Considering your day of landing in Netherlands as Day 0, below is the approximate timeline chart from preparation to settling in Netherlands:
Note: Since Jan 2014, I have transferred this blog to http://indiansinnetherlands.com due to better features. So for latest (and correct) notes, kindly click here: http://indiansinnetherlands.com.
Work Permit - Family travelling together situation:
-4 months: apply and ready your & family birth certificates; marriage certificate; passports. (Rule: marriage certificate on the day of visa stamping should be less than 6 months old; birth certificate can be old)
-3 months: get your & family birth and marriage certificates legalized. (this will take about 1 month)
-8 weeks: apply for Netherlands work permit visa (takes 3 to 6 weeks).
-2 weeks: schedule an appointment at the Mumbai/Delhi VFS office for application submission for you and family
-1 week: on the day of appointment, submit your application for visa stamping and await passport to be returned to you in 2 working days
0 Day: fly to Netherlands
+1 day: Go to Rijswijk IND office for sticker stamping (this is also automatic application for Dutch Residence Permit)
+1 or +2 weeks: Register your Netherlands residence address at the city town hall (this is also automatic application for BSN - Burger Service Number and citypass called 'stadpass').
+4 weeks: Go for TB test
+5 weeks: receive BSN via post (you can now open Bank account)
+8 weeks: receive Residence permit
+8 weeks: receive Residence permit
+10weeks: apply for 30% ruling (if not applied within 3 months of arrival, the approval will apply from the month of approval. Hence make sure this is applied on time)
+ n Years: Your residence permit (RP) will expire in some years (1 year to 5 years depending on the period your company has applied). You need to apply for renewal 3 months before expiry so that you get the new RP. If you do not get your renewed RP before the expiry of the old one, you will need to get an extension sticker on your passport.
+ n Years: Your residence permit (RP) will expire in some years (1 year to 5 years depending on the period your company has applied). You need to apply for renewal 3 months before expiry so that you get the new RP. If you do not get your renewed RP before the expiry of the old one, you will need to get an extension sticker on your passport.
Work Permit - Bachelor/travelling-alone situation:
Start at -8weeks above. Rest remains same.
Note: There is a 'expedite' process now available for long term travel (more than 3 months). This takes only 2 weeks (instead of the 3 to 6 weeks) for visa approval.
Note: There is a 'expedite' process now available for long term travel (more than 3 months). This takes only 2 weeks (instead of the 3 to 6 weeks) for visa approval.
Work Permit - Family joining later situation (I don't recommend this):
Same as above from -8weeks for the employee travelling first.
From the date employee decides to bring his/her family:
......Apply for birth certificate and marriage certificate
......Get the certificates legalized in India and send a copy of the same to employee in Netherlands
......Employee (spouse in NL) should register the marriage at the Netherlands town hall and send a confirmation copy to spouse in India.
......-8 weeks: Spouse and family in India to apply for dependent visa
......Same as above for the rest
Tourist visa - travel and stay sponsored by someone in Netherlands:
-6 weeks: take an appointment online to submit your application at the VFS office (Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore). Sometimes appointment may be available within just 1 week and sometimes not. Hence it is better to plan 6 weeks in advance. Sometimes the website will show all appointments are full for the next months. This is only because it is not yet open. Try the website every day.
-3 weeks: Get legalized invite letter from the Netherlands town hall; ready other documents as needed (this is optional step and needed only if you are showing that someone in the Netherlands is sponsoring for the trip)
-2 weeks: submit application & passport and await passport in 3 (Delhi, Mumbai) to 5 (Bangalore) working days.
-2 weeks: submit application & passport and await passport in 3 (Delhi, Mumbai) to 5 (Bangalore) working days.
0 Day: travel to NL
+1 or +2 days: Register your arrival at the local police station and get an exit card
Day of departure: post the exit card to the police station
Tourist visa - travel and stay self sponsored:
Start at -6 weeks above. Skip the step for -3 weeks. Rest remains same
Disclaimer: The is my best effort and no responsibility will be taken for any inaccuracy
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your post. Why you don't recommend "Family joining later situation"?
The family union time is often unpredictable because of possible delays in getting marriage certificate legalized, birth certificate legalized, postal delay, NL office delay, companies do not give the same priority as employees etc. You will also have to go house hunting based on your choice instead of family choice. I have seen many families going thru lot of frustration due to these uncertainties and feeling helpless. This is the reason I do not recommend
DeleteHi Madhu,
ReplyDelete"marriage certificate on the day of visa stamping should be less than 6 months old"
Do you mean we have to get a new marriage certificate, even if we got earlier when we get married years ago?
Correct. You will need to get a new marriage certificate that clearly states the date of issue and then use it for legalization.
DeleteMadhu
Hi Madhu,
DeleteThanks for your quick reply. I really really appreciate it. And its a huge effort.
I have one more question about EU blue card. My company is processing my knowledge migrant approval. But I want to get it with blue card. Is it possible to migrate from Knowledge migrant to EU blue card migrant?
Regards,
Jeeva
My source of information is this website: http://www.eubluecard.nl/eu_blue_card. According to this, it is possible.
DeleteI have not known anyone with blue card. Hence do not have any experience based comments.
Hi Madhu,
ReplyDeleteI have a question whether spouse can work, if he/she coming on dependent visa?
This point is already covered in the main post, but anyway ----
Deleteif employee is coming on:
Work Permit - dependent cannot work or will need his/her own work permit from a employer here
Knowledge Work Permit (called "highly skilled migrant" or "Kennismigrant" in Dutch) - Yes dependent can take up any job.
Hi Madhu,
ReplyDeleteI received a Letter from IND with the approval on MVV. The issue date is 16th Dec 2013, so upto how many days i can enter in NL and apply for residance permit?
This is the text I found on the NL embassy website: "The application must be submitted in person and within six months after the date of the positive advice by IND, and no more than 90 days but at least three working days before the date of departure!"
DeleteThis means:
- you need to go for stamping at the Netherlands consulate in your country within 6 months of the letter. After the stamping at the NL consulate, you have 90 days to enter the Netherlands.
- Once you have entered Netherlands, within 5 days you need to go to local IND for a "sticker stamping" on your passport which is also automatic application for RP. Unless you have the sticker, you cannot start working.
Thanks for the information.
DeleteHi ,
ReplyDeleteMy husband currently working in neatherland and his employer is ready to apply a dependent visa for me. The problem is they are taking too much time to get the process done. Can anyone help me what are the stages involved in this and how much time is required to complete the process.
1. Right now done with the legalisation from state government
2.how long it ll take to get the apostille from MEA ?
3. Any other legalisation from netherland embassy is required after that , if so then was the duration ?
4. What is next process after legalisation and time duration till stamping?
Hi Divya, this is the reason I do not recommend employee travelling first and dependents following later. It leads to frustrations like these. There are many stories like this.
DeleteAnyway, to answer your questions:
2. Generally State + MEA together takes 1 month, but depends also on the state.
3. Yes. You need to send your legalized birth and marriage certificate to your husband in NL. He should go to the town hall, register you and get a letter from them.Once this is done, you need to apply in NL consulate in India for your stamping.
4. answered in 3. I think the step 3 will take about 6 weeks.
This is my experience from 2009. Things could have changed. Some processes have gotten faster. I'm not sure if this is one of them.
Hi Madhu,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information. It really helps a lot. :)
I had a small question. My legalized birth certificate will be ready by mid feb but I need to travel in like next week.
Will that be advisable?
Thanks,
Sahil
Sahil, I suppose you are travelling alone - in that case, it will not be a problem.
DeleteHi madhu
ReplyDeleteI am 21 ..jst completed my graduation
I want to move on to netherland to settledown and have a gud future, I am applying for a work visa, dnt care abt the job even a job of bartender will be good enough for me actually I want to invest some money after getting permanent resident :) plzz tell me if there is a opportunity even for a graduate student to work over there if yes. Suggest me from were I should start!
Thanks man :)
amrit
Hi Amrit, I don't think it is easy to get a work-permit for jobs that do not need special skills especially for a a non-EU citizen. Your best bet is to come here for higher studies and then look for what you want to do.
DeleteThanks bro bt the problem is I dropped my studies 2 years ago and I dnt think I will get an study visa coz I am doing nothing for last 2 years
Delete