Leaving the Netherlands

The ISD will terminate your Dutch residence permit if you are no longer registered as a student at the University of Groningen (UG). Your residence permit is linked to your status as a student at the UG, so the grounds for your legal stay as a student has ended.

If you have graduated the IND will process and terminate your legal stay 3 months after your deregistration. If the expiry date mentioned on your residence permit card is within this 3-month period your residence permit will expire on that day.

If you have decided to quit your studies and you no longer attend the University of Groningen, the IND will process and terminate your legal stay as soon as possible after your deregistration. Please make sure to leave the Netherlands as soon as possible.

In all cases, the ISD will inform you by email about the termination of your residence permit and the steps you should take.

The residence permit card is the property of the Dutch government. Therefore, if you leave the Netherlands, the residence permit card must be returned. You should also enclose the IND Form: 'Notification form for foreign nationals' in the envelope in which you send the residence permit. You can find the form on the website of the IND. Please send the residence document and form to the following address:

IND Office for Documents
P.O. Box 7025
8007 HA Zwolle

The residence document must be invalidated before sending. This can be done by cutting it (do not cut it all the way through) or by punching a hole in it. Before you return your residence card, it is a good idea to make a copy of both the front as well as the back of the card for possible future reference.

Will you be abroad for more than 8 months in total during the next 12 months? Then notify the municipality of your move.This also applies if you return to your home country (deregister).

When you leave the Netherlands, you must deregister at the municipality. Please visit the website of your municipality for more information how to de-register. It varies from one municipality to another on how to deregister. The municipality will automatically notify the IND about your deregistration.

When having a Dutch residence permit with the purpose of study, please be informed that you can stay abroad for a maximum of 6 months. Students going abroad for an exchange or internship which is part of their study programme are exempted from this and can stay abroad for a maximum of 12 months.

Find more information about this on the website of the IND.

A lot of Dutch banks do not approve of keeping your bank account open if you do not live in the Netherlands anymore. Please contact your bank to notify them that you are leaving the Netherlands.

If you decide to quit your studies during the academic year and return a few months or one year later to continue your studies, then please contact your bank to request if you can keep your bank account active while living abroad.

Please remember to cancel your health insurance, so that you do not unnecessarily continue to pay for your insurance.

In order to leave the Netherlands, you need a valid passport or another travel document. If your passport or other travel document is no longer valid, please contact the embassy of your country.

You can start applying for the orientation year after you have graduated. Please see the IND FAQ's on the orientation year for more specific information. Check carefully if you meet the requirements stated on the website and you can submit the application.

If you wish to stay here for any other purpose, please inform at the IND for more information.