Residence permit for foster child

Last update: 5 September 2024

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:
- Your foster child meets the general requirements that apply to everyone.
- Your foster child is a minor, under 18.
- You have Dutch nationality 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 the income requirements.
- Your foster child does not have an acceptable future in its country of origin.
- You can give your foster child a good upbringing and care.
- 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 they have deceased.
- Your foster child is still part of your family.
- You have custody of the foster child. This has been arranged officially.
- 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 that your foster child comes to the Netherlands. And permission for the foster child to live with 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 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 the income requirements.
- You can give your foster child a good upbringing and care.
- You have custody of the foster child. This has been arranged officially.
- You are one of these close family members of the foster child:
  - grandparent
  - brother or half-brother
  - sister or half-sister
  - sister-in-law or brother-in-law
  - uncle or aunt
- Your foster child does not have an acceptable future in its country of origin. The parents or other family members (than you) cannot properly care for your foster child.
- Your foster child has no life threatening, contagious or long-term physical or mental disease. This is stated in a medical statement from the country of origin.
- The parents or legal representatives give permission that the foster child will live with your family. Sometimes, teh government of the country of origin also has to give permission. For example, if this is laid down by law. 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 foreign documents 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 foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
3. Apply open minus

Download 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.
3. Apply open minus

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

The application costs € 76,00. 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.
4. Pay for application open minus

The application costs € 76,00. 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.
5. Wait for decision on application open minus

The IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the 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 you a letter.
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 the 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 you a letter.
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 to 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 to this decision.
7. Apply for MVV visa sticker and travel to the Netherlands open minus

The child can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV. The child applies for the MVV visa sticker at the Dutch representation (embassy or consulate) that you filled in on the application form.
The MVV is valid for 90 days.
Apply for MVV visa sticker within 3 months of decision
In order to apply for the MVV visa sticker, the child will have to make an appointment at the Dutch representation.
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.
Biometrics
The child must provide biometric data when applying for the MVV visa sticker. 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.
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, 1.07 MB)

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, 287.67 KB)

Written application forms

I am applying for my foster child:

Application for the purpose of residence 'family members and relatives' (sponsor) 7518 (PDF, 1.07 MB)

My foster child is applying:

Application for the purpose of residence 'family and relatives' (foreign national) 7525 (PDF, 1.18 MB)

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, 230.36 KB)

Working with the residence permit

It is stated on the back of your foster child’s residence permit whether the child is allowed to work. This depends 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 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 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 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.

Type of residence permit

The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.

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 apply for regular residence temporary permit extension.

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 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:

Apply for MVV visa sticker 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

You are a Dutch national

You have a residence permit

Not every child is allowed to work

Legal obligations

Validity of the residence permit

Type of residence permit

Other applications

Replacement of residence permit

Extend residence permit

Apply for a different residence permit

Permanent residence permit

See also