Family reunification and family formation

Step-by-step plans (4)

Apply for asylum family reunification (post-travel) within 3 months of your residence permit

5 Steps

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)

6 Steps

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

5 Steps

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

4 Steps

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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