British nationals living in the Netherlands are being warned to make sure they do not lose their temporary right of residence by spending too long out of the country. 

Rules due to come into effect on October 1, 2023, and on April 1, 2024, limit the amount of time Brits with a temporary residence permit can be away, the IND said this week. The new rules do not affect people with permanent residency documents. 

From October this year, British nationals with a temporary residence permit can be out of the Netherlands for no more than six months within a 12-month period.

And from next April, the amount of time that can be spent abroad for “important reasons” such as studying or serious illness, will be limited to 12 months consecutively, the IND told Dutch News. 

There is no change to the current five-year limit for people with a permanent residency permit.  Find out more.

Under the Brexit withdrawal agreement, the 45,000 British citizens who were living in the Netherlands before 31 December 2020 had to apply for a new residence permit to stay in the country. Britons who have arrived since then must apply for a regular work and residence permit.