Bringing Your Family to the Netherlands
A complete guide to the official IND requirements for bringing your partner or children to live with you in the Netherlands.
Who is this guide for?
- You are an expat or Highly Skilled Migrant living in the Netherlands.
- You want to sponsor a visa for your spouse or unmarried partner.
- You are looking for the exact IND income and integration requirements.
Who Can You Bring?
The Netherlands has relatively progressive family reunification laws. As a legal resident, you can apply for a residence permit for:
- Spouses & Registered PartnersYour marriage or registered partnership must be officially recognized in the Netherlands. You will need a legalized and translated marriage certificate.
- Unmarried PartnersUnlike many other countries, the Netherlands allows you to sponsor an unmarried partner if you can prove a "durable and exclusive relationship".Proof required: You must fill out an official relationship declaration and provide evidence that you maintain a joint household. Having a joint bank account is helpful supporting evidence, along with shared rental contracts, photos, and flight tickets. You will also need a legalized certificate proving both of you are unmarried.
- Minor ChildrenUnmarried biological or legally adopted children under the age of 18. They must actually form part of your family (e.g., they do not run their own independent household). If the child is traveling with only one parent, official proof of sole custody or formal consent from the other parent is strictly required.
IND Income Requirements
To act as a sponsor, your income must be independent, sustainable, and sufficient. For employment income, sustainability is generally established when the employment contract is valid for at least 12 months at the time of application. Specific IND rules can also allow shorter contracts when the applicant has sufficient income history. The exact required amount depends entirely on your specific residence permit:
If you are a Highly Skilled Migrant (Kennismigrant)
You do not look at the standard minimum wage. Instead, you must simply continue to earn at or above the specific Highly Skilled Migrant salary threshold that applies to your age category.
If you are a regular employee or Dutch citizen
You must meet the IND's standard amount (normbedrag), which is updated every 6 months. For applications between July 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026, the gross SV-salary (social security wage) requirement for a spouse/partner is €2,523.96 per month (including holiday allowance).
The Civic Integration Exam (Inburgering)
Normally, partners arriving from outside the EU must pass the Basic Civic Integration Exam Abroad (basisexamen inburgering buitenland) before they can get an MVV (entry visa). However, there are major exemptions:
- Nationality Exemption: Depending on your nationality, you may be fully exempt from the basic civic integration exam abroad. For example, citizens of the USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, and South Korea fall under this specific exemption.
- Highly Skilled Migrant Exemption: If you (the sponsor) hold a Highly Skilled Migrant permit, your partner is generally exempt from taking this exam abroad. Under the Civic Integration Act, the HSM permit is classified as a "temporary purpose of stay", which officially waives this specific pre-arrival requirement for dependent family members.
Working Rights for Your Partner
The working rights of your partner are directly linked to your own permit status. If you are sponsored as a Highly Skilled Migrant, your partner will receive the most favorable working status: "Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist." This means they can work as an employee for any employer in the Netherlands without the employer needing to apply for a work permit (TWV). According to IND regulations, this specific permit endorsement also authorizes your partner to work as an independent entrepreneur (zzp'er).