The Netherlands charges non-EU nationals too much money for a residency permit, the European Court of Justice said on Thursday. The case was brought by the European Commission.

While legislation allows member states to set their own fees, the cost should not be so high that applicants cannot afford a residency permit and therefore don’t apply, the court said
It described the Dutch fees – currently between €188 and €830 – as ‘excessive and disproportionate’, pointing out that even the cheapest permit is seven times the price of a Dutch id card.
The Netherlands must now take action to meet the Commission’s objections or face a fine, a statement from the European Court said.