Humanitarian Residence Permit (Verblijfsvergunning humanitair)

Eligibility is defined by specific sub-categories. You must prove that you fall into one of the following groups to self-assess your eligibility:

Temporary Humanitarian Grounds

• Victims and Witnesses of Human Trafficking: You are cooperating with a criminal investigation against traffickers, or you are unable to cooperate due to severe trauma or direct threats.
• Medical Treatment (Article 64): You are too ill to travel, or stopping your current medical treatment in the Netherlands would lead to a "medical emergency" (death or permanent disability) within a very short timeframe.
• Domestic or Honor-Based Violence: You are a victim of violence and require protection, even if you do not currently hold a valid residency status.
• Awaiting Citizenship: You are in the final stages of a naturalization or "option" procedure to become a Dutch citizen.

Non-Temporary Humanitarian Grounds

• Family Violence Survivors: You previously held a permit to live with a partner or family member, but that relationship ended specifically because of domestic violence.
• No-Fault Departure: You have a legal duty to leave the Netherlands but cannot do so through no fault of your own. This requires proving that your country of origin refuses to issue travel documents despite your documented, exhaustive efforts to obtain them.
• Private and Family Life (Article 8 ECHR): You have deep roots in the Netherlands (such as being the parent of a Dutch child) that make deportation a violation of your right to a private life. This is a high legal bar requiring proof of "more than normal emotional ties."
• Minor Children: Children who have resided in the Netherlands for at least three years under a formal child protection order.