Turkish citizens and living in the Netherlands

Last update: 8 March 2024

You are a Turkish citizen, or family member of a Turkish citizen, and want to apply for a residence permit in the Netherlands. Because of Association Law between the European Union and Turkey, the requirements are sometimes less strict for Turkish employees and their family. Find out whether these requirements apply to you.

EU-Turkey Association law

Association law between the European Union (EU) and Turkey was laid down in the 1963 Association Agreement. Additions to the Association Agreement were made with the Additional Protocol in 1970 and Decision 1/80 in 1980. The Association Agreement applies to Turkish employees and their family.

Turkish employees

For Turkish employees, the following requirements apply:

  • You have the Turkish nationality. In addition, you may have another nationality, for example the Dutch nationality.
  • You are working legally in the Netherlands in line with 1 of these situations:
    • You work as a paid employee.
    • You work on a self-employed basis or want to work on a self-employed basis.
    • You work as a service provider.
  • You carry out genuine and effective work. This is certainly the case in 1 of these situations:
    • You earn a living from work that is at least 50% of the social welfare level. On the Government of the Netherlands website, you can find out the level of Social welfare benefits in the Netherlands (this link is only available in Dutch).
    • You work at least 40% of the full working week.
  • You do not pose any risk to public order and national security.

Family members of Turkish employees

For family members of Turkish employees, the following requirements apply:

  • You are the spouse or registered partner.
  • You are the child of a Turkish employee or of the spouse or registered partner of a Turkish employee. You are under 21 years old. Older children must depend on the Turkish employee for their primary necessities of life. Primary necessities of life are for example food, clothes and housing. These rules also apply to grandchildren who are members of the employee’s family.
  • You are the parent or grandparent of a Turkish employee or of the spouse or registered partner of a Turkish employee. Parents and grandparents must depend on the Turkish employee for their primary necessities of life.

Less strict requirements by Association Law

Because of Association Law between the EU and Turkey, these less strict requirements apply to Turkish employees and their family.

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Residence permits according to Association Law

Turkish employees and their family members can apply for these residence permits according to Association Law between the EU and Turkey.

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