Residence with your minor Dutch child (Chavez)

These requirements apply to you:

Proof of identity and nationality

You have a valid passport or identity card. Or you can show your identity and nationality with other documents.

Family ties

You are the parent of a minor Dutch child (your child is under 18 years old). You may also be the step-parent, foster parent or NIDOS-appointed foster parent of the child. Your child has already been born.

Living together

The minor Dutch child already lives in the Netherlands or is going to live with you in the Netherlands.

Dependence

The minor Dutch child is heavily dependent on you. This also means that if you do not obtain a residence document, your child will have no choice but to leave the European Union (EU) together with you.

You care for your child and are responsible for their upbringing. You may do so together with your child’s other parent. Do you only help out with your child’s care and upbringing every now and then? This is usually not sufficient.

Nationality

You do not have the nationality of a European Union (EU) or EEA Member State or Switzerland. Nor do you have lawful residence in any of these countries.

No danger to public order or national safety

You are not a danger to public order or national safety. Everyone over the age of 12 must completely fill in an Appendix Antecedents Certificate and enclose it with the application. In this certificate you indicate whether you have ever committed an offence or crime.

Additional requirements for (half)brother or (half)sister of the minor Dutch child

Do you have another non-Dutch child under 18 (a minor)? And this is a (half)brother or (half)sister of your Dutch child under 18? Then the following requirements also apply:

• The (half)brother or (half)sister is going to live with you and your Dutch child under 18 in the Netherlands.
• The (half)brother or (half)sister is part of your family.
• The (half)brother or (half)sister is your child. This can be your biological child or your child by law.
• You have parental authority of the (half)brother or (half)sister. Read more about parental responsibility on Rijksoverheid.nl.
• Is there a parent of the (half)brother or (half)sister who is staying behind in the country of origin? And does that parent have authority? Then that parent needs to give permission for the departure of the (half)brother or (half)sister to the Netherlands. Sometimes permission is also required from the government of the country of origin. For example, if this is laid down by law in the country of origin. Or, if the parents or legal representatives have died or cannot be found.
• You take care of the (half)brother or (half)sister and are responsible for their upbringing.
• One of the following situations applies to you:
  • You have a residence permit EU as a caring parent of a Dutch child under 18.
  • You have a facilitation visa. With this visa, you may apply in the Netherlands as a caring parent of a Dutch child under 18.
  • You have another valid Dutch residence permit
• The (half)brother or (half)sister strongly depends on you. This means that if the (half)brother or (half)sister does not get a residence document, you and your Dutch child under 18 have no choice but to leave the European Union (EU) together with the (half)brother or (half)sister.

Would you like to know which documents you need to submit the application?  Then answer a few questions and get your document overview.

Go to questions for your document overview

Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or  German.

Go to the Visa Advisor on Netherlandsworldwide.nl and check if you need a visa for the Netherlands. 

Visa needed

First apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for visa facilitation. State in the visa application that you want to live with your Dutch child who is a minor, in the Netherlands.

No visa needed

To travel to the Netherlands, you need these documents.

• A valid passport or other travel document.
• Documents proving that you are the parent of your minor Dutch child. For example, their birth certificate, deed of recognition or adoption papers.

Download the application form, complete it in writing and send it by post.

The application costs € 81,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: application costs.

After we have received your application, you will get a letter telling you how you can pay.

The IND must make a decision within the decision period of 6 months.

You will get a letter in which it says that the IND has received your application. This letter also explains how to apply for a residence endorsement sticker. This is a sticker in your passport. On the residence endorsement sticker, it says that you are allowed to await the procedure in the Netherlands, and whether or not you are allowed to work in the Netherlands during the application process.

Follow your application in My IND.

You will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.

• Positive decision: you will get a residence document.
• Negative decision: you will not get a residence document. You can object against this decision. 

When the residence document is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect your residence document.