Business.gov.nl uses cookies to improve the website. These functional and analytical cookies do not contain your personal data. Do you want to watch video content? Third parties may place tracking cookies to track your online behaviour. You can refuse these tracking cookies. How cookies are used on Business.gov.nl.

Automatic issue of permits when government decides too late

Published by:
Netherlands Enterprise Agency, RVO
< 1 min read
Nederlandse versie

Are you applying for a permit with a government agency in the Netherlands? The authority (municipality, province, or regional water board) have to take a decision by a set deadline. They must also tell you within what period you will receive a response: the decision period (beslistermijn). 

The authorities may extend this decision period only once. 

Automatic issue of permit 

Do the authorities not respond within the set deadline? Then the principle of administrative silence (Lex Silencio Positivo, in Dutch) may apply. This means that your permit will be issued automatically. You can check whether this principle applies to your application on the confirmation of receipt. 

The administrative silence principle applies to, among others:

This article is related to:

How would you rate this page?(question 1 of max 3)
We are sorry to hear that. How can we improve?(question 2 of 3)

Questions relating to this article?

Please contact the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, RVO

Automatic issue of permits when government decides too late | Business.gov.nl