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You are here: Home Family & Kids Partners Can I stay on if my relationship ends?

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22/07/2003Can I stay on if my relationship ends?

What happens to a trailing spouse when it all goes pear-shaped? Our experts tackle this prickly question.

 
"I have been in a serious relationship with a European Union national for several years now. After living together in Rotterdam for more than two years, it looks like it is not working out. What will happen if we split up? Will I get in trouble with the local Aliens Police? ” Ending a relationship may have serious consequences from a legal/residency point of view for expats who have been granted residency on the basis of their relationship with a Dutch resident. In your case, much will depend on your nationality, the length of your stay in the Netherlands, the length of your relationship, and your future plans and possibilities. Lets first consider expats who do not hail from an EU member state, Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland or Switzerland. If your partner is a Dutch national (or a national of another EU state), the following is probably printed on your residence permit: “Verblijf bij partner. Arbeid vrij toegestaan, een tewerkstellingsvergunning is niet vereist” (roughly translated: residency with partner, work permit not required). It is important to keep this bit of information in mind as you read on. Your current residence permit and status are based on your relationship with an EU national living in the Netherlands. Officially you and your partner are required to inform the local Aliens Police or IND immigration service office as soon as the split is final. The Aliens Police/IND should be informed of all major changes regarding your personal situation — and in my book, splitting up definitely qualifies. Should you want to continue living in the Netherlands after the relationship end, the Aliens Police/IND will assess your new purpose for stay, as the ‘relationship-based purpose’ as such is no longer valid. In certain cases the following applies: if the relationship lasted more than three years after the first relationship-based residence permit was issued, it may be possible to secure a separate residence permit.
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