IND Objection Lawyer

If the IND refuses your application or withdraws your permit, you can in most cases lodge an objection or an appeal within four weeks, counted from the day after the decision is notified. Law & More guards that deadline, drafts the grounds and represents you at the IND hearing and in court, for internationals, their families and employers, in Dutch and English. The first step is a free introductory meeting; keep the decision and its date at hand.

Clients rate Law & More 9.6 out of 10 on Klantenvertellen, the Dutch review platform (81 reviews, as of October 2026).

What can we help you with?

• assessing a refusal or withdrawal and the remedy that is open;
• filing a pro forma objection to preserve the deadline;
• requesting and reviewing the file and drafting the grounds;
• representing you at the hearing at the IND;
• an appeal to the district court and, where applicable, to the Council of State;
• a request for interim relief so that you can await the outcome in the Netherlands;
• a notice of default and an appeal when the IND does not decide in time.

Most of our objection cases concern a family reunification refusal, a highly skilled migrant file or a withdrawal of a permit; see also our immigration practice.

How long do you have to object to an IND decision?

Four weeks, under Article 69(1) of the Aliens Act 2000, instead of the six weeks of Article 6:7 of the General Administrative Law Act (Awb). The period starts the day after the decision is notified in the prescribed manner (Article 6:8 Awb).

Under Article 6:9 Awb a document sent by post is in time if it was posted before the end of the period and received no later than a week afterwards. If the grounds are not ready, a pro forma objection filed within the period preserves the deadline; the IND then sets a term for completing the grounds.

A late objection or appeal is in principle inadmissible. Article 6:11 Awb makes an exception where the applicant cannot reasonably be held to have been in default. Whether that applies depends on the reason for the delay, so do not rely on it.

What happens in the objection phase at the IND?

The IND reconsiders its own decision in full, and facts and documents that came to light after the first decision also count. Before deciding, the IND gives you the opportunity to be heard (Article 7:2 Awb).

The notice of objection sets out which parts of the decision are wrong, which conditions are in fact met, and which documents support that. Whether and when a hearing takes place appears from the IND's correspondence. We request the file, check the facts the IND relied on and prepare you for the hearing.

When do you go to court?

If the objection is declared unfounded or inadmissible, an appeal to the district court is open, again within four weeks. In some procedures there is no objection phase and the appeal must be lodged with the court directly; the decision states which remedy applies.

The court reviews the IND's decision; it does not take the IND's place, but it can annul the decision and order a fresh one. A further appeal lies with the Administrative Jurisdiction Division of the Council of State.

What can you do if the IND does not decide in time, or if you need to stay?

Once the decision period has expired, you can give the IND written notice of default and, two weeks later, appeal for failure to decide in time (Article 6:12 Awb). If you want to await the outcome in the Netherlands and the IND does not accept that, you can ask for interim relief under Article 8:81 Awb.

Under Article 25 of the Aliens Act 2000 the IND decides within 90 days, extendable by up to six months where advice or investigation by third parties or the public prosecution service is needed. The appeal for failure to decide in time is not bound to a period, and the court can set a term within which a decision must be taken.

Lodging an objection or appeal does not automatically mean you may stay; the decision states whether you may await the outcome here. The provisional measures judge can grant interim relief where urgency, having regard to the interests involved, requires it. The request can be made once an objection or appeal has been lodged.

How does working with Law & More work?

1. Introductory meeting: you send us the decision and we establish the deadline and the remedy, free of charge.
2. Advice and cost estimate: we assess the grounds for refusal, the chances and the risks, and estimate the costs.
3. Objection and hearing: we file the objection, request the file, complete the grounds and represent you at the IND hearing.
4. Court proceedings or completion: we appeal to the court where needed, or close the file once the IND decides in your favour.

What does an IND objection lawyer cost?

The introductory meeting is free of charge. After that we work on an hourly basis, and we agree the rate and the expected effort with you in advance.

• Lawyer: 250 to 350 euros per hour, excluding VAT.
• Partner: 300 to 400 euros per hour, excluding VAT.
• One-off advice meeting without further assistance: 300 euros including VAT.

Law & More does not work on legal aid (toevoeging). Legal aid exists through the Legal Aid Board (Raad voor Rechtsbijstand), but we do not work on that basis. Court fees (griffierecht) and IND fees are charged separately.

Who handles your case?

Your case is handled by Ruby van Kersbergen and Michelle Marjanovic. You can read more about their background on our team page.

Which related services may be relevant?

Your question may touch on other areas as well. These pages explain how we can help.

• Immigration lawyer in Eindhoven
• Dutch citizenship lawyer
• Immigration lawyer Amsterdam

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to object to an IND refusal?

Four weeks, under Article 69(1) of the Aliens Act 2000. The period starts the day after the decision is notified. The notice of objection must be received within that period; for postal items Article 6:9 Awb applies. If the grounds are not ready, a pro forma objection preserves the deadline.

What is a pro forma objection?

An objection filed within the period without the grounds being fully worked out, which preserves the deadline. The IND then sets a term for completing the grounds. If that term is not used, the objection can be declared inadmissible, so the grounds must follow within the term set.

What happens if I am late?

A late objection or appeal is in principle inadmissible. Article 6:11 Awb makes an exception where the applicant cannot reasonably be held to have been in default; whether that applies depends on the reason for the delay. Contact us as soon as you receive a decision.

May I stay in the Netherlands while the procedure runs?

That does not follow automatically from lodging an objection or appeal and differs per case; the decision states whether you may await the outcome here. If not, interim relief can be requested under Article 8:81 Awb from the provisional measures judge.

What can I do if the IND does not decide at all?

Give the IND written notice of default once the decision period has expired. If no decision follows within two weeks after that, an appeal for failure to decide in time can be brought before the court under Article 6:12 Awb. The court can then set a term for the decision.

Do you handle asylum cases?

No. Law & More does not handle asylum cases. For an asylum procedure, contact the Juridisch Loket or VluchtelingenWerk Nederland; during the asylum procedure you are entitled to a lawyer through the Legal Aid Board.

In doubt about your position? Tell us about your situation. We will let you know within one working day what your options are. Use our contact form, call +31 40 369 06 80 or e-mail info@lawandmore.nl.

Law & More, Marconilaan 13, 5612 HM Eindhoven (+31 40 369 06 80) and visiting location Pietersbergweg 291, 1105 BM Amsterdam (+31 20 369 71 21). Available Monday to Friday 08:00-22:00, Saturday and Sunday 09:00-17:00.

This page provides general information and does not replace advice on your specific situation.