Few waits are as nerve-wracking as an IND application in afwachting van een beslissing, “awaiting a decision”. Can you stay? Can you work? What if they’re slow? Here is what the status actually means, your rights while you wait, and what to do if the IND misses its own deadline.
You usually keep lawful residence
The reassurance first. As guidance on the residence procedure explains, while your application is being processed, you generally have rechtmatig verblijf (lawful residence) for the duration, often shown by a residence sticker or annotation placed in your passport.
Whether you may work depends on your permit type and the annotation, so check the exact wording, but for many extensions you keep your existing rights during processing.
The decision period
How long can it take? As the IND sets out its decision periods, for granting, extending or changing a regular permit (and granting permanent residence) the standard beslistermijn is about 3 months, extendable by up to 6 months if outside advice or investigation is needed. They should notify you if they extend.
Crucial habit: apply to extend your own permit in good time, ideally 3 months before it expires, being late can cost you your lawful residence.
If the IND is too late
You’re not powerless. As the IND explains being late with a decision, if they miss the legal period you can send an ingebrekestelling (formal notice of default). And as guidance on decision deadlines notes, if they still don’t decide within 2 weeks of receiving it, you can appeal to court for failing to decide, and may be owed a dwangsom (penalty) for the delay.
The vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| in afwachting van een beslissing | awaiting a decision |
| rechtmatig verblijf | lawful residence |
| de beslistermijn | decision period |
| de ingebrekestelling | notice of default |
| de dwangsom | penalty for delay |
| de verlenging | extension |
Where it connects
An application in limbo is part of the IND journey, alongside the key phrases the IND office asks, partner-income requirements, the kennismigrant route, and post-Brexit Withdrawal-Agreement documents. It all leads, eventually, toward permanent residency.
The bottom line
When your case is in afwachting van een beslissing, you usually keep rechtmatig verblijf (often via a passport sticker), the beslistermijn is about 3 months (extendable to 9), and if the IND is late, you can send an ingebrekestelling and, after 2 more weeks, go to court for a dwangsom. Apply for extensions early. Learn afwachting van beslissing, rechtmatig verblijf and ingebrekestelling, and the agonising wait becomes a process you can actually manage.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the immigration Dutch these updates use, afwachting van beslissing, rechtmatig verblijf, beslistermijn, ingebrekestelling by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can read an IND status update calmly and know your rights instead of refreshing the portal in dread.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stay (and work) while my IND application is being decided?
Usually yes. While your application is in afwachting van een beslissing (awaiting a decision), you generally have rechtmatig verblijf (lawful residence) for the duration of the procedure, often shown by a residence sticker or annotation placed in your passport. Whether you may work depends on your permit type and the annotation, so check the exact wording, but for many extensions you keep your existing rights during processing.
How long can the IND take to decide?
For granting, extending or changing a regular residence permit (and granting permanent residence), the standard decision period (beslistermijn) is about 3 months. The IND can extend this by up to 6 months if outside advice or investigation is needed. They should tell you if they extend it. Always apply for an extension of your own permit in good time, ideally at least 3 months before it expires.
What can I do if the IND is too late with a decision?
If the IND misses the legal decision period, you can send an ingebrekestelling (formal notice of default). If they still haven’t decided within 2 weeks of receiving it, you can appeal to the court for failing to decide, and you may be entitled to a financial penalty (dwangsom) for the delay. Keep copies of everything and note the dates; the deadline starts from when they received your complete application.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for IND letters and immigration?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the immigration Dutch these updates use, afwachting van beslissing, rechtmatig verblijf, beslistermijn, ingebrekestelling, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you can read an IND status update calmly and know your rights instead of refreshing the portal in dread.
