How to Get an IND Residence Endorsement Sticker

The residence endorsement sticker (in Dutch: stickerendossement or verblijfsticker) is a free sticker the IND places in your passport to prove you are legally allowed to stay in the Netherlands while your residence permit procedure is pending. You apply in person at an IND desk, the appointment is decided on the spot, and the sticker is issued the same day. Most non-EU residents need one at some point — usually when their existing document is about to expire or they have entered with an MVV and are still waiting on the plastic residence card.

Who needs the endorsement sticker

You may apply for an endorsement sticker if any of the following apply:

• Your current residence document expires within 4 weeks, or your existing sticker expires within 2 weeks
• You submitted a first regular residence permit, family reunification, extension, or permanent residency application and received an IND receipt confirmation
• You travelled to the Netherlands using a valid provisional residence permit (MVV) but your physical residence card hasn't arrived yet
• You registered an objection (bezwaar) or appeal (beroep) against an IND decision
• You applied for a provisional ruling (voorlopige voorziening) at the court
• You are in an EU intra-mobility situation (moving between EU member states under existing permit rules)

If your IND receipt letter mentions waiting for a decision and your old document is running out, the sticker is what bridges the gap.

What to bring to your appointment

Bring all of the following — missing any one will get your appointment cancelled:

• Your valid passport or travel document — must not be expired
• Your appointment confirmation code — sent by email when you booked
• Your current or expired residence document — the plastic card or older sticker
• A police report — only if your residence document was lost or stolen
• For children under 18: the parent must bring their own valid passport or residence document, plus the child's valid passport. The child does not need to be present in some cases — confirm with the IND when booking.

If you have a Foreign Nationals Identity Document (Type W or W2), bring that instead of the residence card.

How to book the appointment

In Amsterdam, you book through the IND online appointment system. Each location has its own booking flow:

• IND desk Amsterdam (Stadionplein 1A) — for general residents in the Amsterdam area
• The Hague International Centre — for highly skilled migrants, ICT permit holders, EU Blue Card, scientific researchers, start-up visa, orientation year permit holders, and accompanying family members who live or work in The Hague region. Book through their appointment system
• Other locations: 's-Hertogenbosch, Zwolle, Maastricht (Expat Centre), and Goes (IND Service Point) — useful if Amsterdam slots are booked weeks out

Slots can fill up quickly, especially in Amsterdam during peak periods. If you cannot find anything in the next two weeks, check 's-Hertogenbosch or Zwolle — they often have earlier availability and are a 1–2 hour train from Amsterdam.

If you are a highly skilled migrant or knowledge migrant working in Amsterdam, your employer's relocation partner often books the appointment for you. Ask HR before booking yourself.

What happens at the appointment

The appointment itself is fast — usually 10 to 15 minutes. The IND officer:

1. Verifies your identity with your passport
2. Checks your IND file (procedure status, receipt confirmation)
3. Places the sticker directly into your passport
4. Hands the passport back

The sticker has its own validity period — usually 6 months, sometimes shorter depending on your procedure. The IND decides on the spot; if anything is missing or unclear, the officer will explain what to do next.

There is no fee. The only cost is for the underlying residence permit application itself, which is paid separately.

If your sticker is about to expire

If your IND procedure is taking longer than expected and your sticker is running out, you can apply for a new one. The eligibility window is the same — apply when your existing sticker expires within 2 weeks. Book another appointment, bring the same documents, and a fresh sticker will be placed.

There is no limit on the number of stickers you can receive while a procedure is genuinely pending. If procedures repeatedly stall, talk to an immigration lawyer — All About Expats and similar specialised firms in Amsterdam handle this regularly.

Common scenarios

You arrived with an MVV and have a BSN but no residence card yet: This is the most common case. Apply for the sticker once your IND receipt confirms your residence permit application is being processed.

Your residence card was lost or stolen: Report the loss to the police, get the report number, then book the sticker appointment. Bring the police report.

You're between an expiring permit and a renewal: Submit the renewal application first. Once you have the IND receipt confirmation, book the sticker appointment.

Official source: IND — Appointment for residence endorsement sticker