Asylum and family reunification: latest developments

Many people apply for asylum and family reunification in the Netherlands. As a result, the waiting times in these procedures are increasing. See the average waiting times for asylum applications. And when the IND will start working on your family reunification application.  

In view of the uncertain situation in Iran, the IND is temporarily not making decisions on asylum applications from Iranian nationals. 

On 12 June 2026, the asylum procedure is changing. This is due to new European rules. From 12 June, these rules will apply for all countries within the European Union. There are also proposals for new asylum laws before the Senate. These are the Asylum Emergency Measures Act and the Two-status system introduction Act. The Senate must decide whether these asylum laws will be introduced. We expect this to become clear by the end of April 2026. 

It is not clear at present whether all the laws will be passed. And whether these will also apply if you are still waiting for a decision from the IND. Or if you already have a residence permit. You will read about it on this page when it is clear which laws have been adopted and what this means for your situation. Below you can read what will change if all the laws proposed are passed. 

The new asylum procedure

The asylum procedure is going to change. The aim is to decide more quickly whether you can stay in the Netherlands. This is being done with the following changes: 

• There will be only one interview with the IND on the reasons you want asylum. There will no longer be an application interview.
• There will no longer be a compulsory medical examination. This will only still be done if there is reason for it.  
• You will no longer receive an intended decision (in Dutch: voornemen) to which you can respond. You will receive a final decision on your application immediately. If you disagree with the decision, you can appeal to the court. 
• The IND can give you information about the asylum procedure. This is called legal information. For example, if you have questions about your rights. 
• You will be given a lawyer shortly before your asylum interview.
• The IND records your asylum interview, and your lawyer can listen back to the interview.
• If you fail to show up for your appointments during the asylum procedure, the IND can take a negative decision on your asylum application sooner. 
• You will be informed as standard within 6 months whether you are allowed to stay in the Netherlands. In the accelerated procedure, this is 3 months. You follow this procedure, for example, if you come from a safe country. 

Asylum residence permit 

Have you been granted an asylum residence permit? Then the following is changing: 

• An asylum residence permit is currently valid for 5 years. This will be 3 years. You must therefore apply for a new residence document (card) every 3 years. If on 12 June 2026 you hold a temporary asylum residence permit, you keep this card until you need to extend. 
• There is no longer a permanent asylum residence permit. If on 12 June 2026 you hold a permanent asylum residence permit, you keep this residence permit. 

Family reunification

The rules for family reunification are changing. After 12 June, you will only be able to apply for family reunification for:

• Your biological or adopted children under 18 years of age.
• Your partner, to whom you are legally married.

Did you come to the Netherlands without parents, and did you apply for asylum before you turned 18? Then after 12 June, you will be able to apply for family reunification for:

• Your parents. 
• Your siblings under 18 years of age, if you apply for family reunification for your parent(s) at the same time.

From 12 June you will no longer be able to apply for family reunification for the following family members:

• Your partner to whom you are not legally married.
• Your foster child.
• Your adult children. 

Only in rare situations are they entitled to a residence permit for family members under Article 8 ECHR. This is a more stringent assessment than for family reunification. If you applied for family reunification for these family members prior to 12 June, the IND will assess whether they are entitled to a residence permit under Article 8 ECHR. You do not need to make a new application for this.  

Additional requirements

You can get an asylum residence permit for 2 reasons: 

• Refugee (a): you are personally at risk of persecution in your country. For example, because of your origin, religion or political affiliation. 
• Subsidiary protection (b): you are at risk in your country because the general situation is unsafe. For example, because of violence or war. 

We call this your status. Which status you have is stated in your decision from the IND that you will be granted an asylum residence permit. The rules for family reunification are currently still the same for both statuses. But from 12 June 2026, three additional requirements will apply if you have subsidiary protection (b):

• After you receive your asylum residence permit, you must wait 2 years before applying for family reunification.
• You must have sufficient independent, long-term income. This means your income is high enough and you receive it for a long enough period. And that you pay taxes and contributions on the income.
• You must have housing.

Second or following asylum application

The IND will assess second or following asylum applications more strictly. Are you submitting new information that clearly increases the likelihood of you being granted a residence permit? Only in that case will the IND assess your application.