,
family members (spouse, registered partner and children under the age of 18) receive a residence permit with the right to work for the duration of the main applicant’s residence permit.

EU Blue Card for highly qualified specialists:

gross annual salary (including paid holidays of 8%) 64 thousand 386 euros,
having a higher education with a duration of study of at least 3 years,
validation of a higher education diploma,
issued for a period of up to 4 years,
family members (spouse, registered partner and children under the age of 18) receive a residence permit with the right to work for the duration of the main applicant’s residence permit.

More information about immigration to the Netherlands is provided in Publications.

Pros and cons of living in the Netherlands

Immigrants highlight the positive and negative aspects of life in the Netherlands. The advantages of living in the kingdom include:

Excellent education. In Holland, a strong layer of qualified specialists and professionals is being formed, which creates healthy competition in the labor market and moves others on the path of self-development.
Low crime rate. Safety in the Netherlands has a rating of more than 70 points. Football events are seen here as an opportunity to spend time with family and children.
Highly developed medicine. All citizens have the opportunity to receive free treatment and long-term care. Treatment begins with a visit to the family doctor, who gives referrals to highly specialized clinics.
Convenient transport infrastructure. Belgium can be reached by car in 2.5 hours, Germany in 3, and northern France in five hours. It's safe to cycle around the city, with plenty of well-designed bike paths.
Perfect cleanliness. The Netherlands is one of the cleanest countries in Europe. Local roads are regularly cleaned and washed. Residents are paid to sort waste, and for throwing it in the wrong place, a fine of €95.

Among the disadvantages are traffic jams, incredibly high fines for violating traffic rules, lack of parking spaces and expensive rental housing.

The Netherlands is a free, very democratic and tolerant country. Moving to the Netherlands provides new opportunities for personal or professional growth, as well as promising ways for business development in the European space. Those who are determined to obtain permanent residence in the Netherlands need to choose the right basis for moving and correctly prepare documents.