Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) in the Netherlands

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service (Immigratie en Naturalisatiedienst or IND) is a branch of the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice which implements the immigration policy of the Netherlands.

For anyone wishing to gain admittance to the Netherlands, the IND is the organisation that will process your application. Whether you are an international looking to study in the Netherlands, an asylum seeker, or you simply want to move to the Netherlands to find a job, then the IND will be your first point of contact.

IND responsibilities & duties

The work of the IND is mostly taken up with applications for residence permits and visas. If you have been living in the country for some time and would like to become a naturalised Dutch citizen with a Dutch passport, the IND can help you with that too.

The Immigration and Naturalisation Service also helps people who feel unsafe in their home country to seek asylum.

How to contact the IND

There are several ways to get in touch with the IND - see the contact details below.

Be aware that the IND receives a large number of enquiries every day, which can lead to long wait times on the phone line, at the IND desk or to receive a reply via email.

Remember to have your V-number (file number) handy if you want to discuss your application. You can also find the V-number on the back of your plastic residence permit card.

IND telephone

For general enquiries or questions about your file, call 088 0430 430 (normal phone charges apply) 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday. From abroad the number is: +31 88 0430 430.

IND email

For general questions, you can write to the IND using their email form. It’s not possible to ask about the progress of your application via email.

IND on X 

It’s possible to ask questions to @IND_NL on X (formerly Twitter) between 9am and 5pm on workdays. To protect your privacy, never share your V-number on social media.

IND post

General questions can be submitted by post and addressed to:

Immigratie- en Naturalisatiedienst
Klantinformatiecentrum
Postbus 287
7600 AG, Almelo

In person at an IND Desks and Service Points

There are several IND Desks around the Netherlands that you can visit. There you can:

• Ask general questions about residency (only by appointment).
• Submit your residence permit application (only by appointment).
• Get a residence stamp or return visa in your passport (only by appointment).
• Pick up a residence permit (no appointment necessary).
• Have your passport photo or fingerprints taken (no appointment necessary).

IND Desks and Service Points

Below is a list of IND Desks and Service Points that you can visit. Please note: for most types of visits, you must make an appointment in advance by calling 088 0430 430 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.