Published: 20.05.2026
Asylum applications in the Netherlands must be made in person: to border authorities at the external border or to the IND inside the country. People entering by land must register at the Ter Apel application centre within 48 hours, while arrivals from outside the Schengen Area by air or sea may be subject to a border procedure lasting up to four weeks.
According to the source, asylum applications cannot be submitted remotely, through an embassy, by post, or by email; applicants must be physically present in the Netherlands and register at an authorised location. For people entering overland, the key practical deadline is registration at Ter Apel within 48 hours, while arrivals by air or sea may undergo a border procedure lasting up to four weeks. The rules primarily affect asylum seekers rather than people relocating for work, study, or family reasons. They are important for anyone considering the asylum route because the place and timing of registration determine access to the procedure.