The application process (asylum) family reunification will be changing from 1 December. The updated procedure places more control in the hands of the applicant, who can submit and go through the application themselves. But will still be available for those who need it.
The number of pending family reunification applications has continued to rise in recent years. Therefor e, the IND has been working on improvements to the family reunification process for some time, including simplified application process. Because the Dutch Council for Refugees (VWN) will discontinue individual support for new family reunification applications as of 1 December, the IND is accelerating making the application process clearer and more transparent.
In order to inform applicants in the best way possible, we are adapting the information in Dutch and English at ind.nl. There is also an instructional video and a flyer in 10 languages such as Arabic, Farsi and Turkish to help the applicant submit an application. Information is also available in those languages on MyCOA.nl, a platform that many applicants use.
There is still help available for applicants who cannot manage on their own. From 1 December 2025, there will be a phone number (family reunification line) for people who have questions about the family reunification procedure. An employee of the family reunification line can refer them to an IND desk. The IND can help if, for example, the proper documents were not submitted with the application. A chatbot and video calling will also be available.
During the transition period from 1 December to 1 April 2025, the IND will temporarily be lenient with regard to a number of deadlines in the family reunification procedure. For example, the three-month deadline for submitting a family reunification application, the deadline for responding to a request for rectifying omissions, and the deadline for paying the fees for 8 ECHR applications. In addition, during this period, the statutory maximum collection period of six months will apply for collecting the provisional residence permit from the consulate or embassy. This leniency is intended to prevent applicants from running into problems due to the changes in the family reunification process.
The IND is constantly working to further improve services for the applicant by, among other things, rewriting application forms and letters in comprehensible language. The IND also plans to use notifications to keep applicants informed about the progress of the application. This allows applicants to check for themselves whether their application for family reunification is complete, what documents are still missing and when action is expected of them.
Through the family reunification line and customer surveys, the IND is mapping out the experiences and the frequently asked questions. In this way, the IND can continuously improve the information provision and process. The goal is a family reunification procedure that is clear and accessible, while ensuring more complete applications and more efficient processing.
An asylum permit holder can apply for their (marriage) partner and children to join them in the Netherlands within three months after the asylum permit is issued. In addition, an unaccompanied minor alien may apply for their parent or parents to join them in the Netherlands.
Read more about family reunification.
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