Conditions for (post-travel) asylum family reunification in the Netherlands

Last updated: 27/01/2026, 15:52

If you want your partner or family to come to the Netherlands, you must apply for family reunification. This is subject to certain conditions. On this page you can read more about those conditions for family reunification in the Netherlands.

You can apply for family reunification for your family members left behind

You can apply for family reunification for your family members left behind if:

You have a residence permit asylum.
Your family member belongs to your family and also already belonged to your family abroad.
Your family member has not committed a criminal offense or crime.
You declare that you are the 'referent' for your family member. The referent is the person who allows the family member to come to the Netherlands (the applicant).

Please note: after you have received a residence permit, you must apply for family reunification within 3 months. This is called the post-travel period. Sometimes you may not be able to apply for family reunification within 3 months. For example, because you do not know where your family member is at the time the

IND

approved your asylum application and you have to apply for family reunification. Sometimes you also do not yet have all the documents needed to apply for family reunification. In those cases, do not wait to apply, but still apply for post-travel family reunification within those 3 months. After all, it takes a long time for the IND to process your application for family reunification. You probably still have enough time to collect the documents you need.

Do you not manage to apply for your family reunification within 3 months after all? Then be sure to call the IND to let them know that you will not be able to apply within 3 months.

From 1 December 2025, the IND will be less strict if you are late with the application. This is because help with new applications for family reunification by

VWN

will stop from that date. Still try to submit your application as soon as possible. And when you submit the application, indicate in the form that you are late and that this is because VWN was unable to help you with the application.

You can apply for family reunification for these family members

Your spouse or partner

Do you have more than one spouse? Then you may apply for family reunification in the Netherlands for only one of them. Your spouse must be an adult.

Your biological children, foster children or adopted children

The older your adult child is, the smaller the chance that this child will be allowed to come to the Netherlands. This is because the IND assesses how dependent your child is on your care. There are flexible rules for minor children. A child who was not yet 18 when you came to the Netherlands is entitled to come to the Netherlands. Was your child already over 18 and therefore of age (adult) when you came to the Netherlands? If so, the IND finds that it is only dependent on your care if it already was before you came to the Netherlands and is still 'dependent' on you now. This means that you are still financially supporting your adult child or that you are the only person who can financially support your adult child.
The IND will reject your application for post-travel family reunification with a child if the 'family tie' with the child has been broken. This is the case, for example, if your child has formed his or her own family through marriage or a relationship. However, if this child is still a minor, it is still part of your family according to Dutch law. This is because the Netherlands does not recognise child marriages. Is your child is an adult, and you no longer care for your child? Then the family relationship is considered 'broken'.
Does the parent of your minor child or children live abroad? And are you not applying for family reunification for that (former) partner? Then your (former) partner must give permission for your minor child or children to leave for the Netherlands.

Did you come to the Netherlands as an unaccompanied minor refugee (AMV)?

If so, you have a right to post-travel of your biological parents, even if you became an adult yourself during the asylum procedure. Have you gained a relationship as an adult (in the Netherlands) in the meantime? Then the IND can decide that the family relationship with your parents is broken.

Maybe other family members can also come to the Netherlands

Are you applying for family reunification for your parents as an unaccompanied minor refugee? If so, you are also entitled to family reunification with your minor siblings. And sometimes also with your adult siblings who depend on your parents.

In very special cases, as an adult you can also apply for family reunification with family members other than your partner and children, for example with your parents. This is possible if you are older than 18 and your parents are dependent on you. Or vice versa: if you are an adult between the ages of 18 and 25, but still dependent on your parents.

You must submit another application for family reunification for these family members. To do so, follow the step-by-step plan on Family reunification Article 8 ECHR.