Frequently asked questions

By signing a sponsorship declaration, you guarantee the costs of a foreigner's stay/residence in the Netherlands.  You also guarantee that this foreigner leaves the Netherlands on time. The sponsorship declaration tells you exactly what your obligations are.

​There is no legally set period of validity regarding the legalization of the 'Proof of Sponsorship/Accommodation'. The embassies and consulates use different periods of validity. For the latest information, contact the embassy or consulate. In the case of a possible objection, you will not need to have the form legalized again.

It is possible to sponsor up to 2 adults plus 1 or 2 children at a time. You do have to use a separate form 'proof of sponsorship/accommodation' for each person. You must also have a legalisation of your signature on each form. The Dutch representation abroad (embassy or consulate), or the Consular Service Organisation (CSO) determines if you can sponsor multiple persons and how many.

• Faxes are technically outdated and vulnerable to interception.
• Fax communication does not comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), NTA 7516 and BIO standards.
• Digital communication is more secure, and fits the digitalisation strategy of the IND. 

• Use the digital portals of the IND:
  • File mailbox
  • Solicitor portal
  • Business portal
• Secure email via Zivver or another secure email application (that complies with NTA 7516).
• Formal messages, such as objection letters and notices of default, can be submitted by post or secure email.

Zivver is preferred because it meets all the technical requirements of NTA 7516. Other secure email applications are also allowed, if they can show they meet the NTA 7516 standards. 

The NTA 7516 certification is no longer valid since 15 May 2022. However, the rules and agreements of NTA 7516 still apply. Organisations are still required to comply with them.

The IND has chosen to use Zivver because it meets all requirements. The IND is currently assessing which other email providers are also suitable. Check yourself whether your provider complies with NTA 7516.

Use a Secure email starter to email the IND easily and securely. The starter will direct you to the Zivver WebApp and send your email directly to the correct IND mailbox. Sending is almost always received (confirmation via the envelope icon).

You will see a delivery confirmation via an envelope icon in the bottom left of your email:

• Green: Email successfully sent and received.
• Orange (upward arrow): Something went wrong. Click the envelope for more details.

No confirmation? Contact your email service provider.
 

Check the settings or subscription of your email application. Keep a copy of the sent email as proof.

Current situation via Secure email starter (IND.nl):

Make a printout or screenshot of the confirmation. It is currently not possible to download the receipt (green envelope). The IND is looking into adding a download button for the delivery confirmation.

If you are using your own solution to email securely:

Contact your provider for information about downloading or forwarding the confirmation.
 

You can do this in the same way the objection letter was submitted. See the instructions on Object or appeal decision.

• Maximum 10 MB per document.
• Maximum 20 MB per email.

Do you have larger files? Send them in multiple emails.

You can report your absence to the IND via the Secure email starter on the page Submitting your documents. Always state if someone will be handling your cases in your absence. The notification will be linked to you as the authorised representative in the INDIGO system by the IND.

You can send a message to the IND in individual cases, for example, if you want to request an extension due to your absence. Refer to your earlier absence notification in that message.