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 asylum family reunification. You can read how to do this in the step-by-step plan 'Applying for family reunification within 3 months of receiving your residence permit' on this page. Would you like to bring other family members who are dependent on you to the Netherlands? Then follow the step-by-step plan 'Family reunification with your parents, brothers and sisters or adult children (8 ECHR)'.
If the IND considers that you submitted your application too late, or if your family was formed after your arrival in the Netherlands (we refer to this as family formation), you must submit a 'regular application for family reunification'. Please read the step-by-step plans at the bottom of the page.
In the article ‘These are the different application options for bringing your family members or family to the Netherlands’, you can read more about the different types of applications.
Step-by-step plans (4)
Apply for asylum family reunification (post-travel) within 3 months of your residence permit
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In this step-by-step plan, you can read how to apply for post-travel family reunification. You must do this within 3 months after you receive your asylum residence permit.
Family reunification with siblings and other relatives (Art. 8 ECHR)
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As an adult, do you want your (foster) parents to come to the Netherlands? Or your brothers, sisters, adult children or other dependent relatives? If so, you can apply for family reunification on the basis of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In this step-by-step plan you can read how this works.
Apply for family reunification more than 3 months after you have received your residence permit
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In principle, you must apply for post-travel family reunification within 3 months after you have received a residence permit. Is that not possible? Then just apply for family reunification after 3 months anyway. The IND is less strict about this as of December 2025. If you do not qualify for family reunification, the IND will let you know. You can then apply for family reunification according to the step-by-step plan below.
Family formation
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Are you a status holder or Dutch citizen and do you have a partner abroad? And do you want to bring your partner to the Netherlands? If so, you can apply to live together in the Netherlands. This is called family formation. This step-by-step plan tells you how to apply for family formation and what you need to arrange.
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.
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