For the last several months, I’ve kicked my Dutch studying into high gear to work toward permanent residency. I’ve almost lived in the Netherlands for five years now—wow, how time flies! I thought it would be fun to share a bit about the process, my experience, and what it all means, especially in case my American friends are curious.
Context: Permanent Residency in the Netherlands
After living in the Netherlands for five consecutive years, you can apply for either permanent residency or citizenship. The big difference is that the Netherlands generally does not allow dual citizenship. That means if you want Dutch citizenship, you usually have to renounce your original nationality.
There are a few exceptions—most notably through marriage—so I guess if I fall in love with a Dutchie, dual citizenship could still be on the table 😉. For people from countries with weaker passports, giving up citizenship might not be a big deal. But as a U.S. citizen, it’s a much bigger decision. Renouncing costs around €2,500, has tax implications (closing all US bank accounts etc), and even makes visiting the U.S. on a tourist visa much more complicated. So… permanent residency it is!
Why Permanent Residency?
The biggest benefit of permanent residency is that you no longer need visa sponsorship to stay in the country. Right now, my job sponsors my visa, which means that if I were to lose my job, I’d have about three months to find a new employer willing to sponsor the same visa—or I’d have to leave the country.
Permanent residency is also very similar to citizenship. You can’t vote in national elections, and there are slightly more limitations on coming and going, but otherwise the rights are quite comparable (at least from my understanding). You can compare it to a green card in the US for example.
Realistically, my job feels very secure—especially after surviving company layoffs this year. My Highly Skilled Migrant Visa is valid until 2029, so there isn’t a real time crunch. Getting PR is more of a personal milestone than anything else…..
How Permanent Residency Works
The biggest part of getting permanent residency is passing the inburgering (integration) exams. The exact requirements depend on your situation, but for me, I need to pass Dutch at the A2 level.
That includes five exams: speaking, writing, listening, reading, and a culture/society exam. So far, I’ve taken and passed everything except the speaking exam, and I’m currently waiting on my final results—fingers crossed!
Over the last four years, I’ve taken Dutch classes on and off (three in total, I think). I never took them too seriously, mostly because you can get by very easily in Amsterdam without speaking Dutch. Also, my employer paid for them, so I had a bit less skin in the game.
That said, those classes gave me a great foundation. When I finally decided to properly prepare for the inburgering exams, I signed up—and paid—for an intensive class twice a week, plus studying on my own outside of class. I mean… what else am I going to do during the cold, dark, rainy months here??
My Opinion on the Inburgering Exams
Not to downplay the exams, but honestly, they are quite doable. If you put in the study time, I truly believe that anyone can pass. I started my class in October and, if all goes as planned, I’ll have passed all of my exams by the end of 2025—meaning everything is done in about three months. I never would have believed that six months ago.
If you’re very self-motivated and disciplined, it’s also possible to pass with self-study alone. That isn’t really my style—I like the interaction and accountability that come with classes—but it’s definitely doable.
Next Steps
I’m still waiting on my speaking test results, which can take up to two months. So far, I’ve received most exam results in about three weeks (much faster than expected), but with the holidays, I’m preparing for a longer wait.
Thankfully, my work will help with all of the paperwork. For context, here’s a realistic timeline of how the process works:
- Take all exams
Scheduling can be tricky depending on the time of year and the exam. Some exams need to be booked more than a month in advance. (1 month wait time and about 3 months to take all exams) - Wait for results
Results can take up to two months per exam. ( 2 months) - Receive your diploma
If you pass all exams on the first try, you’ll receive a diploma by mail once everything is completed. This can take up to one month after your final exam. (1 month)
Submit documents to immigration
You can officially submit your application up to three months before your five-year anniversary in the Netherlands. - Application processing
Once submitted, processing can take up to six months. If you’re applying for Dutch citizenship instead of permanent residency, there’s an additional wait for the official swearing-in ceremony, which only happens a few times a year depending on where you live. ( 6 months)
While I’m hopeful my case won’t take the full six months since it’s fairly straightforward, I’m setting my expectations accordingly.
Bottom line: I’d plan for about a year to complete the entire process, possibly longer depending on your Dutch level. It’s not for the weak-hearted in terms of time investment—but it’s absolutely worth it in the end.
Hope you learned something new from this post! I may do a follow-up diving into the nitty-gritty of the exams for those who are extra curious.
❤ Melanie
Smiles from Miles Away 