Is your plan to move to the Netherlands stuck? Many people see “pending” on their My IND portal right now. You are not alone. In early 2026, the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) started stricter checks on digital files and more rules for companies. Even big companies that are Recognised Sponsors face problems now.
The Netherlands is still a great place for skilled workers from around the world. But getting a residence permit for work is harder at this time because of many admin steps. There are new rules like 4.46% CAO indexation and stricter rules for keeping bank statements. This guide tells you in simple words why your visa is delayed and what you can do to make things faster in a legal way.
Statutory Decision Periods & Legal Timelines
The first thing is to know how much time the IND should take by law. This helps you stay calm and plan better.
The IND has different time rules for different cases.
- Statutory Decision Period (90 Days) For normal work permits, like the GVVA (which is also called Single Permit), the IND has a maximum of 90 days by law to make a decision. This is the longest time they can take legally.
- Target Processing Time (2 Weeks) If your employer is a Recognised Sponsor (called Erkend Referent in Dutch), your application gets fast-track treatment. The IND tries to decide in 2 weeks. But this is only a goal, not a strong rule by law. Sometimes it takes longer.
- Reasonable Decision Period (8 Weeks) This shorter time is usually for easy cases. For example, when you replace a lost permit or make small changes in your papers.
Expert Tip: If the IND asks for more documents in a letter, the time clock stops. The time starts again only after you send the papers back. You normally get 2 weeks to reply, so this can add extra time to the total.
Common Causes of 2026 Delays
Why does your application take more than 2 weeks even if you have a Recognised Sponsor? In 2026, the IND does continuous checks. They look at payroll information in real time to make sure everything is correct.
- Incomplete Evidence of Salary (Bank Proof) From January 1, 2026, payslips alone are not enough anymore. The IND wants real proof from bank statements. They need to see that money moved from the company’s business account to your personal account. If these bank papers are missing, not clear, or wrong, the IND starts a full manual check. This can add many weeks of delay.
- Market Conformity Review The IND now checks if your salary is normal for the job in the Netherlands. For example, if you are a software engineer and your salary meets the minimum but is much lower than what most people get in Amsterdam for the same job, they start a review. They ask the UWV (the Employee Insurance Agency) to check if the salary is fair for the market. This extra step makes the process slow.
- Biometric & MVV Appointment Bottlenecks Even when the IND says yes to your permit, there can still be delays because of physical steps.
- VFS Global and Embassy Backlogs — You need an MVV sticker (Provisional Residence Permit) from the Dutch embassy or VFS Global in your home country. Right now, there are not enough appointment slots, so you may wait weeks just to get one.
- Biometric Appointment Bottleneck — After you arrive in the Netherlands, you must go to an IND office for fingerprints and your signature. Booking a time slot is very hard these days because so many people are waiting.
These physical parts create a big gap even after the paper decision is ready.
What to Do If the 90-Day Decision Period Passes
If more than 90 days (or the extra time they told you) have passed and you still have no decision, you have some rights under Dutch law.
- V-Number Tracking Use your special Vreemdelingennummer (V-number) to check the status online in the My IND portal every day. Sometimes the IND makes a decision but the letter takes time to reach you by post.
- The Default Notice (Ingebrekestelling) You can send a formal letter called Default Notice to the IND. This asks them to decide within 2 weeks. If they do not decide in those 14 days, they have to pay you a penalty every day. The penalty can go up to about €1,400 to €1,500 in total. This puts pressure on them to act fast.
- Appeal to Court If the 2 weeks after your Default Notice pass with no answer, you (or your lawyer) can go to court. You ask for help because of “Failure to Decide.” The court can force the IND to make a decision by a new date and give higher penalties.
Compliance & Mitigation: The 3-Month Rule
To stay safe from long waits, use the 3-Month Rule. You can apply to extend your current permit up to 90 days (3 months) before it ends. When you apply early, you keep the right to live and work in the Netherlands while your new application is being processed. This helps if the IND takes extra time.
2026 Checklist for Success
Here is a simple list to check before or during your application:
- Check if your employer is still a Recognised Sponsor. Look on the official Public Register.
- Make sure your salary for 2026 is high enough. It should be at least €5,942 per month if you are 30 or older, or €4,357 if under 30.
- Talk to your HR team. Ask if they have all bank statement records ready for the new 2026 digital audits.
Follow these steps to lower the chance of delays.
Need Help Navigating 2026 Rules?
The Dutch system uses more computers now, but mistakes still happen. Share this simple guide with your HR team or company. Make sure your bank proofs and salary match the 2026 rules completely.
Would you like me to write a simple template for the “Notice of Default” letter to send to the IND?
Disclaimer: This article gives basic information only. It is not legal advice. Always check the latest details on the official IND.nl website or talk to a good immigration lawyer before you take any action.