Dutch and EU permanent residence permits allow you to live in the Netherlands indefinitely, with far fewer restrictions compared to other types of visas. You can apply for these permits if you have been living in the Netherlands for over five years without any gaps.* Predominantly, those who have studied in the Netherlands apply for the Dutch permit as it takes into account the years of studying and the zoekjaar. However, the EU permit considers these as if they were a reduced period (student years count half and the zoekjaar doesn’t count at all).

The difference between the two is that one is written into Dutch law and the other is written into EU law; there are small differences in the way they work and the way they are obtained, but the differences are minor.

*Gap

It is important to have in mind that a gap in your registration can affect your time count for your permanent residence permit. Make sure to extend your visa before it expires. Everything needs to be sorted before the end date of your visa. 

Dutch Permanent Residence Permit

If you have not been registered in the Netherlands for any period of time, whether you were between homes, you left for a period of time, or you were living somewhere where you cannot register, you will lose all of your years of registration, and the five-year clock will start again. Even if this period is only for one day. Find out about this permit here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

EU Permanent Residence Permit

They are slightly more lenient about what actually constitutes a gap. For example, if you apply in the Netherlands for your self-employment residency permit and while the permit is being processed, it turns out that you did not add all the necessary information, and when this has not been rectified before the end of your current residence permit, it would create a gap. This short gap would restart the clock for the Dutch Permanent residence permit, but it wouldn’t for the EU residence permit. So there is not a huge difference, but it is slightly more lenient. You can find out more about this permit here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Another Example: You studied for two years, then had a zoekjaar, and then obtained a self-employed residence permit for another two years. This would qualify you for a permanent residence permit.

IMPORTANT: If you have even a day between the end of your self-employed residence permit and the five-year mark, you will have to apply for another non-temporary residence permit to carry you over.