Back to Amsterdam
 

Hi, I know this question may sound really silly but I cannot find a clear answer on UK or Dutch government websites.
I have been living between the UK and Netherlands (Amsterdam) for a few years now. I have registered businesses in both, but spent most of last year in the Netherlands and was considering to take full residency. I came back to the UK in October and had flights booked for the 29th December to return.
Well as we all know, covid put an end to those plans at the last minute. Now Britain has left EU and covid restrictions have made travel every difficult.
My business in Amsterdam needs me back. I have an administrative and construction business there.
Being here in the UK I have already lost clients and work.
I need to return asap. Can anybody advise me? Who or where or if I need to apply to get back into the Netherlands to work. What paper work is needed? Do I have to apply to get in or just turn up at the ferry port and show my kvk and BSN numbers and that will be enough. (With clear covid papers obviously). Nobody seems to be able to give me a clear or definitive answer. Can anybody help or advise?????

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Re: Back to Amsterdam
 

Officialdom: https://ind.nl/en/Pages/Brexit-condi...on-period.aspx

Did you have a DigiD before you left (hoping you say yes) - log in, check your mailbox from the IND. Get your V-number (it will be in the references on the left of the pdf letter from IND), you might need this as proof you are resident in NL.

If you were registered as resident here in October, and didn't unregister (and assuming your landlord didn't unregister you), you should be fine up until June 21, but don't dally! It hinges on that. I haven't known any Brits who's had less than a good experience with the IND, and if you say you have a business here (KVK registered?) and had to go to the UK but covid scuppered your plans, I think they'll be reasonable. They are looking at whether you were registered as resident here at midnight on 31 December 2020, and that means registration on the Gemeente database. Black or white/you were or you weren't :)

If you have FB, I would recommend joining British in the Netherlands, as there's lots of experience to dive into - even just for Covid-travelling issues!

On the assumption you are registered in NL, you need to get back (PCR and rapid test - easy to find the rules on that one - book flight). One here, or possibly before, you need to call the Brexit Line for the IND and make an appointment ASAP. Right now, most people have been processed and they (IND) are scraping for the remaining Brits who didn't apply yet (you might have something from the IND in your mailbox), and it's taking less than a month to get your Art 50 Residence visa. I don't think anyone registered here has been turned down - if so, they are likely to be the ones failing the background checks.

You can check registration at the Gemeente if you aren't sure. If you discover you weren't registered at 31 December, then you might need to suck it up and seek out a *gulp* immigration lawyer. I'm sure you have a lawyer for your business, but if not, Jeremy Bierbach (https://www.iamexpat.nl/member/jeremy-bierbach) might be worth a call as he is well known in English speaking circles: not a personal recommendation, but a decent start if this is what you are resigned to.

Hope this is somewhat useful.

Re: Back to Amsterdam
 

Did you have any kind of residence document in your possession prior to going back to UK? Much of what you need to do will be determined by your prior status.
The best guidance will be found on the IND website. Apparently you have 13 weeks to get this organised.

https://ind.nl/en/Pages/default.aspx