New Toelatingsorganisatie policy: permits of up to 3 years, fee for each year, and incomplete applications are no longer processed
Since 1 April 2026 you can apply for a permit of 1, 2 or 3 years, paying the fee for each year in advance (years × fee), except for short stay, remote worker and tourist extension. Family members joining you get the same duration as the main applicant. An application without at least the form, a copy of a valid passport and proof of payment is not processed, and the 6-week period to complete it no longer exists. The criteria for an indefinite permit are also set out.
Since when:
What you should do: When you apply or renew, decide how many years (up to 3) and pay for all of them in advance. Hand in at least the form, a copy of your valid passport and proof of payment, plus the documents for your procedure: without them a negative decision is almost certain. If your last permit was already for 2, 3 or 5 years, renew on time to keep that same duration; if you apply late, you lose it.
Official source: Toelatingsorganisatie: «Implementatie beleidswijzigingen per 1 april 2026» (PDF)