Automatic issue of permits when government decides too late

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:

• exemption from uniform requirement for private security firms
• gaming machine permit
• permit for temporary letting of vacant dwellings
• discharge from the obligation to prepare financial statements for associations and foundations
• various tax exemptions and schemes, such as for company car parks, motor vehicle tax, and turnover tax