When will the IND start processing my application for family reunification?
You have an asylum permit and you have applied for family reunification. Read how long it takes before the IND starts processing your application for family reunification.
The IND temporarily stops deciding on certain applications because of new rules
As of 12 June 2026, the requirements for family reunification (in Dutch: nareis) have changed. Did you apply for family reunification before 12 June 2026? The court will decide if the new requirements also apply to your application.
The IND is awaiting the court’s decision. As a result, we are not making any decisions that we might have to reverse.
We will temporarily stop deciding on your application in the following situation:
- You applied for family reunification before 12 June 2026; and
- the new requirements affect your application.
This page contains a table listing the waiting times. Is the month in which you applied for family reunification no longer listed in this table? And have you not yet received a letter about your application? If so, you will have to wait longer because the IND is awaiting clarification from the court.
Waiting time between receipt and start of application
You receive a letter (confirmation of receipt) when the IND has received your application for family reunification. It takes a number of months before the IND starts processing your application. This is because there are a lot of applications for family reunification. You receive a letter when your application is due. This is when the processing of your application begins. The letter will ask for more information, or give you the decision.
When the IND starts with your application depends on:
- The date of your application.
- The family members for whom you applied for family reunification.
- If your application is part of the group of applications on which the IND is temporarily not making decisions.
To give you a better idea of how long you will have to wait, we have divided the applications into two groups:
- Applications on which the IND decides more quickly.
- Applications for which the decision takes longer because further investigation is required.
Below, you can read which group your application falls into and when you can expect a decision.
1. Family reunification applications on which the IND decides more quickly
The IND will process the following applications more quickly:
- You have a refugee status. You have only applied for family reunification for your married partner together with your biological children under the age of 18. Your biological children were under 18 years on the day you entered the Netherlands.
- You were single and under the age of 18 when you applied for asylum. You have applied for family reunification for the following family members:
- Your both parents, without other family members.
- Your both parents, together with biological brothers and/or sisters under the age of 18. Your brothers and sisters were under 18 on the day you entered the Netherlands.
Waiting time for family reunification applications on which the IND decides more quickly
The table below this paragraph shows your waiting time. Find the month of your application for family reunification in the first column. The second column shows when the IND expects to start with your application.
| Month of application | Expected month in which the IND will start with the application |
|---|---|
| October and November 2025 | October 2026 |
| December 2025 up to and including February 2026 | November 2026 |
| March up to and including June 2026 | December 2026 |
| July 2026 | January 2027 |
| August 2026 | February 2027 |
| September 2026 | March 2027 |
Have not received a letter yet
Did you apply for family reunification in a month earlier than the one shown in the table? And have you not yet received a letter from the IND about your application? Then you are part of the group of applications on which the IND is temporarily not making a decision.
2. Other family reunification applications
You do not fall into the first group, whose applications the IND is processing more quickly. And you have applied for family reunification for the following family members:
- Your child over 18.
- Your foster or adopted child.
- Your partner without children.
- Your unmarried partner with children.
- Your biological child under 18 without other family members. For example, because your partner is staying behind.
- Your brother and/or sister without your parents.
- Your brother and/or sister over 18 (also with parents).
- Only one parent, without other family members.
- Other family members.
Waiting time other family members
The table below this paragraph shows your average waiting time. Find the month of your application for family reunification in the first column. The second column shows when the IND expects to start with your application.
| Month of application | Expected month in which the IND will start with the application |
|---|---|
| August 2024 | October 2026 |
| September 2024 | November 2026 |
| October 2024 | December 2026 |
| November 2024 up to and including January 2025 | January 2027 |
| February up to and including May 2025 | February 2027 |
| June up to and including August 2025 | March 2027 |
| September up to and including December 2025 | April 2027 |
| January up to and including March 2026 | May 2027 |
| April up to and including June 2026 | June 2027 |
| July up to and including September 2026 | July 2027 |
Have not received a letter yet
Did you apply for family reunification in a month earlier than the one shown in the table? And have you not yet received a letter from the IND about your application? Then you are part of the group of applications on which the IND is temporarily not making a decision.
Shorter or longer waiting time
It is possible that someone who applied for family reunification after you will be processed before you. The time the IND takes to make a decision is different for each application. The following factors may affect your waiting time:
- The IND can decide quicker when the applications are complete. An application is complete if we have received all the documents needed to establish the identity and family ties (relationship) with your family members.
- It is possible that further investigation may be necessary during the processing of the application. For example, if identity documents or other documents needed to establish the family relationship are missing. In that case, the IND may conduct a DNA test or an interview with you and your family member.
- In exceptional cases, we process applications that are urgent due to special circumstances sooner. For example, in the case of serious medical problems affecting a family member.
- You are part of the group of applications on which the IND is temporarily not making a decision until the court has issued a ruling.