Eligibility Quiz
Does your sponsor (the person in the Netherlands) have a valid Dutch residence permit or Dutch citizenship?
Requirements
To qualify, both the sponsor in the Netherlands and the applicant abroad must meet specific criteria regarding age, relationship status, and financial stability.
Sponsor Requirements
- Legal Status: You must be a Dutch citizen or hold a valid Dutch residence permit (such as a Highly Skilled Migrant, EU Blue Card, or Permanent Residence permit).
- Income Threshold: You must prove "independent, sustainable, and sufficient" income. For the period of January 1, 2026, to June 30, 2026, you must earn at least €2,294.40 gross per month (excluding holiday allowance).
- Income Sustainability: Your employment contract must be valid for at least 12 months at the time of application. If your contract is shorter, the IND (Immigration and Naturalisation Service) may evaluate your average income over the previous three years.
- Age: You must be at least 18 years old to sponsor a partner.
Applicant Requirements
- Partners: You must be the spouse or registered partner of the sponsor. Unmarried partners also qualify if they can prove a "long-term and exclusive" relationship. Both partners must be at least 18 years old.
- Minor Children: You must be under 18 years old, unmarried, and moving to live as part of the sponsor’s household.
- Civic Integration: Most applicants aged 18 to retirement age must pass the Basisexamen inburgering buitenland (Basic Civic Integration Exam Abroad) at a Dutch embassy before applying, unless they are exempt based on nationality (e.g., USA, Canada, EU, UK, etc.).
Conditions & Warnings
The IND is extremely strict regarding the income threshold; falling even a few euros short of €2,294.40 can result in automatic rejection.
The Basic Civic Integration Exam result is only valid for 1 year; the residency application must be submitted within this timeframe.
Applicants must register at the same municipal address as their sponsor immediately upon arrival to maintain permit validity.
Qualifications
Basic Civic Integration Exam Abroad (Basisexamen inburgering buitenland)
Fees
Fee for partner/adult family member; €82 for minor children; €150 for integration exam.
Program Details
The Netherlands is on our roadmap
We can notify you when we're ready to support the Netherlands.
Key Developments
The IND has increased the minimum income requirement for family reunification to €2,294.40 per month (excluding holiday allowance) to ensure sponsors can independently support their family members.
ind.nl ↗The IND launched a simplified application process for asylum-based family reunification, featuring new digital options and a dedicated support hotline to replace individual assistance previously provided by the Dutch Council for Refugees.
ind.nl ↗Application fees for family reunification and partner residence permits have been adjusted for the 2025-2026 period, with the standard fee for a family member now set at €228.
ind.nl ↗