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Legal obligations private sponsor

Are you planning to have your family member come to the Netherlands? Then you are their sponsor. A sponsor has an obligation to provide information and a requirement to keep and retain records. On this page you can read what these obligations mean.

Obligation to provide information

The obligation to provide information means that you must inform the IND about changes to your situation or that of your family member.

Obligation to provide information during the procedure

This applies before your family member has picked up their residence permit. Notify the IND of changes that could influence its decision. For example if:

  • Your relationship or family ties have been broken off.
  • Your income falls below the standard amount.
  • You become unemployed or unable to work.
  • You have a different employer.

What if your family member no longer meets the conditions for their residence permit because of the changes? Then the IND can reject the application or revoke the provisional or regular residence permit.

Notify the IND immediately of a change by letter.

Obligation to provide information after the procedure

This applies when your family member has picked up the residence permit. Notify changes that could have consequences for your family member's right of residence. For example:

  • You or your family member has applied for a social welfare benefit.
  • You and your family member no longer live together.
  • Your relationship or family ties have been broken off.
  • Your family member has left the Netherlands.

What if you and your family member no longer meet the conditions of the residence permit because of the change? Then the IND can revoke the residence permit.

Notification forms

After the procedure, you must notify the IND of a change within 4 weeks. Use the online notification form:

Would you rather fill in the form by hand and send it by post? Then download the written Notification Form for relatives and family.

What if your change is not listed on the notification form? Then explain your change in a letter. Send your letter together with the written application form to the IND.

Report a change of address

Are you going to move house? You can notify your municipality (gemeente) of your change of address in person, in writing and often also digitally. Do this 4 weeks before or at the latest 5 days after you move house and you do not need to notify the IND of your removal. The IND will be notified by the municipality.

If you have not notified the municipality of your change of address on time, you must inform the IND yourself. Use the notification form.

Obligation to keep and retain records

You must retain documents you have used for the application for your family member's residence permit.

You must retain the following documents for your partner:

  • The legalised marriage certificate, declaration of registered partnership or unmarried status declaration of your partner.
  • Documents showing that your income meets the income requirements.

You must retain the following documents for your minor child:

  • Their legalised birth certificate.
  • Legalised documents showing that you or your partner has parental authority over your child.

You must retain the following documents for your adopted child:

  • The document showing the identity of the child.
  • Legalised documents showing that the biological parents have given up the child for adoption.
  • The legalised document of consent from the authorities in the country of origin to the child being adopted by your family.

You must retain the following documents for your foster child:

  • The legalised documents showing the legal family relationship between you and your foster child.
  • The legalised documents in which the parent(s) or legal representative(s) and, if required, the authorities of the country of origin consent to the foster child staying with your family.
  • Documents showing that you have sufficient and sustainable income.
  • The legalised documents showing that you have authority over your foster child.

Enforcement by the IND

The IND checks whether you comply with the obligation to provide information and to keep and retain records. If you do not you may receive a warning or administrative fine.

Is the Dutch government going to remove your family member from the Netherlands? Then the IND can have you pay the costs of removal.