When will the IND start with my application for family reunification?
Letter from IND at the start of the application
You receive a letter (confirmation of receipt) when the IND has received your application for family reunification. It takes a number of months before the IND starts processing your application. This is because there are a lot of applications for family reunification. You receive a letter when your application is due. This is when the processing of your application begins. In this letter you read whether the IND requires any more information. And whether you can expect more letters.
Next steps when your application is about to be processed
Have you received the letter that states that your application is about to be processed? Then it can still take a couple of months before you get the decision. How long this takes exactly is different for each application. There are three options:
- Your application is complete. The letter states when you can expect the decision.
- Your application is not complete. You will receive an extra letter stating what to send in. And when you can expect the decision.
- Does your family member have no or insufficient documents? The IND can conduct more research. For example, a DNA test or an interview with you and your family member. You receive another letter stating which investigation the IND is starting.
Order of assessment applications family reunification
At this moment, many family reunification applicants are waiting for a decision. The IND can decide quicker on applications of certain family members. Because the IND can make a decision faster on applications that need less investigation, we will divide the applications in groups. The time it takes to start processing all applications gets shorter because of this. And the estimation on when it is your turn will be more accurate as well.
De IND divides the applications in the following 2 groups:
- You have applied for family reunification for your partner and biological children under the age of 18. Or you were single and under the age of 18 when you applied for asylum and applied for family reunification for your parents and for your biological brothers and sisters under the age of 18. The IND will process these applications faster. It will take the IND less time to decide on these applications. This is because the identity and family ties (relationships) are quickly established with documents. We often do not need to do extra research.
- You have applied for family reunification for other family members. For example, for children older than the age of 18, foster children or a grandpa or grandma. The IND often has to do more research on the family ties (relationship) with these applications. Because this takes more time, it often takes longer before we can decide on your application.
Complete applications
The IND can decide quicker when the applications are complete. An application is complete if we have received all the documents needed to establish the identity and family ties (relationship) with your family members. Read which documents are needed for your application as an adult applicant and as an underage applicant.
Waiting time between receipt and start of application
When the IND starts with your application depends on the date of your application. And it depends on the family members for whom you applied for family reunification.
Waiting time family with biological children under the age of 18
You applied for family reunification for your partner and biological children under the age of 18. Or you were single and under the age of 18 when you applied for asylum and applied for family reunification for your parents and for your biological brothers and sisters under the age of 18. The table below this paragraph shows your waiting time. Find the month of your application for family reunification in the first column. The second column shows when the IND expects to start with your application.
| Month of application | Expected month in which the IND will start with the application |
|---|---|
| July 2023 | May 2025 |
| August 2023 | May 2025 |
| September 2023 | May 2025 |
| October 2023 | June 2025 |
| November 2023 | June 2025 |
| December 2023 | June 2025 |
| January 2024 | July 2025 |
| February 2024 | July 2025 |
| March 2024 | August 2025 |
| April 2024 | September 2025 |
| May 2024 | November 2025 |
| June 2024 | January 2026 |
| July 2024 | March 2026 |
| August 2024 | May 2026 |
| September 2024 | June 2026 |
| October 2024 | June 2026 |
| November 2024 | July 2026 |
| December 2024 | August 2026 |
| January 2025 | September 2026 |
| February 2025 | September 2026 |
| March 2025 | September 2026 |
| April 2025 | October 2026 |
Waiting time other family members
Do you not belong to the group ‘family with biological children under the age of 18’? The table below this paragraph shows your average waiting time. Find the month of your application for family reunification in the first column. The second column shows when the IND expects to start with your application.
| Month of application | Expected month in which the IND will start with the application |
|---|---|
| July 2023 | May 2025 |
| August 2023 | June 2025 |
| September 2023 | June 2025 |
| October 2023 | July 2025 |
| November 2023 | August 2025 |
| December 2023 | September 2025 |
| January 2024 | October 2025 |
| February 2024 | November 2025 |
| March 2024 | December 2025 |
| April 2024 | February 2026 |
| May 2024 | March 2026 |
| June 2024 | May 2026 |
| July 2024 | July 2026 |
| August 2024 | August 2026 |
| September 2024 | September 2026 |
| October 2024 | October 2026 |
| November 2024 | November 2026 |
| December 2024 | December 2026 |
| January 2025 | January 2027 |
| February 2025 | January 2027 |
| March 2025 | February 2027 |
| April 2025 | February 2027 |
Example of calculating the waiting time for a application for family reunification
You belong to the group ‘family with biological children under the age of 18’. You submitted your application for family reunification in October 2023. The IND processes your application in June 2025. Has this month passed and have you not yet received a letter? Then ask an employee of the Netherlands Council for Refugees (VWN) whether they can contact the IND. Following this example, you can ask VWN for help by July 2025.
Adult applicant: documents required for family reunification
Were you over 18 when you applied for asylum? And did you apply for family reunification within 3 months after receiving your asylum permit? Read below to find out which documents and attachments you must send with your application for each family member.
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Documents required when applying for your partner
open minusPlease send the following documents and appendices when applying for family reunification with your partner:
- A recent and clear photo of your partner's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your partner. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your relationship. For example a marriage certificate.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
-
Documents required when applying for your children
open minusPlease send the following documents and appendices when applying for family reunification with your children:
- A recent and clear photo of your child's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your child. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your family relationship. For example a birth certificate.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
- Is your child 12 years or older? Please send the following appendix:
- Is your child 15 years or older? Please send the following appendices:
Extra documents if a parent is not travelling with your child
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of the parent remaining behind.
- A means of evidence showing the family relationship between the child and the parent remaining behind. For example a birth certificate.
- The parent must give permission for your child to travel to the Netherlands. Please include the following appendix:
- Is the parent unable to give permission? Please include the following appendix:
Extra documents for a foster child
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of the biological parents of your foster child.
- A means of evidence showing the family relationship between the child and the biological parents of the child. For example a birth certificate.
- Have the biological parents of your foster child died? Please include a copy of a means of evidence showing that you are the guardian of your foster child. Also include the death certificates of the biological parents of your foster child.
-
Documents required when applying for your other family members
open minusPlease send the following documents and appendices when applying family reunification for other family members:
- A recent and clear photo of your family member's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your family member. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your family relationship.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
- Is your family member 12 years or older? Please send the following appendix:
- Does your family member have the nationality of 1 of the countries not stated in the 'Appendix Exemption from the obligation to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test'? Please include the 'Appendix Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test'.
Complete your application
Did you apply for family reunification and are there any documents missing from your application? Please complete your application as soon as possible. Read how to send copies of documents on the page Submitting additional documents. You can only send original documents with a form that is included with the receipt confirmation. Do you no longer have the receipt confirmation? Then ask your contact person at VWN or Nidos for help.
Underage applicant: documents required for family reunification
Were you under 18 when you applied for asylum? Read below to find out which documents and attachments you must send with your application for each family member.
-
Documents required when applying for your parents
open minusPlease send the following documents and appendices when applying for family reunification with your parents:
- A copy of a means of evidence showing who your guardian is in the Netherlands if you are under 18 years old during the family reunification application.
- A recent and clear photo of your parent's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your parent. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your family relationship. For example a birth certificate.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
-
Documents required when applying for your brothers or sisters
open minusPlease send the following documents and appendices when applying for family reunification with your brothers or sisters:
- A copy of a means of evidence showing who your guardian is in the Netherlands if you are under 18 years old during the family reunification application.
- A recent and clear photo of your brother or sister's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your brother or sister. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your family relationship.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
- Is your brother or sister 15 years or older? Please send the following appendix:
- Is your brother or sister 12 years or older? Please send the following appendix:
- Does your brother or sister have the nationality of 1 of the countries not stated in the 'Appendix Exemption from the obligation to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test'? Please include the 'Appendix Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test'.
Extra documents if a parent is not traveling with your brother or sister
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of the parent remaining behind.
- A means of evidence showing the family relationship between your brother or sister and the parent remaining behind. For example a birth certificate.
- The parent must give permission for your brother or sister to travel to the Netherlands. Please include the following appendix:
- Is the parent unable to give permission? Please include the following appendix:
-
Documents required when applying for your other family members
open minusPlease send the following documents and appendices when applying for family reunification with other family members:
- A copy of a means of evidence showing who your guardian is in the Netherlands if you are under 18 years old during the family reunification application.
- A recent and clear photo of your family member's face.
- A copy of a means of evidence showing the identity of your family member. For example a passport or an identity card.
- An original means of evidence showing your family relationship.
- Appendix Declaration by sponsor (family and relatives)
- Is your family member 12 years or older? Please send the following appendix:
- Does your family member have the nationality of 1 of the countries not stated in the 'Appendix Exemption from the obligation to undergo a tuberculosis (TB) test'? Please include the 'Appendix Declaration of intent to undergo a TB test'.
Complete your application
Did you apply for family reunification and are there any documents missing from your application? Please complete your application as soon as possible. Read how to send copies of documents on the page Submitting additional documents. You can only send original documents with a form that is included with the receipt confirmation. Do you no longer have the receipt confirmation? Then ask your contact person at VWN or Nidos for help.