Imagine: you have applied for a residence permit or an extension of your residence permit, but your permit has not yet been issued. However, you have planned to go on a holiday to visit your family. If you leave now, how can you be sure that you can enter the country again? In certain cases a return visa (in Dutch: terugkeervisum) can offer a solution.

When request for a return visa
You can request a return visa in the following situations:

• You have submitted an application to extend or change your residence permit. Or an application for a permanent residence permit. You are waiting for the decision.
• Your residence document has been lost, stolen or damaged, or contains incorrect information.
• Your child was born in the Netherlands. You have applied for a residence permit for your child for the first time. You are waiting for the decision.
• You have submitted an application for an EU law review for the first time. This is a request to live with your family member who is an EU, EEA or Swiss national. Read which countries are in the EU and the EEA. Or an application to live with your Dutch child who is less than 18 years of age. You are waiting for the decision. 

When do I need an urgent reason?
You must have a urgent reason to obtain a return visa in the following situations:

• You have applied for a residence permit for the first time. You are waiting for the decision. Your provisional residence permit (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf - mvv) is no longer valid, or you do not need an mvv.
• Your residence permit application was denied. You have lodged an objection or appeal. You are permitted to wait for the decision in the Netherlands. Your provisional residence permit (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf - mvv) is no longer valid, or you do not need an mvv.

Examples of urgent reasons
Some examples of urgent reasons would be:

• An immediate life-threatening illness or death of your biological or adoptive parent or biological or adoptive child.
• You have a special family event, such as the marriage of a family member in the first or second degree. This means your parents, children, siblings, grandparents or grandchildren.
• You are receiving medical treatment.
• You must travel for your studies or business.
• You must attend a field trip/working week for training or studies.
• You are in foster care and are under 18 years of age. You are going on holiday with your foster family.

Make an IND service desk appointment
To apply for a return visa, you must make an appointment with a Netherlands Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) service desk.

You must apply yourself at the IND service desk. Children under 18 years of age must apply for their return visas along with a parent or legal representative. Children under 18 years of age must be present at the IND service desk.

Documents you need
You must bring the following documents to the appointment:

• Your valid passport (or other travel document)
• Your appointment code. This is in the email you receive after making the appointment online.
• Your (valid or invalid) residence permit. If your residence permit lost or stolen, report this to the police. You will receive a police report. Bring this to your appointment.
• If you have an urgent reason to request a return visa, you must bring documents proving that you have an urgent reason to travel.

Read more and make an appointment here.

Also interesting for you: residence permit (VVR), documents for residence permit.