At present, negotiations on the withdrawal (and its conditions) of the UK from the EU are still pending. It is also possible that the release date will be postponed. However, without waiting for a final Brexit decision, on 13 March the IND began sending out temporary residence permits to UK nationals and their families living in the IP.
Residence permits will be obtained by those registered in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) database. This will guarantee their right to stay in the IP after the entry into force of the UK exit from the EU. This is done in order to give people confidence in their future position.
For technical reasons, it is not possible to make and send out all the required residence permits in one day, so this must be done within two weeks.
Along with the temporary residence permit, the IND sends cover letters, which explain in detail what to do with the received documents in case of different outcomes of negotiations.
In case of signing the withdrawal agreement, a temporary residence permit is not required. British citizens and their family members will retain the right to reside and move freely in the IP.
If the release date is delayed, it is possible that the agreement will not be signed later. It is therefore important that UK citizens have a temporary residence permit in the event of such a delay. If postponed, the IND will continue to keep all interested parties informed about the state of affairs and the progress of the negotiations. During the grace period, up to the Brexit date, UK citizens will in any event retain the right to move and reside freely.
Validity and use of a temporary residence permit
The temporary residence permit is only valid in the Netherlands during the transition period from March 29, 2019 to July 1, 2020. It will allow British citizens and their families to prove that they have the right to live, work and study in the Netherlands, unless the countries agree (that is, do not conclude an agreement on the UK's exit from the EU).
It will work like any other residence permit, namely: it can only be used in combination with a valid passport, and British citizens and their family members will need to have it with them when entering and leaving the Netherlands to prove that that they have a legal residence here.
Who doesn't need a temporary residence permit?
British citizens and their family members who have permanent residence in the Netherlands or citizenship of another EU / EEA (European Economic Area) country or Switzerland in addition to British citizenship will not receive a temporary residence permit as they do not need one. Brexit will not affect their right to reside in the Netherlands in any way.
Invitation for obtaining a permanent residence permit
During the transition period from 29 March 2019 to 1 July 2020, the IND will send UK citizens and their families living in the Netherlands an invitation letter to apply for a permanent residence permit.
More information in Dutch and English can be found on the IND's website at Brexit page.
Publication Date: 25.03.2019
