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.

Is there any maintenance or malfunction with DigiD?

DigiD is not part of the IND. Check with Logius (Dutch only) if there is maintenance or a malfunction with DigiD. 

Is there no maintenance or malfunction with DigiD, but you are unable to log in?

This may have a number of causes:

• You are not using the correct username or password. Check that you are using the correct details. Pay attention to the use of upper and lower case letters.
• You have not activated your DigiD. First activate your DigiD with the activation code you received by letter.
• Your DigiD is blocked. Wait until the blockage is lifted and try again.
• Your DigiD has expired because you have not used it for 3 years. If so, reapply for your DigiD.

Are you using old software on your computer or mobile device? It may not meet DigiD's minimum security requirements. 

Check whether you have completed all the fields on the page. Then click 'Next'.

Make sure your internet browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, Chrome) is up to date. Otherwise, the 'Next' button won't work. 

Update your browser and try again.

Many questions include an explanation. Click on the link by the question. This will bring up a text that explains the question.

Use our written form to submit your application. There may be several reasons why you cannot (yet) submit your application online.

Are you mentioned on the back of the residence card as the parent with whom the minor child is staying? Then you are a social sponsor. You can submit an application for an extension of the residence permit of your minor child.  You log in with your own DigiD.

You can only upload documents requested on the application form.

Did you already send in your online or written application and now you want to upload additional documents? You can do this as long as we haven't made a decision on your application. 

Go to Uploading documents after your application and read how you can upload more documents.

The quality of an uploaded photo is not good enough. Send a photo card by post to the IND. 

Please contact the IND. We can check if we received your application.

If the IND has not received your application, we will return the money to your bank account. You can make a new application.

The IND will refund the excess amount to your bank account. You do not need to do anything.

1. In your online application find the menu button (upper left of the page).
2. Click 'Save'.

Often you will get a follow-up question depending on your search engine or browser preferences.

For example, are you working with Internet Explorer? Then below on your screen you will see the text: 'Do you want to open or save the file?' If you choose 'save', Internet Explorer will save a file in your Downloads folder. The saved file has the extension .tfa.

Your online application is now saved on your own computer.

1. Go to ind.nl and find the online application form you need.
2. Log in with your DigiD and SMS code.
3. Click the menu button (upper left of the screen) and select 'Open'.
4. Click 'Select a file'. This will open a programme (Explorer/Finder) to find documents on your computer.
5. Go to the Downloads folder.
6. In the Downloads folder, select the .tfa file you saved before.

You can only upload PDF files with a maximum of 8 MB per file. Do not password protect PDF files for ind.nl. Read more about uploading documents.

The online application you want to save is stored on your computer as a TFA file.  If you upload additional documents, the file may become too large. Due to a technical limitation, you cannot reopen a saved TFA file that is larger than 25MB.

Instead, you can save your application without uploading first. When you reopen your application, you can upload additional documents.  After that, you can submit your application.