Bringing family

You may want your partner and/or children to be with you the Netherlands. Perhaps they wish to come over together with you, or join you at a later stage. Either way, be sure to mention any plans to your host institution or Dutch employer as early as possible. This will allow your HR contact to give you the best advice on how to deal with all the necessary paperwork.

Timing

Your purpose of stay determines whether the (provisional) residence permit applications for all family members must be submitted at the same time. If you come to the Netherlands as a "highly skilled migrant" or as a "scientific researcher under EC Directive 2005/71" this is not necessary. Your family members' applications can be submitted together with yours, or at a later stage. This will not delay the application procedure with IND.

If you are a labour migrant, (provisional) residence permit applications for all family members must be submitted at the same time. If not, your family members’ applications will not be dealt with in a fast procedure. Moreover, they can only be submitted once you have obtained your Dutch residence permit. Altogether this may become a lengthy procedure.

Even if applications were submitted at the same time, it does not mean that all family members must come over at the same time. They can still choose between travelling to the Netherlands together with you, or at a later stage.

Additional requirements

If you are bringing family members, there are some additional requirements to bear in mind:

• Sufficient financial means:
  You must be able to demonstrate that you can take care of them financially.
• Regarding your relationship:
  Marriage certificate. If you are unmarried partners, you must submit certificates to prove that neither of you are married to anybody else. These certificates may not be older than six months. Any documents must be correctly legalised.
• Regarding children:
  Birth certificate of each child that will be with you in the Netherlands. Any documents must be correctly legalised. 

Terms of residence

The initial residence permit for your partner will be valid for a maximum period of one year. After that, it may be extended for a period of up to 5 years. This depends on your purpose of stay, and the duration of your contract.

If you are a "highly skilled migrant" or a "scientific researcher under EC Directive 2005/71", your partner is free to take up any type of employment in the Netherlands. A work permit is not required. If you are a labour migrant, a work permit may be required. Check with your HR contact.

More information 

Visit our section on bringing family for more information on daily family life in the Netherlands.