The Dutch Government has approved a proposal submitted by the Minister of Immigration, Integration and Asylum Policy, Mr. Gerd Leers which states that immigrants convicted of committing an offence within three years of being admitted to the Netherlands may lose their residence permit after just spending one day in prison.

According to the proposal, the longer an immigrant has been in the Netherlands, the longer the prison sentence will have to be before risking losing his or her residence permit.

Immigrants who commit sexual offence against minors may also lose their residence permit, even if they have been in the Netherlands for more than ten (10) years. However, this rule currently applies to serious crimes of violence and drug-related offences.

Meanwhile, every case will be reviewed in accordance with European rules and international law.

Courtesy: Ghana Embassy, The Hague.