Family reunification and family formation
Do you have an asylum residence permit and would you like to bring your family (partner and children) to the Netherlands? Then you can apply for post-travel asylum family reunification. The
Would you like to bring other family members who depend on you to the Netherlands? Then follow the step-by-step plan .
If the IND considers that you submitted your application too late or if your family was only formed after your arrival in the Netherlands (we refer to this as family formation), you must submit a 'regular application for family reunification'.
Step-by-step plans (4)
Apply for asylum family reunification (post-travel) within 3 months of your residence permit
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Family reunification with siblings and other relatives (Art. 8 ECHR)
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Apply for family reunification more than 3 months after you have received your residence permit
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
Family formation
Information
These are the various application options to bring your relatives or family to the Netherlands
There are several ways to bring your family members or relatives to the Netherlands. Depending on your situation, you have to submit a certain type of application to the IND. Below we explain which application you have to make.
Moving after family reunification
If your family members come to the Netherlands and you have a home that is too small to live in together, the municipality will arrange another home for you. In this article you can read how this works.
After family reunification, you may be able to get your own residence permit
Did you come to the Netherlands because your family member applied for family reunification for you? Then you will not receive your own residence permit, but a residence permit linked to that of your family member. You can apply for your own permit. You can read more about it on this page.
Divorce in the Netherlands if you have an asylum residence permit
Do you want a divorce from your partner? You can get divorced in the Netherlands, but how that works depends on your personal situation. Divorce can, for example, have consequences for your residence permit and your stay in the Netherlands. Read here how divorce works.
In these special situations, the IND processes applications for family reunification more quickly
Do you want to apply for family reunification for family members who are still abroad? If so, it often takes a long time for the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) to make a decision. In some special situations the IND can process your application faster. This article explains how that works.
This is what you can do if the IND is late in deciding your asylum case
The IND must decide on your asylum application in time. If the IND does not decide on time, you can officially ask the IND to make a decision within 2 weeks. This is called "notice of default".
Here is how to find free or affordable legal support in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, there are several ways to get free or low-cost legal help. For example, you may have questions about your asylum procedure or need help if you have problems at work or with your home. Read here where you can go for legal help.
Give us a tip
Do you have a tip for RefugeeHelp? Your tips help us make the website better. Let us know what information you are missing or think about new features. This form is not for personal questions. For personal questions, you can make an appointment for the digital consultation hour of RefugeeHelp.