Residence permit for adopted child
Requirements
The following requirements apply to you and your adopted child:
- Your adopted child meets the general requirements that apply to everyone.
- You are Dutch or you have a valid residence permit. Or you are a citizen of a Member State of the EU/EEA or Switzerland, or you are a family member. And you meet the requirements for residence on the grounds of EU law.
- You meet all of the following requirements under the Placement of Foreign Children for Adoption Act (Wobka):
- You have obtained permission in principle (beginseltoestemming) from the Central Authority for International Children’s Issues of the Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security (J&V). This is a statement that, according to the Ministry of J&V, you are suitable to adopt the foreign child.
- If you have adopted the child under the Hague Adoption Convention, you have obtained a Statement of Approval from the Central Authority for International Children’s Issues (Ca IKA) of the Ministry of J&V.
- If you have not adopted the child under the Convention, you have obtained ‘registered permission in principle’ from the Central Authority for International Children’s Issues of the Ministry of J&V. This is a statement that the Minister for Migration gives you permission to adopt your foreign adopted child into your family. The child’s personal details are listed in the document.
- Your adopted child does not have a life threatening contagious or long-term physical or mental disease. This is stated in a medical statement from the child’s country of origin.
- The biological parents have given up the foreign child for adoption. This has been arranged in the correct manner.
- The authorities of the country of origin agree to the adopted child becoming part of your family.
- You can demonstrate the identity of your adopted child. Does your adopted child not have a valid document allowing them to travel outside their own country, for example a passport? The IND will not reject the application if you can demonstrate the child’s identity in a different way.
For more general information about adoption, please visit the website of the Adoption Service Foundation FIOM.
Adopted child Dutch by law
Sometimes your adopted child is Dutch by law and you do not have to apply for a residence permit. By law means that the adopted child automatically receives Dutch nationality. Find out more about Dutch citizen by birth, acknowledgement or adoption.
New foreign adoptions stopped
On 21 May 2024 the Dutch Minister of Legal Protection sent a letter to inform parliament that no new foreign adoption procedures will be started. Find out more in the news message on Government.nl.
Have you completed a procedure for a foreign adopted child? But the adopted child has not become a Dutch citizen? Then you can still apply for a residence permit for your adopted child.
Foreign family member
Do you want to care for a foreign family member? This is not possible through adoption. But maybe the child can get a residence permit for foster child.
Process and costs
These are the steps in the application process for the residence permit:
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1. Check requirements open minusA valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application
Make sure you meet the requirements.
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1. Check requirements open minusMake sure you meet the requirements.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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2. Collect documents open minusThe application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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3. Apply open minusDownload the application form, fill it in and send it by post. You apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time.
Your child may also apply on their own at the Dutch representation abroad.
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3. Apply open minusDownload the application form, fill it in and send it by post.
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4. Pay for application open minus
The application costs € 81,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.The IND will send a letter explaining how you can pay.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 81,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.
The IND will send a letter explaining how you can pay.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period.
Do you have an asylum residence permit and are you applying for family reunification with a family member? The legal decision period for this application is 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 you a letter.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period.
Do you have an asylum residence permit and are you applying for family reunification with a family member? The legal decision period for this application is 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 you a letter.
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6. Decision on application open minusYou will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: The child will get an MVV and a residence permit.
- Negative decision: The child will not get an MVV or a residence permit. You can object to this decision.
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6. Decision on application open minusYou will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: The child will get a residence permit.
- Negative decision: The child will not get a residence permit. You can object to this decision.
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7. Make appointment for MVV visa sticker and travel to the Netherlands open minusThe child can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV.
Make appointment within 3 months of decision
The child will have to make an appointment at the Dutch representation. This is the embassy or consulate that you filled in on the application form. The child has to make the appointment within 3 months after the IND has taken a decision on your application.
Biometrics
The child must provide biometric data during the appointment at the Dutch representation. The child will put a signature and the Dutch representation will take fingerprints. The child also needs to bring 1 new passport photo. Go to netherlandsworldwide.nl for information on requirements for ID photos.
Valid passport required
The child'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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7. Collect residence permit open minusWhen the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.
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8. Collect residence permit open minusWhen the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect the residence document.
Application forms
Download the right form. Fill in the form and send the application by post.
Written application forms
Written application forms
The residence permit
Other things you need to know about the residence permit:
TB test
Did you indicate at the time of the application that your adopted child will takea TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment at the Municipal Health Service (in Dutch: Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after the child has received their residence permit. Take with you to the appointmentt:
Does the medical statement show that the adopted child has already been tested for TB in the country of origin? Then, the TB test is not needed in the Netherlands.
Working with the residence permit
It is stated on the back of your foster child’s residence document whether the child is allowed to work. This depends also on your employment rights.
You are a Dutch national
On the back of your foster child’s residence permit it is stated: ‘free to work, work permit not required’ (in Dutch: arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist). The abbreviation TWV stands for tewerkstellingsvergunning, which means work permit in Dutch.
You have a residence permit
Your foster child often has the same employment rights as you. In the following cases the child will have different employment rights:
- Your foster child is free to work when you have one of these residence permits:
- highly skilled migrant
- holder of a European Blue Card
- intra-corporate transferee
- researcher within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/801
- essential personnel start-up
- You have a residence permit for ‘work as a self-employed person’ (in Dutch: arbeid als zelfstandige). Your foster child is free to work, also as a self-employed person.
- You have a residence permit for study. Your foster child is not allowed to work.
- You have a single permit (in Dutch: gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid or GVVA) for residence and work. Your foster child is only allowed to work if the employer has a TWV.
Not every child is allowed to work
From a certain age, children are allowed to do holiday work or to have a part-time job. Go to Rijksoverheid.nl for more information about part-time job, holiday work and internship for young people (bijbaan, vakantiewerk en stage door jongeren) (only available in Dutch).
Legal obligations
A sponsor has an obligation to provide information and an administrative obligation. Read more about the legal obligations of the sponsor of family member.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. What if you do not? Then you can get an administrative fine.
Validity of the residence permit
The period of validity of your adopted child’s residence permit depends on your situation. Do you have a temporary residence permit? Then the end date of your child’s residence permit will be the same as the end date of your residence permit.
Are you Dutch or do you have a permanent residence permit? Then your adopted child’s residence permit will be valid for 5 years.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
Other applications
Replacement of the residence permit
Has the 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 the child’s residence permit expire soon? Then you can apply for regular residence permit extension.
Apply for a different residence permit
Does your child have a residence permit for 1 year for residence as a family member? Then you can change the residence permit to the residence permit on humanitarian non-temporary grounds.
Permanent residence permit
Does your child had a residence permit for 5 years for residence as a relative or family member? Then you can apply for a permanent residence permit for your child.
Becoming a Dutch citizen
The adopted child can only apply for Dutch nationality together with you or the other parent. Is your adopted child aged 18 or older? Then your child can apply for Dutch nationality on their own.