Published: 28.09.2026
From 12 June 2026, recognised refugees receive a three-year asylum residence permit instead of a five-year permit, with the possibility of renewal. Indefinite asylum residence permits are no longer issued; permanent status is to be pursued through EU long-term resident status after five years, subject to the relevant requirements.
According to the sources, the route for newly recognised refugees is now more staged: the initial permit lasts three years, and the IND may reassess the need for protection when it is renewed. Long-term residence requires moving toward EU long-term resident status after five years, with stable income, health insurance and completed integration among the stated conditions. This mainly affects asylum applicants and their families because the previous route to an indefinite asylum permit is no longer available. Anyone considering the Netherlands as a protection-based relocation destination should factor the revised permit duration and longer-term requirements into their planning.