When will the IND start with my application for family reunification?

You have an asylum permit and you have applied for family reunification. Read how long it takes before the IND starts with your 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.

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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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.

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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.