Dutch immigration and the IND, explained in English

FindLawyer gives practical initial guidance, organises your information and documents, prepares a structured case brief and connects you with a suitable independent lawyer. FindLawyer is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. The partner lawyer confirms their fees and provides all legal advice and representation.

We start with the free 15-minute matching call to understand your situation and give an honest practical assessment. If you decide to proceed, we organise your documents, prepare a structured case brief, and introduce you to a suitable independent lawyer who provides the legal advice and representation. We confirm the expected introduction timing before you proceed.

The first 15-minute matching call is free and there is no obligation to continue. If you decide to use the Lawyer Matching Service, we explain the FindLawyer fee for your legal area before you commit to anything. Partner-lawyer fees are separate, set by the law firm, and paid directly to that firm.

After payment and once we have the documents we need, we prepare your case and make the introduction. We confirm the expected introduction timing before you proceed. If something is missing from the file, we tell you exactly what.

Find the deadline before anything else, because it runs from the date printed on the decision rather than the date you opened the envelope. An objection to the IND is usually due within four weeks, and late objections are often declared inadmissible. Bring the letter itself to the call so the date and the procedure named on it can be read directly.

Yes. The standard route is an objection (bezwaar) to the IND, and then an appeal (beroep) to the court if that fails. Both stages have strict deadlines, and the grounds raised at the objection stage shape everything that follows, which is why a refusal is one of the situations where legal help usually earns its cost.

Often not. Applications made through a recognised sponsor with a complete file are regularly handled without one, and we will tell you that on the call rather than sell you a match you do not need. A lawyer earns their fee when there is a refusal, a deadline, a gap in your residence history, or anything that makes the file non-standard.

The IND is a national body and decides on the same rules wherever you live in the Netherlands. We publish city pages as a reading starting point rather than as a statement about who is available where. Which lawyer fits your matter, and where they are based, is confirmed when we make the introduction.

Clear English communication is a fixed requirement in our matching check for English-speaking clients, not a preference. If we cannot find a suitable lawyer who meets it for your matter, we tell you that rather than making the introduction anyway.