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Income requirements: independent, sustainable and sufficient income

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A requirement for a residence permit is that you have income. The income must be independent, sustainable and sufficient. These are the income requirements. Read on this page how to meet the income requirements for different sources of income. And when you have an exemption from the income requirements.

The income requirements

Your income must meet these 3 requirements:

  • Your income is independent. This means that you pay taxes and national insurance contributions on your income.
  • Your income is sustainable. This means that you receive the income long enough.
  • Your income is sufficient. This means that your income is high enough. The IND uses required amounts (in Dutch: normbedragen) to determine whether your income is high enough. Your income is sufficient, if it is at least as much as the required amount. The required amounts vary per residence permit. See the required amounts per residence permit on our webpage Required amounts income requirements.

Income requirements per source of income

There are different sources of income. For example from work in paid employment, from one’s own business, from benefit or from assets. The source of income determines what the income requirements are. 

Do you have several sources of income? And does each income meet the rules? Then you may add up these incomes. The added-up incomes together must at least be equal to the required amount that belongs to the residence permit.

Do you have income from work in paid employment? These are income requirements.

Independent income

Your income is independent if you earn the income from legally permitted work. And if your employer withholds taxes and national insurance contributions from your salary. Is your salary paid from a person-related budget (in Dutch: persoonsgebonden budget  or PGB)? Then the administration of the pgb must be done by the Social Insurance Bank (in Dutch: Sociale Verzekeringsbank or SVB). For more information go to www.svb.nl/en.

Sustainable income

Your income is sustainable if 1 of these situations apply to you:

  • Your contract is valid for at least another 12 months. The probation period gets counted in.
  • Your contract is still valid for less than 12 months or you have a flexible contract. In this case you must have had sufficient average monthly income in the last 3 years. You may have received an unemployment benefit or sickness benefit during those 3 years. You may not have received a social assistance benefit or other benefit from public funds.
Application to stay with partner or family member, permanent residence permit or long term EU resident

Your income is sustainable if 1 of these situations apply to you:

  • Your contract is valid for at least another 12 months. The probation period gets counted in.
  • Your contract is valid for at least another 6 months, but less than 12 months. One of these two situations applies to you:
    • In the last 12 months you have had sufficient average monthly income from work in paid employment or from an unemployment or sickness benefit.
    • In the last 3 years you have had sufficient average monthly income from work or from an unemployment or sickness benefit.
  • Your contract is valid for less than 6 months or you have a flexible contract. In this case you must have had sufficient average monthly income in the last 3 years. You may not have received an assistance benefit or other benefit from public funds.
  • You hold a Phase A agency work employment contract. This contract remains valid for at least another 12 months. The contract states the agency clause is excluded. This means that the agreement does not terminate automatically if the assignment with the client ends, if no work is available, or in the event of illness. Consequently, the temporary employment agency is obliged to continue paying your wages. Phase A contracts are issued for a maximum duration of 78 weeks.

Sufficient income

See the required amounts per residence permit to check whether your income is sufficient. 
To determine whether you had sufficient income in previous years, the IND looks at the required amounts of those years. See the old required amounts.

Social security salary

The IND looks at your social security salary (in Dutch: sociale verzekeringsloon or sv-loon in short). This is the gross salary on which wage tax and national insurance contributions are calculated. National insurance contributions are the costs that you pay for a possible benefit for unemployment, sickness or incapacity for work. The social security salary is on your payslip. 

Also count holiday allowance

You are also allowed to count your holiday allowance. See the required amount without holiday allowance if you get holiday allowance once a year. Do you receive part of your holiday allowance each month? In that case you use the amount with holiday allowance. If your income is too low without holiday allowance, the IND looks at your income with holiday allowance. See the required amounts.

Irregular income also counts

Irregular income is income you receive on top of your fixed salary. For example, an allowance for irregular hours or shifts, danger pay, overtime or salary in kind.

Irregular income counts if you meet the following requirements:

  • You had irregular income during the last 12 months before the application.
  • You total income, including irregular income, averaged at least the required amount per month.

Do you have income from your an own business or as a freelancer? These are the income requirements.

Independent income

Your income is independent if you earn the income from legally permitted work. And you pay tax on the profit from your business or on the profit you have as a freelancer. 

Sustainable income

Your income is sustainable if you have already earned this income for 18 months at the time of the application.

Have you applied for a residence permit for the residence purpose start-up or self-employed person? And have you also applied for a residence permit for your partner or child? Then the IND looks at your expected income. This expected income must be evident from your business plan.

Sufficient income

Your income is sufficient if your average monthly profit for tax purposes in each financial year was at least equal to the required amount with holiday allowance. The IND looks at the last 18 months before the application.

How does the IND calculate the profit?

This is the method the IND uses to calculate the business profit:

The total operating income - the total costs = the profit.

In a partnership, commercial partnership or limited partnership, the profit is divided by the number of partners, commercial partners or general/limited partners. The amount that is left is your profit. 

For more information see this appendix:

Appendix Declaration on income of self-employed person (PDF, 284.4 KB)

Do you have income from a benefit? These income requirements apply.

Independent income

Income from these benefits is independent.

  • Unemployment benefit
  • Sickness benefit
  • Invalidity benefit
  • State pension (AOW)
  • Pension
  • Maternity and parental leave regulations (WAZO)
  • Maternity pay for self-employed (ZEZ)

Benefits from public funds are not independent income. Benefits from public funds are, for example, an assistance benefit, benefit under the Participation Act or a benefit under the Dutch Invalidity Insurance (Young Disabled Persons) Act (in Dutch: Wajong).

Sustainable income

Your income from a benefit is sustainable if you have received the benefit for at least another 12 months. 

Sufficient  income

See the required amounts per residence permit  to check whether your income is sufficient. 

Social security salary

The IND looks at your social security salary (in Dutch: sociale verzekeringsloon or sv-loon ). This is the gross benefit on which wage tax and national insurance contributions are calculated. The social security salary can be found on your benefit specification. This is the document with the calculation of your benefit on it.

Also count holiday allowance

You are allowed to count your holiday allowance. If your benefit without holiday allowance does not meet the required amount,  the IND looks at your benefit with holiday allowance.

These are examples of income from assets.

  • Dividend on shares or bonds;
  • Interest on savings;
  • Profit from investments.

Do you have income from assets? These are the  income requirements.

Independent income

Your income from assets is independent if you pay tax on the income.

The IND only counts the income from assets. The source of your assets should not be affected. This means that the assets must not be reduced.

Sustainable income

Income from assets is sustainable if it meets these 2 requirements.

  • You have already received the income for 1 year.
  • You still receive the income on the date that the IND receives your application.

Sufficient income

For the amount of the income, the IND looks at your gains from savings and investments. You calculate these gains for your tax return. This is an annual amount. The required amount is a monthly amount. So you must convert the annual amount into a monthly amount. This monthly amount must be at least equal to the required amount with holiday allowance that applies to the residence permit for which you are applying.

If you have income other than income from work, your own business, benefit or assets, contact the IND.

Also count other income for certain residence permits

Do you have a residence permit for the residence purposes study, scientific research, orientation year, start-up or medical treatment? Then you may also count other income. For example, a grant, bank balance or financing by a third party. You can do this when you apply for your own residence permit and for your partner or child. 

Also count income of partner or parents

Sometimes you may also count the income of your partner or parents. This is only allowed in the following situations:

  • When you apply for a residence permit for a minor child or adopted/foster child.
  • When you apply for a permanent residence permit.
  • When you apply for a residence permit for long-term EU residents.
  • When you are a declared sponsor for a foreign student.
  • When you are a declared sponsor in case of a medical treatment.

You and your partner or parents have to meet the following requirements:

  • You are married to or (registered) partner of your partner. You live together with your partner in The Netherlands. Or you live with your parents in The Netherlands.
  • Your partner or parent is a Dutch citizen or has a Dutch residence permit.
  • All incomes must be independent and sustainable. Added up, these incomes are at least equal to the required amount the applies for that residence permit. 

For all other applications you yourself must have independent, sustainable and sufficient income.

Exemptions from income requirements

Do you want to apply for a residence permit for your family member or partner? Or are you applying for a permanent residence permit? In certain situations you do not have to meet the income requirements. In that case you will get an exemption.

These are the situations in which you get an exemption from the income requirements as a sponsor:

  • You get state pension or you have reached the state pension age (AOW). Go to svb.nl for more information on the state pension age in the Netherlands.

  • You are fully and permanently unable to work and you can prove this. This appendix explains how to do this: 

    Appendix Proof of income (PDF, 208.46 KB)
  • You are permanently unable to meet the obligation to integrate into the workforce. This applies only if the local council has already exempted you for 5 years from the obligation to integrate into the workforce. And you have been exempted for at least another 1 year from the obligation to integrate into the workforce when the IND receives your application.
  • You have a residence permit on temporary humanitarian grounds as a victim of human trafficking. Or as a victim of honour-related or domestic violence.
  • You have an asylum residence permit. And you apply within 3 months for family reunification for your partner or children.

These are the situations in which you get an exemption from the income requirements:

  • You have a residence permit for 10 or more years continuously . If you were a Dutch citizen you can also count the years that you were a Dutch citizen.
  • You are 18 or older and you have had a residence permit for residence with your parents as a minor. Afterwards, you have always lived in the Netherlands. You did not start living independently or did marry within 1 year after being granted residency with your parents.
  • You are 18 or older and you were born in the Netherlands. And you have always lived in the Netherlands.
  • You are 18 or older and you came to live in the Netherlands before you turned 3 years old. And afterwards you have always lived in the Netherlands.

These exemptions do not apply to residence permits for long-term EU residents.

Income test for residence permit for family or partner

Do you want to apply for a residence permit for your partner? Or for your minor child or foster child? And do you want to know whether your income is sufficient? Take the income test to find out. Use this income test to check whether your income meets the requirements. This test is not decisive. The IND always assesses your income after you submit your application.

Documents you need to do the test

In the test, you answer questions about your income. So it is helpful to have information about your income ready. For example: 

  • your salary slips;
  • you contract;
  • your benefit statements;  
  • your profit for the last years. 

You have to send these documents with your application as well.

For which residence permit do you want to check your income?
Are you applying for a residence permit for a partner and for (foster)children? Then fill in ‘residence permit for partner’.
What is you family situation after your (foster)child comes to the Netherlands?
Parent can be the biological parent, adoptive parent, foster parent or step parent.

In the test we will use the required amount for a single parent to determine whether your income is sufficient. 

In the test we will use the required amount for a family to determine whether your income is sufficient. 

Choose your income or incomes

The IND expects sponsors that are director-major shareholder to have a labour contract with the company. Do you not have a labour contract yet? Then still get one.

You will now get the questions for a person in paid employment.

Contact the IND

You have another income source. This situation cannot be addressed in the income test. Contact the IND for information on your income situation.

Which sort of contract do you have?
Do you have more than one labour contract? Then first fill out the income test with the contract that you think best meets the income requirements. Is that contract sustainable, but is your income not sufficient (not high enough)? Then fill out the income test with your other labour contract. Is that contract also sustainable? Then you can add your salaries of both contracts to see if you then meet the required amount.

Do you have a phase A contract with an agency that meets theses 3 requirements:

  • The agency clause is excluded.
  • The agency is obligated to continue salary payment if there is no project. 
  • The contract is valid for at least another year.

Then fill in ‘Temporary contract (for fixed period)’.

Does your phase A agency contract not meet these requirements? Or do you have another agency contract, then fill in ‘Contract with agency or other flexible contract’.

For how long is your contract still valid?
Calculate from the date on which you apply.
In the 12 months before the application, did you have income from work every month? Or from a benefit under the Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) or Unemployment Insurance Act (WW)?
In the 3 years before the application, did you have income from work every month? Or from a benefit under the Sickness Benefits Act (ZW) or Unemployment Insurance Act (WW)?
Is your income irregular?
When do you receive your holiday pay?
Look at your income from the last 12 months. Was your sv-loon in 11 of those 12 months at least € 2,337.00 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Is your sv-loon at least € 2,337.00 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Look at your income from the last 12 months. Was your sv-loon in 11 of those 12 months at least € 2,523.96 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Is your sv-loon at least € 2,523.96 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

In the last 12 months, have you received an average sv-loon of at least € 2,337.00 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

In the last 12 months, have you received an average sv-loon of at least € 2,523.96 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Is your monthly sv-loon currently at least € 2,337.00?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Is your monthly sv-loon currently at least € 2,523.96?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Check your income for the last 3 years. Was your average monthly sv-loon at least the required amount in each 6-month period?
You can find previous required amounts on the page income requirements: required amounts. Look at the amounts with holiday allowances if your holiday allowance is paid every month. If not, look at the amounts without holiday allowance.
Look at your income from the last 12 months. Was your sv-loon in 11 of those 12 months at least € 1,635.90 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Is your sv-loon at least € 1,635.90 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Look at your income from the last 12 months. Was your sv-loon in 11 of those 12 months at least € 1,766.77 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Is your sv-loon at least € 1,766.77 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

In the last 12 months, have you received an average sv-loon of at least € 1,635.90 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

In the last 12 months, have you received an average sv-loon of at least € 1,766.77 per month?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Is your monthly sv-loon currently at least € 1,635.90?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Is your monthly sv-loon currently at least € 1,766.77?

The sv-loon (social insurance salary) is the salary on which you pay social security contributions and taxes.

What counts towards the sv-loon 
The sv-loon consists of:

  • Gross monthly salary
  • Holiday allowance
  • Paid Individual Choice Budget
  • End-of-year bonus or 13th month
  • Allowances and bonuses on which contributions are withheld

What does not count: pension contributions, severance payments, and expense allowances on which no taxes and contributions are paid.

Where to find the SV wage 
You will usually find your SV wage on your payslip. Sometimes it is called heffingsloon, grondslag or SVW-loon. Do you not see these terms on your payslip? Then use your gross salary (brutoloon).

Check your income for the last 3 years. Was your average monthly sv-loon at least the required amount in each 6-month period?
You can find previous required amounts on the page income requirements: required amounts. Look at the amounts with holiday allowances if your holiday allowance is paid every month. If not, look at the amounts without holiday allowance.
Do you have or are you applying for a residence permit for a self-employed under the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty or the Dutch-Japanese Trade Treaty?
Did you invest at least the required substantial capital in your business?
For a sole proprietorship, general partnership (VOF), limited partnership (CV) or private limited liability company (BV) a minimum capital of € 4,500 applies. For a public limited company (NV) a capital investment of at least €11,250 applies.
How long have you had your business?
Count from the date you will expect to do the application.
Check the last 18 months before the application. Was your average monthly profit at least € 2,523.96 for each financial year?

The IND uses this common method for calculating profit: total operating income - total costs = business profit

Only for a partnership, commercial partnership or limited partnership: profit divided by number of partners = your profit

For more information see the

Appendix Declaration on income of self-employed person 7612 (PDF, 258.31 KB)

Bijlage Verklaring omtrent inkomen zelfstandig ondernemer (PDF, 258.21 KB)
Check the last 18 months before the application. Was your average monthly profit at least € 1,766.77 for each financial year?

The IND uses this common method for calculating profit: total operating income - total costs = business profit

Only for a partnership, commercial partnership or limited partnership: profit divided by number of partners = your profit

For more information see the

Appendix Declaration on income of self-employed person 7612 (PDF, 258.31 KB)

Bijlage Verklaring omtrent inkomen zelfstandig ondernemer (PDF, 258.21 KB)
Which sort of benefit do you have?
Which sort of unfit for work insurance benefit do you receive?
This is mentioned in the benefit award decision of UWV. The benefit award decision is a letter that states you will receive the benefit. 
When did you first receive the benefit from Wet Wajong?
Are you fully and permanently unable to work?
You are fully unable to work if you have been declared 80-100% disabled.
Look at the last payment specification of your benefit. Has the amount you receive stayed at least equal to when you received the benefit first? So, you do not receive a lower payment.
This last payment specification should be dated at least 1 year after the benefit award decision.  
Which benefits do you receive?
Does the award decision and/or the most recent reassessment of your IVA benefit indicate that there is no chance of recovery?
Do the award decision AND the most recent reassessment of your IVA benefit indicate that there is a VERY SMALL CHANCE of recovery?
Are you unable to work? If yest, how long have you already been unable to work?
Are you fully unfit for work? If yes, how long have you already been fully unfit for work?
Will you be fully unfit for work for another year and do you expect that you also will not (partially) recover after that year?
Do you have a wsw indication from the Sheltered Employment Act (WSW)?
Do you have a indication Jobs Agreement from the Jobs Agreement and Occupational Disability Employment Quota Act (Wet BQA)?
How long do you already have this indication Jobs Agreement?
Are you obliged to look for a job?
If you receive a social assistance benefit, you must look for a job. This is called the obligation to integrate into the workforce (in Dutch: plicht tot arbeidsinschakeling). Sometimes the local council can exempt someone from this obligation. Then you do not have to look for a job temporarily.
For how long have you (already) been exempted from the obligation to look for work?
The local council may exempt you from the obligation to integrate into the workforce for a certain time. This is often a year. Sometimes, it is longer. Check until which date you do not have to look for a job. It is written in a letter from the local council. Have you been exempted from the obligation before? Then add up all periods together.
At the moment you will apply, will your exemption from the obligation to look for work be valid for at least one more year?
Will you still receive the benefit for another 12 months?
Will you still receive the benefit for another 12 months?
Are your benefits at least € 2,337.00 per month?
Are your benefits at least € 1,635.90 per month?
Does the value of your assets remain the same?
You can only count the income from your own assets. The value of your assets may not decrease. 
Are you already receiving income from your own assets for a minimum of 1 year?
Are you still receiving income from your own assets?
Look at your last tax application. Was the benefit from the basis for savings and investments at least € 2,523.96 per month?
The benefit from the basis for savings and investments is a year amount. You have to calculate it to a month amount. To do this divide the year amount by 12.
Look at your last tax application. Was the benefit from the basis for savings and investments at least € € 1,766.77 per month?
The benefit from the basis for savings and investments is a year amount. You have to calculate it to a month amount. To do this divide the year amount by 12.

Result income test

Your income must meet these 3 requirements:

  • Your income is independent. 
  • Your income is sustainable. 
  • Your income is sufficient. 

Below you will read per requirement if your income meets that requirement. Have you indicated different incomes in the test? Then you will see if you meet the requirements for each of your incomes. 

Sometimes an exemption from the income requirements applies. If this applies to you, you will see this below.

The income test is an indication if your income meets the requirements. When assessing your application, the IND will decide whether your income truly meets the requirements based on the documents you have submitted. Therefore, you cannot derive rights from this income test. 

Your income meets the requirement of an independent income. You pay taxes and social contributions over your income, or you have paid social contributions previously.

You receive a benefit from the young person with a disability act or the Participation Act (social assistance benefit). These are benefits that are paid from public funds. You have not paid social contributions fort his benefit. Therefore, this is not an independent income. You thus do not meet the income requirements.

You receive a benefit from the National Survivor Benefits Act (ANW). This is an independent income. But this benefit will be ended when you partner lives in the Netherlands. Therefore, you cannot count the ANW for your income.

You have a contract for indefinite time. Of you have a temporary contract or fase A agency contract that is still valid for at least 12 months on the day of application. That makes your income sustainable.

You have a labour contract that at the moment of application is still valid for between 6 and 12 months. In the last 12 months you have always had work or an unemployment benefit (WW) or sickness benefit (ZW). This makes your income from paid employment sustainable. 

U moet een arbeidscontract hebben dat nog minimaal 12 maanden geldig is. Of een arbeidscontract dat tussen de 6 en 12 maanden geldig is en in de laatste 12 maanden ook inkomen uit werk of een uitkering WW of ZW hebben gehad. 

U hebt geantwoord dat u in de laatste 12 maanden voor de datum aanvraag niet altijd inkomen uit werk had. Ook had u in die 12 maanden niet altijd een uitkering WW of ZW op de momenten dat u geen werk had. Daarmee is uw inkomen niet duurzaam.

You have a labour contract that on the moment of application is less than 6 months valid. Or you have an agency or flexible contract. In the last 3 years you have always had work or an unemployment benefit (WW) or sickness benefit (ZW). That makes your income sustainable.

According to your answers your income as a self-employed is sustainable, because your company already exists for a at least 1.5 years. Or you have worked as a freelancer for at least 1.5 years. 

According to your answers your company does not yet exist for 1.5 years. Or you have not yet worked as a freelancer for 1.5 years. Your income as a self-employed is therefore not sustainable.

U moet een arbeidscontract hebben dat nog minimaal 12 maanden geldig is. Of een arbeidscontract dat tussen de 6 en 12 maanden geldig is en in de laatste 12 maanden ook inkomen uit werk of een uitkering WW of ZW hebben gehad. Of een arbeidscontract dat korter dan 6 maanden geldig is met een arbeidsverleden van 3 jaar. Ook als u een uitzendcontract of flexibel contract hebt, kijkt de IND naar uw arbeidsverleden van de laatste 3 jaar.

U hebt geantwoord dat u een uitzendcontract of flexibel contract hebt. Of dat u contract nog minder dan 6 maanden geldig is. En u hebt in de laatste 3 jaar voor de datum aanvraag niet altijd inkomen uit werk gehad. Ook had u in die 3 jaar geen of niet altijd een uitkering WW of ZW op de momenten dat u geen werk had. Daarmee is uw inkomen niet duurzaam. 
 

You have answered that you will receive your benefit for at least another 12 months. Therefore, this income is sustainable.

You have answered that you will receive your benefit for less than 12 months. Your income from a benefit is only sustainable if you still receive it for at least 12 months. Therefore, this benefit is not sustainable income.

You have answered that you have already received income from your own assets for at least 1 year. And that you still get income from your own assets. Your assets also are not reduced, because you only use your income from own assets for your living costs. Therefore, this income is sustainable.

You have answered that your assets are reducing. Or that you have not yet received income from your own assets for at least 1 year. Or you do not receive income from your own assets at this moment. Therefore, this income is not sustainable.

You have answered that you have an irregular income. The IND then looks if in 11 of the last 12 months before the application you have received the required amount that applies in your situation. According to your answers this applies to you. Therefore, your income is sufficient.

Uit uw antwoorden blijkt dat uw onregelmatig inkomen hebt. De IND kijkt dan of u 11 maanden van de laatste 12 maanden voor de datum aanvraag minimaal het voor u geldende normbedrag hebt ontvangen. U hebt geantwoord dat dit voor u niet het geval is. Daarmee is uw inkomen op dit moment niet voldoende.

According to your answers your income is now at least equal to the required amount that applies to your situation. Therefore, your income is sufficient.

According to your answers your income is lower than the required amount that applies to your situation. Therefore your income is not sufficient. 

Your labour contract is still valid for 6 to 12 months. Therefore, the IND looks at your income from the last 12 months. You have answered that your average income in the last 12 months was at least equal to the required amount that applies in your situation. Therefore your income is sufficient.

Your contract is still valid for 6 to 12 months. Therefore, the IND looks at your income from the last 12 months. You have answered that in the last 12 months your average income was lower than the required amount that applies in your situation. Therefore, your income from this paid employment is not sufficient.

You have answered that your current incoem is at least equal to the required amount that applies in your situation. Therefore, your current income is sufficient.

You have a labour contract that is still valid for less than 6 months. Or you have an agency or flexible contract. Therefore, the IND looks at your income from the last 3 years. You have answered that for each half year period in the last 3 years you always had an average income at least equal to the required amount for your situation that applied in that period. Therefore, your income from the last 3 years is sufficient.

You have answered that you currently do not have an income of at least the required amount for your situation. Even though you average income in the last 3 years was sufficient, your current income is not. Therefore, your income is not sufficient.

You have an agency or flexible contract. Or a temporary contract that is still valid for less than 6 months. Therefore the IND looks at your income from the last 3 years. You have answered that your average income in the last 3 years was not always equal to the required amount for that period. Even though your current income is sufficient, you income in the past does not meet the requirements. Therefore, your income is not sufficient.

You have answered that your profit from your own business, or as a freelancer, is at least equal to the required amount that applies in your situation. Therefore, this income is sufficient.

Your income should be at least equal to the required amount for your situation. You have answered that your profit from your own business, or as a freelancer, is lower than the required amount that applies in your situation. Therefore, this income is not sufficient.

You have answered that your benefit is at least equal to the required amount that applies in your situation. Therefore, this benefit is sufficient.

Your income should be at least equal to the required amount for your situation. You have answered that your benefit is lower than the required amount that applies in your situation. Therefore, your benefit is not sufficient. 

You have answered that your income from own assets is at least equal to the required amount that applies to your situation. Therefore, your income from own assets is sufficient.

Your income should be at least equal to the required amount for your situation. You have answered that your income from own assets is lower that the required amount that applies in your situation. Therefore, your income from own assets is not sufficient.

You have answered that you receive a state pension payment (AOW). For application for a residence permit for residence with partner, child with parent, or foster child an exemption from the income requirements applies for persons that have received the state pension age. Therefore, you do not have to meet the income requirements.

Your answers indicate that you are fully and permanently unfit for work. Therefore, you are exempted from the income requirements for applications for a residence permit to stay with partner, stay as a minor child with parent, or stay as a foster parent. Therefore, you do not have to meet the income requirements.

You have answered that the municipality has exempted you from the obligation to search for a job. This exemption has already been given for at least 5 years. The municipality also does not expect you to be able to (partially) meet the obligation to search for a job within 1 year. The IND sees this as permanently not being able to meet the obligation to get a job. Therefore, you do not have to meet the income requirements.

You receive a benefit under the Partial Capability for Work Act (WGA). Or you have a WIA/WAZ benefit or Wajong benefit with an unfit for work percentage of less than 80%. Or you have a private unfit for work benefit. And you do not have a WSW indication. In these situations, you do not fall under the exemption from the income requirements. Therefore, you should receive your benefit for at least another 12 months on the date of application. And your benefit should meet the required amount that applies to your situation.

Do you also work in paid employment or as a self-employed? Then you count this income as well, as long as it is sustainable. You can add up the amounts of your benefit and your income from work. Together the amount should at least be equal to the required amount that applies in your situation. Have you not yet indicated your other income in the test? Then do the test again fort his other income.

You receive a benefit under the Participation Act (Participatiewet). You are not unfit for work. Or you are unfit for work, but not yet long enough, or you expect to still recover. You also do not have an indication Jobs Agreement (Banenafspraak). Or you do not yet have the indication Banenafpraak for 2 years or more. Therefore, you are not exempted from the income requirements based on being fully and permanently unfit for work. 

A benefit under the Participation Act is not an independent income. Therefore, you cannot count this income to meet the income requirements.

You receive a benefit under the Participation Act, but you are not exempted from the obligation to get a job. Or you have not yet been exempted from this obligation for 5 years. Or the municipality expects you to be able to meet the obligation to get the job within the next year. Therefore, the exemption from the income requirements does not apply in your situation.
The benefit under the Participation Act is not an independent income. Therefore, you cannot count this income for the income requirements.

Counting income partner

Does your income not meet the requirements? Or is your income independent and sustainable, but nog sufficient? You may count the income of your partner if you and your partner meet these 3 rules: 

  • You and your partner are married or have a registered partnership, and
  • Your partner is Dutch or has a valid Dutch residence permit, and 
  • You and your partner live together.

Do you and your partner meet these rules? Then do the income test again for the income of your partner. Is your partner’s income independent and sustainable? Then you can add your partner’s income to your own income. Together the amount should at least equal the required amount.

Exemption income requirements when state pension age is reached

Your early retirement payment does not meet the income requirements. But you will be exempted from the income requirements the moment you have reached state pension age (AOW age). You can calculate your AOW age at the website from SVB. We advise you to wait with your application until you have reached state pension age.

Send documents with your application

The IND assesses if your income meets the requirements. To do this we need documents about your income. You have to send these documents along with your application. Which documents you have to send, you see in your overview of required documents made. Do you not yet have a overview of the required documents? Click the link of the application you wish to do to make the overview of your documents:

At this moment it is not yet possible to make an overview of documents for an application for a residence permit for a foster child. In the application form you can read which documents you need to send with the application.

Changed income

Does your income change? Than do the test again to see if your new income does meet the requirements.

Required amounts change every half year

Our required amounts are linked to the minimum wage. The minimum wage changes every 6 months on 1 January and 1 July. Check the required amounts before you submit your application. Or repeat the income test shortly before you apply. 

More information

See also

Required amounts income requirements