Family reunification
Requirements, process and costs
The application process for the residence permit consists of the following steps:
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1. Check requirements This application is only for family reunification. You can only submit this application for your family members if you have an asylum residence permit.
The following requirements apply to you and your family member:
Asylum residence permit
You have received your asylum residence permit from the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND).
Apply within 3 months
You have to apply for family reunification within 3 months after you have received your asylum residence permit. This is the family reunification period. This period begins from the moment you receive a positive decision on your asylum application.
Family relationship
Your family member is part of your family. Your family member was also part of your family before you entered the Netherlands.
No danger to public order or national security
You do not pose a danger to public order or national security. Everyone aged 12 years or older 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.
Declaration sponsor
You declare that you are a sponsor for your family member in the application form. The sponsor is the person who brings the family member to the Netherlands.
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2. Collect documents Gather all your documents before submitting your application. You send copies of the documents with your application. The IND will need to examine some documents. These are documents that prove family ties, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate. Therefore, it is important that your documents are already in the Netherlands when you submit your application.
Once the IND has received your application, you will receive a letter (confirmation of receipt). An appendix is enclosed with this confirmation that you must use to send these original documents. Do not send an original passport or identity card of your family member.
Have official foreign documents translated into Dutch, English, French, or German. The translator must have been sworn in by a Dutch court. You can search for a sworn translator on the website www.bureauwbtv.nl (only available in Dutch).
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1. Apply
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3. Apply The IND prefers that you submit the application for your family member. You apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time. You can apply online or by post.
Your family member may also apply themselves at the Dutch embassy or consulate abroad.
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4. Pay for application Adult applicant
You were 18 years or older when you applied for asylum. Are you applying for your partner or (foster) child? Then the application is free.
Are you applying for other family members? The application costs € 243,00Minor applicant
You were under 18 and unaccompanied when you applied for asylum. Are you applying for your biological parent(s)? The application is free.
Are you applying for other family members? The application costs € 243,00For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: Costs of an application.
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5. Wait for the decision on the application The IND must take a decision within 9 months.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send a message.
Follow the application in My IND.
Sometimes more investigation is needed
Does your family member have no, or not enough documents? Then the IND may carry out more investigation. For example, a DNA test or an interview with you and with your family member. Is more investigation needed? Then, you will receive a letter.
When your application is processed
When the IND starts with your application depends on the date of your application. And it depends on the family members for whom you applied for family reunification. You can find the average processing time on the page When will the IND start with my application for family reunification?
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6. Decision on the application You will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: your family member will get an MVV.
- Negative decision: your family member will not get an MVV. You can object against this decision.
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7. Make appointment for MVV visa sticker and travel to the Netherlands Your family member can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV.
Make appointment within 3 months of decision
Your family member has to make an appointment at the Dutch representation. This is the embassy or consulate that you filled in on the application form. Your partner has to make the appointment within 3 months after the IND has taken a decision on your application. This can be extended to 6 months.
Biometrics
Your family member must provide biometric data during the appointment at the Dutch representation. Your family member will put a signature and the Dutch representation will take fingerprints. Your family member also needs to bring 1 new passport photo. Go to netherlandsworldwide.nl for information on requirements for ID photos.
Valid passport required
Your family member's passport must be valid for at least another 6 months when the Dutch representation places the MVV visa sticker in the passport. The MVV is valid for 90 days.
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8. Registration in the Netherlands Your family member must travel to the Netherlands within 90 days. After arriving in the Netherlands, your family member reports within 3 days to the IND for registration at the IND. This is only possible by appointment.
Process registration of family members of refugees
The registration process at the IND desk takes 1 day. During the registration, the following happens:
- The IND checks your family member’s identity, MVV and passport or laissez-passer details.
- Your family member has provided their photo, signature and fingerprints at the Dutch representation. The IND checks if these data are correct. Sometimes your family member must have their data taken again.
- Your family member receives the decision from the IND. Is the residence permit (residence document) ready? Then your family member also receives this immediately.
- Your family member will receive a letter with an appointment at the municipality. With this your family member can have their personal details registered in the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP) at the town council later.
- Your family member will have to do a tuberculosis (TB) test if necessary. This test will take place at the reception of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (in Dutch: Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers or COA). Is this not possible or is your family member not staying in a reception centre? Then your family member must make an appointment for a TB test at the public health service (in Dutch: Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). It depends on your family member’s nationality whether a TB test is required. Read the following appendix to see if your family member does not need the TB test:
Receiving the residence permit
During the registration at the IND, your family member receives the residence permit. Is this not ready yet? Then your family member will receive a letter when the residence permit is ready to collect at an IND desk. You must make an appointment to collect it.
Documents
Below you'll find the documents you need for your application, such as a passport or marriage certificate. The exact documents you need to submit depend on your age at the time of your asylum application.
Adult applicant: documents required for family reunification
Were you over 18 when you applied for asylum? Read below to find out which documents and attachments you must send with your application for each family member.
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Documents required when applying for your partner
Please send the following documents and appendices when applying for family reunification with your partner:
- A recent and clear photo of your partner's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your partner. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your relationship. For example a marriage certificate.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
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Documents required when applying for your children
Please send the following documents and appendices when applying for family reunification with your children:
- A recent and clear photo of your child's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your child. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your family relationship. For example a birth certificate.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
- Is your child 12 years or older? Please send the following appendix:
- Is your child 15 years or older? Please send the following appendices:
Extra documents if a parent is not travelling with your child
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of the parent remaining behind.
- A means of evidence showing the family relationship between the child and the parent remaining behind. For example a birth certificate.
- The parent must give permission for your child to travel to the Netherlands. Please include the following appendix:
- Is the parent unable to give permission? Please include the following appendix:
Extra documents for a foster child
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of the biological parents of your foster child.
- A means of evidence showing the family relationship between the child and the biological parents of the child. For example a birth certificate.
- Have the biological parents of your foster child died? Please include a copy of a means of evidence showing that you are the guardian of your foster child. Also include the death certificates of the biological parents of your foster child.
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Documents required when applying for your other family members
Please send the following documents and appendices when applying family reunification for other family members:
- A recent and clear photo of your family member's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your family member. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your family relationship.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
- Is your family member 12 years or older? Please send the following appendix:
- Does your family member have the nationality of 1 of the countries not stated in the 'Appendix Exemption from the obligation to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test'? Please include the 'Appendix Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test'.
Underage applicant: documents required for family reunification
Were you under 18 when you applied for asylum? Read below to find out which documents and attachments you must send with your application for each family member.
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Documents required when applying for your parents
Please send the following documents and appendices when applying for family reunification with your parents:
- A copy of a means of evidence showing who your guardian is in the Netherlands if you are under 18 years old during the family reunification application.
- A recent and clear photo of your parent's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your parent. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your family relationship. For example a birth certificate.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
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Documents required when applying for your brothers or sisters
Please send the following documents and appendices when applying for family reunification with your brothers or sisters:
- A copy of a means of evidence showing who your guardian is in the Netherlands if you are under 18 years old during the family reunification application.
- A recent and clear photo of your brother or sister's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your brother or sister. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your family relationship.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
- Is your brother or sister 15 years or older? Please send the following appendix:
- Is your brother or sister 12 years or older? Please send the following appendix:
- Does your brother or sister have the nationality of 1 of the countries not stated in the 'Appendix Exemption from the obligation to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test'? Please include the 'Appendix Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test'.
Extra documents if a parent is not traveling with your brother or sister
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of the parent remaining behind.
- A means of evidence showing the family relationship between your brother or sister and the parent remaining behind. For example a birth certificate.
- The parent must give permission for your brother or sister to travel to the Netherlands. Please include the following appendix:
- Is the parent unable to give permission? Please include the following appendix:
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Documents required when applying for your other family members
Please send the following documents and appendices when applying for family reunification with other family members:
- A copy of a means of evidence showing who your guardian is in the Netherlands if you are under 18 years old during the family reunification application.
- A recent and clear photo of your family member's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your family member. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your family relationship.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
- Is your family member 12 years or older? Please send the following appendix:
- Does your family member have the nationality of 1 of the countries not stated in the 'Appendix Exemption from the obligation to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test'? Please include the 'Appendix Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test'.
Completing your application
Did you apply for family reunification and are there any documents missing from your application? Please complete your application as soon as possible. Read how to send copies of documents on the page Submitting additional documents. You can only send original documents with a form that is included with the receipt confirmation. Do you no longer have the receipt confirmation? Then ask your contact person at VWN or Nidos for help.
Application forms
You can submit this application online.
Online Application for a 'Regular Provisional Residence permit - persons making a journey in connection with family reunification with an asylum seeker'
Written application forms
Appointment family reunification of refugees IND
Your family member must travel to the Netherlands within 90 days after collecting the MVV. After arriving in the Netherlands, your family member reports within 3 days to the IND. Registration is by appointment only.
Arrange reception COA
Do you live in a reception centre from COA or NIDOS? Or you live in a place of residence that is not suitable for all of your family members to live in? Then you need to ask the COA for reception for your family member. You do this by e-mail. Your contact person from VWN can help you with this. Ask for reception after the journey for your family member has been booked, but before they depart to the Netherlands.
Asking COA for reception by e-mail
This is how you ask the COA for reception for your family member:
- Send an e-mail to the COA in which you ask for reception for your family member. Send the e-mail to this e-mail address: FMMZZevenaarDuiven@coa.nl.
- Put the following details in the e-mail:
- Your first and surname, your telephone number and e-mail address (or VWN’s e-mail address).
- The first names and surnames of all your traveling family members.
- The V-number of all your traveling family members.
- Date of arrival in the Netherlands of your traveling family members. This is also the day your family members will need reception for the first time.
- Within 2 working days you will receive a confirmation email from the COA saying where your reception is.
Appointment with the IND
Did you send an e-mail to the COA for reception? The COA will then make an appointment for you at the IND. You do not have to make an appointment yourself.
Make an appointment at IND
Important information when making the appointment
- Only make an appointment if you have a suitable place of residence for all your family members. Do you not have a suitable place of residence? The COA will then make an appointment for you.
- Only make an appointment after booking your family members’ journey to the Netherlands, but before their departure to the Netherlands.
- Make an appointment for all family members who need to register at the IND. Fill out their V-numbers and first names and surnames.
- Fill out your e-mail address or the e-mail address of your counsellor from VWN.
Cancelling appointment
What if the appointment made cannot go through? For example, because your family member arrives in the Netherlands later than planned? Then cancel the appointment via the link in the e-mail confirming your appointment. As soon as this is possible, make a new appointment for your family member.
The residence permit
Find out what else you need to know about the residence permit:
Your family member will receive a derivative residence permit
Your family member will receive a derivative asylum residence permit. This means that the residence of your family member depends on your asylum residence permit. The IND can withdraw your family member’s residence permit if there is no longer a family relationship with you. For example, if your family member is a child who will go and live on their own within a year.
Your family member can apply for an independent asylum residence permit
Your family member may also apply for asylum in the Netherlands on their own. The IND then assesses whether your family member has a right to an independent asylum residence permit.
Working with the residence permit
Your family member may work in the Netherlands with a temporary derivative residence permit. Their employer does not need a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV). On the back of the residence permit it says ‘Free to work. Work permit is not required (in Dutch: Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist).
Legal obligations
A sponsor has an obligation to provide information and an administrative obligation. Your family member has an obligation to provide information. Read more about the legal obligations of the sponsor for a family member and the foreign national’s obligation to provide information.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. Are you violating your obligations? You then may get an administrative fine.
Validity of the residence permit
Your family member’s residence permit is valid for 5 years.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type III, temporary asylum residence permit.
Other applications
Replacement of the residence permit
Has your family member’s residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then, have the residence permit replaced. Go to the page residence permit damaged or change of personal details or residence permit lost or stolen.
Extend the residence permit
Will your family member’s residence permit expire soon? Then, your family member can extend the residence permit
Permanent residence permit
Has your family member had a residence permit for 5 years? Then, your family member can apply for a permanent residence permit.