Total migration inflow to the Netherlands continued to rise between 2015 and 2016 (from 205 000 to 231 000 persons) but levelled off in 2017 at 234 000 persons, the highest level in this decade (all 2017 figures are preliminary). Total migration outflow in 2017 (151 000) was similar to the previous two years. Net immigration to the Netherlands thus rose considerably, from 55 000 in 2015 to 79 000 in 2016 and 83 000 in 2017. By 2017, the stock of the foreign-born population in the Netherlands exceeded 2 million for the first time.
In terms of nationality, inflows of persons born in Asia grew from 49 000 in 2015 to 65 000 in 2016, before falling to 52 000 in 2017. Inflows of persons born in other EU countries rose from 77 000 in 2015 to 93 000 in 2017, accounting for about 40% of total migration inflow. The main origins of foreign-born persons arriving in 2017 were Poland (23 700), Syria (16 800), Germany (10 600), the former Soviet Union (8 500), China (6 700), the United Kingdom (6 600), Italy (6 500) and the United States (6 300). As in 2016, the inflow of persons born in the Netherlands reached 32 000 in 2017. Dutch citizens accounted for about one-fifth of the total migration inflow in both 2015 and 2016, compared with a quarter in 2013 and 2014.
The Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) issued almost 25 000 residence permits for family migrants in 2016, including 10 600 to children, more than in 2015 (21 700). The main nationalities were Syria, Eritrea and India. Another 14 600 residence permits were granted to labour migrants, notably under the knowledge migrant scheme (9 100) and the scheme for researchers (2 500). The number of new knowledge migrants has grown rapidly, increasing by 1 200 between 2015 and 2016. In the knowledge and talent migration schemes, the main nationalities were India, the United States and China; in other labour migration schemes, the main nationalities were China, India and the United States. 16 300 residence permits were granted to international students, led by citizens of China, the United States and Indonesia. In total, 73 000 international students were enrolled at Dutch universities in 2016.
Persons born in the Netherlands (42 300) were by far the largest group in the migration outflow in 2017, followed by persons born in Poland (14 200), Germany (8 100), the United Kingdom (4 300) and China (4 200). They main destination of emigrants were the United Kingdom or Germany.
First requests for asylum in the Netherlands fell by half between 2015 (43 100) and 2016 (19 400) and continued to decline in 2017 (16 100). A similar decline was seen in asylum requests by unaccompanied minors from 2015 to 2016. The nationalities most frequently recorded in 2017 were Syrian (3 000), Eritrean (1 600), Moroccan (1 000), Algerian (900) and Iraqi (800). While approval rates are particularly high for nationals of Syria or Eritrea as well as stateless persons, the Netherlands also operates a list of safe origin countries whose nationals are likely not to be eligible for asylum and are instead fast-tracked with a focus on return. Following sudden increases in asylum requests by nationals of Morocco (from 80 in 2015 to 1 300 in 2016) and Algeria (from 40 in 2015 to 1 000 in 2016), these two countries were included in the list. The number of these requests fell from 2016 to 2017, but still remains high.
Dutch citizenship was acquired by 28 500 persons in 2016, most often by nationals of Morocco (3 400), Turkey (2 800) and Iraq (900). Since February 2017, it became possible to withdraw Dutch citizenship from persons (with additional citizenships) who have participated in terrorist organisations. Previously, a withdrawal could only be based on a conviction for terrorist activities.
A change of rules for high-skilled labour migrants (notably the knowledge migrant scheme), researchers and international students allows them to engage in entrepreneurship in the Netherlands as long as the basis for their residence permit remains their primary activity. In addition, researchers no longer need a work permit.
In July 2017, a pilot programme for short stays of highly skilled labour migrants was made permanent. It allows registered sponsors to employ non-EU/EFTA citizens in the Netherlands for up to 3 months without a work permit, in a context of cross-border collaboration. This scheme complements the knowledge migrant scheme for stays over 3 months, without requiring particular salary levels (except the minimum wage). The one-off fee for becoming a registered sponsor of highly skilled labour migrants, researchers or students was reduced by half for small enterprises (EUR 2 592 instead of EUR 5 183)
