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Residence permit for foster child

Last update: 22 September 2022

To be able to live with you in the Netherlands, your foreign foster child needs a residence permit. Find out what the requirements are and how to apply for the residence permit.

Requirements

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Your foster child was already part of your family in its country of origin
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The following requirements apply to you and your foster child:
- You and your foster child meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
- Your foster child is a minor, under 18.
- You have a Dutch nationality, Community citizenship or you have a valid residence permit.
- You are able to provide your foster child with a good upbringing and care.
- You have custody of the foster child. This must have been arranged officially.
- You meet the income requirements.
- Your foster child does not have an acceptable future in its country of origin. Your foster child is still part of your family. You have raised and cared for your foster child in its country of origin for at least 1 year. You did this because their own parents could not raise the child or have deceased.
- You have been granted custody of your foster child in the year that you raised and cared for the child in its country of origin.
- The government of the country of origin gives permission for the departure of the foster child to the Netherlands. And for the foster child’s residence in your family.
Your foster child was in its country of origin not yet part of your family
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The following requirements apply to you and your foster child:
- You and your foster child meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
- Your foster child is a minor, under 18.
- You have a Dutch nationality, Community citizenship or you have a valid residence permit.
- You are able to provide your foster child with a good upbringing and care.
- You have custody of the foster child. This must have been arranged officially.
- You meet the income requirements.
- You are the foster child’s grandparent, brother or half-brother, sister or half-sister, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle or aunt.
- Your foster child does not have an acceptable future in its country of origin. Your foster child cannot be properly cared for in the country of origin by close relatives, by blood or affinity. Close relatives by blood or affinity are the parents, grandparents, brothers or sisters of the foster child. Or the brothers or sisters of the parents of the foster child (uncles and aunts of the foster child).
- Your foster child has no life threatening, contagious or long-term physical or mental disease. This is evident from a medical statement from the country of origin.
- The parents or legal representatives give permission for the foster child’s residence in your family. 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.

Process and costs

The following requirements apply to you and your foster child:

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1. Check requirements open minus

A valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application

Make sure you meet the requirements.
1. Check requirements open minus

Make sure you meet the requirements.
2. Collect documents open minus

The application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.

Have official documents from abroad legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
2. Collect documents open minus

The application form lists which documents you need. Collect all documents before you apply.

Have official documents from abroad legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
3. Apply open minus

Download the application form, fill it in by hand 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.
3. Apply open minus

Download the application form, fill it in by hand and send it by post.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 70,00. See the web page about Fees: costs of an application.

The IND will send a letter explaining how you can pay.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 70,00. See the web page about Fees: costs of an application.

The IND will send a letter explaining how you can pay.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called a decision period.

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.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called a decision period.

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.
6. Decision on application open minus
You 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 against this decision.
6. Decision on application open minus
You 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 against this decision.
7. Collect MVV and travel to the Netherlands open minus

The child can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV. The child collects the MVV at the Dutch representation that you filled in on the application form.

The MVV is valid for 90 days.

Collect MVV within 3 months of decision

Make an appointment at the Dutch embassy or consulate to collect the MVV.

Valid passport required

When the embassy or consulate places the MVV in the child’s passport, the passport must be valid for at least another 6 months.

Biometrics

The child must have their biometric data taken when they collect the MVV. The child needs to bring 1 new passport photo with them. The child will also provide their a signature and have their fingerprints taken.
7. Collect residence permit open minus

When 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.
8. Collect residence permit open minus

When 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

I am applying for my foster child:

Application for the purpose of residence 'family members and relatives' (sponsor) 7518 (PDF, 1014.37 KB)

My foster child applies on their own from abroad:

Application for admission and residence 'to stay with a family member (specific situations)’ (foreign national) 9512 (PDF, 278.44 KB)

I am an employer and recognised sponsor:

Application for family members of your employee via recognised sponsor 7514 (PDF, 766.1 KB)

Written application forms

I am applying for my foster child:

Application for the purpose of residence 'family members and relatives' (sponsor) 7518 (PDF, 1014.37 KB)

My foster child is applying themselves:

Application for the purpose of residence 'family and relatives' (foreign national) 7525 (PDF, 1.08 MB)

I am an employer and recognised sponsor:

Application for family members of your employee via recognised sponsor 7514 (PDF, 766.1 KB)

The residence permit

Other things you need to know about the residence permit:

TB test

Did you write down at the time of the application that your foster child will take a 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 appointment:

Appendix TB test referral form 7604 (PDF, 200.05 KB)

Working with the residence permit

It says on the back of your foster child’s residence permit whether the child may work. Whether or not the child may work depends on your work rights:

Are you Dutch? Then your foster child’s residence permit reads in Dutch Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist. (Free to work. Work permit not required.) TWV stands for tewerkstellingsvergunning which means work permit in Dutch.
Do you have a residence permit? Then your foster child has the same work rights as you.
Do you need a TWV to work? Then your foster child also needs a TWV.
If you are not allowed to work, your foster child is also not allowed to work.

In the following situations, your foster child will have different work rights to yours:

You have a residence permit as a highly skilled migrant, researcher, or you are the holder of a European Blue Card. Your foster child is free to work. Your foster child’s residence document reads in Dutch Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist. (Free to work. Work permit not required.)
You have a residence permit for study. Your foster child is not allowed to work. Your foster child’s residence document reads in Dutch Arbeid niet toegestaan. (Work not permitted.)

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 internships for young people. (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 a private sponsor.

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 foster child’s residence permit depends on your situation. Do you have a temporary residence permit? Then the end date of your foster child’s residence permit is the same as the end date of your residence permit.

Are you Dutch or do you have a permanent residence permit? Your foster child’s residence permit is valid for 5 years.

Other applications

Replacement of residence permit

Has the residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Go to the web page residence permit damaged or change of personal details or residence permit lost or stolen.

Extend residence permit

Will your foster child’s residence permit expire soon? Then you can extend the residence permit.

Apply for a different residence permit

Has your foster child had a residence permit for 1 year for residence as a family member or relative? Then you can change their residence permit to the residence permit on independent humanitarian non-temporary grounds.

Permanent residence permit

Has your foster child had a residence permit for 5 years as a family member or relative? Then you can apply for a permanent residence permit for your foster child.

Residence permit for foster child

Requirements

Your foster child was already part of your family in its country of origin

Your foster child was in its country of origin not yet part of your family

Process and costs

The following requirements apply to you and your foster child:

Collect MVV within 3 months of decision

Valid passport required

Biometrics

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

Working with the residence permit

Not every child is allowed to work

Legal obligations

Validity of the residence permit

Other applications

Replacement of residence permit

Extend residence permit

Apply for a different residence permit

Permanent residence permit

See also