Partner visa Netherlands and family reunification in 2026: requirements, income and waiting time
Bringing your partner or child to the Netherlands takes a sponsor with enough income, often a Dutch exam abroad and one application for the MVV and the residence permit. This guide covers each step, the 2026 figures and what happens if the relationship ends.
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Rules from the IND · Checked 14 September 2026
Short answer
A partner visa for the Netherlands is a residence permit to live with your spouse, registered partner or unmarried partner, usually applied for together with an MVV entry visa. The partner who lives here is the sponsor and, from 1 July 2026, needs a gross income of at least €2,337 a month without holiday allowance, normally from a contract that runs at least another 12 months. Most partners must first pass the civic integration exam abroad. The IND fee is €254 and the legal decision period is 90 days.
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Key facts for 2026
- €2,337 gross a month is the income a sponsor needs from 1 July 2026, holiday allowance excluded.
- 12 months is how long the sponsor’s contract must still run, or the income must go back 3 years.
- €254 is the 2026 IND fee for a partner; €85 for a child under 18.
- 90 days is the legal decision period for a residence permit with an MVV.
- 1 year is how long a pass in the civic integration exam abroad stays valid.
- 4 weeks is the deadline to tell the IND if the relationship ends or the income drops.
- 5 years of living with your partner here is the usual route to an independent permit.
This is general information about Dutch law, not legal advice for your situation. Rules change; figures are for 2026. No rights can be derived from this text.
The basics
Who can sponsor a partner or child
The sponsor is the family member in the Netherlands: a Dutch citizen, someone who lives here with a Dutch residence permit, or someone applying for a permit at the same time (IND form 9511).
- Your spouse or registered partner. Add the marriage certificate or the deed of registered partnership.
- Your unmarried partner. You both sign a declaration of relationship, the sponsor completes a questionnaire about the relationship, and each of you adds an unmarried status declaration no more than 6 months old.
- Children under 18 of the sponsor or of the sponsor’s partner, with proof of the family tie and of custody.
- Adopted and foster children and other situations use a separate IND form (IND).
Refused, delayed or facing an IND deadline?
Tell Finn what the IND sent you and the dates on it. We check whether a lawyer is worth it, prepare your case and introduce you to an independent immigration lawyer who works in English. Most clients are introduced to a lawyer within one business day.
Income
Partner visa Netherlands income requirement for 2026
The sponsor’s income must be independent, sustainable and sufficient; from 1 July 2026 sufficient means at least €2,337 gross a month for a partner.
| Your situation | Gross a month, without holiday allowance | With holiday allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Bringing a partner | €2,337.00 | €2,523.96 |
| Bringing another family member, sponsor with a partner | €2,337.00 | €2,523.96 |
| Bringing another family member, sponsor is a single parent | €1,635.90 | €1,766.77 |
Source: IND required amounts, valid 1 July to 31 December 2026. The IND uses the social security salary (sv-loon) on your payslip.
- Independent: tax and national insurance contributions are paid on it. Social assistance and other benefits from public funds do not count.
- Sustainable: a contract valid for at least another 12 months. With 6 to 12 months left, enough income over the last 12 months or 3 years; with less, or a flexible contract, enough on average over the last 3 years.
- Self-employed sponsors need 18 months of income from the business, with a monthly profit at least equal to the amount with holiday allowance.
- Irregular income such as shift pay or overtime counts if you received it in the 12 months before the application (IND income requirements).
Exam
The civic integration exam abroad
A partner who needs an MVV must first pass the Civic Integration Exam Abroad (basisexamen inburgering buitenland), a test of Dutch language and culture at a Dutch embassy, consulate or external provider (IND). Once your partner arrives on a family permit, DUO will usually send a letter about the civic integration obligation, which comes with a 3-year deadline.
- Register with DUO first, then make the exam appointment with the Dutch representation.
- The result arrives by email within 8 weeks. A pass is valid for 1 year, so apply for the MVV within that year.
- Exempt: nationals of EU and EEA countries, Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, South Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vatican City; anyone under 18 or of state pension age; and partners joining someone whose permit is for a temporary purpose.
- Dispensation is possible if medical or personal circumstances make passing impossible.
Refused, delayed or facing an IND deadline?
Tell Finn what the IND sent you and the dates on it. We check whether a lawyer is worth it, prepare your case and introduce you to an independent immigration lawyer who works in English. Most clients are introduced to a lawyer within one business day.
Applying
The application: MVV and residence permit together
The MVV and the residence permit are one application, made by your partner abroad or by the sponsor in the Netherlands.
- At the Dutch embassy or consulate your partner brings form 9511, a passport photo, the passport and the original certificates, and receives a V-number.
- Within 3 weeks of the date the embassy writes on the form, send the documents to the IND and pay (IND).
- The fee is €254 for a partner and €85 for a child under 18 (IND fees).
- Documents must be in Dutch, English, French or German, or translated by an authorised translator.
- TB test within 3 months of receiving the residence permit, unless your nationality is exempt.
Once the IND approves, our MVV visa guide explains collecting the sticker.
Timeline
Waiting time for a partner visa
The IND must decide within 90 days, but it can extend that period when it needs more time. If your partner’s application is refused, read when to hire an immigration lawyer before the four-week objection period runs out.
- 90 days is the legal decision period for a regular residence permit with an MVV (IND decision periods).
- 9 months applies instead to family reunification with someone who has an asylum permit.
- Report changes while you wait, such as a lost job or a relationship that has ended (IND).
- Decision overdue? Our IND processing times guide explains the notice of default.
Refused, delayed or facing an IND deadline?
Tell Finn what the IND sent you and the dates on it. We check whether a lawyer is worth it, prepare your case and introduce you to an independent immigration lawyer who works in English. Most clients are introduced to a lawyer within one business day.
In the Netherlands
After your partner arrives
The permit depends on the relationship and the sponsor, so both of you keep the IND informed.
- Report changes within 4 weeks, such as moving out, applying for social assistance or leaving the Netherlands.
- The sponsor keeps records: the marriage or partnership certificate, or unmarried status declaration, and proof of income.
- Time abroad counts. More than 6 continuous months outside the Netherlands in a calendar year can mean you moved your main residence, and the IND can withdraw the permit (IND).
- A stronger permit later. After 5 years you may be able to switch to permanent residence (IND), and our guide to residence permit types compares the options.
Break-up
If the relationship ends
A partner permit is for living together, so when the relationship ends you need a residence permit for a different purpose to stay.
- Tell the IND within 4 weeks; the sponsor must report it as well.
- After 5 years of residence with your partner you can apply for an independent permit on non-temporary humanitarian grounds, if you passed the civic integration exam and your partner is Dutch or has a permit for a non-temporary purpose. The fee is €254 and the decision period 90 days (IND).
- If your partner died, you can apply too, provided your partner was Dutch or had a non-temporary permit and you still live here.
- Special circumstances, such as violence within the family or children who were born or go to school here, can also lead to a permit.
Application refused? Read our guide to objecting to an IND refusal.
Refused, or has the relationship ended? Talk to a lawyer
Need help with this? We match you with an English-speaking Dutch immigration lawyer. Most clients are introduced to a lawyer within one business day. Lawyer fees are paid to the firm and explained before you proceed.
Keep reading
Related guides
More guides for families moving to the Netherlands.
MVV visa
Collecting the entry sticker once the IND says yes.
PermitsPermanent residence
The permit you can apply for after 5 years, and how it differs from citizenship.
ApplyingIND processing times
Decision periods, delays and what to do when the IND is late.
PermitsTypes of residence permit
Where the partner permit sits among all Dutch permits.
CitizenshipDutch citizenship
Naturalisation for partners, and the rules on keeping your passport.
VisasAll Netherlands visas
Every route to living here, with the 2026 fees.
Refused, delayed or facing an IND deadline?
Tell Finn what the IND sent you and the dates on it. We check whether a lawyer is worth it, prepare your case and introduce you to an independent immigration lawyer who works in English. Most clients are introduced to a lawyer within one business day.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What are the partner visa Netherlands requirements in 2026?
Your partner in the Netherlands must be Dutch or live here with a residence permit, and from 1 July 2026 earn at least €2,337 gross a month, without holiday allowance, from sustainable income. You need proof of the relationship, such as a marriage certificate or a declaration of relationship, and most partners must pass the civic integration exam abroad before the MVV application.
How long is the waiting time for family reunification?
For a partner or child applying with an MVV, the IND has a legal decision period of 90 days, and it can extend that period if more time is needed. Family reunification with someone who holds an asylum permit has a period of 9 months. Add the time to pass the exam abroad beforehand and to collect the MVV sticker afterwards.
Can unmarried partners get a residence permit?
Yes. You and your partner complete and sign a declaration of relationship, your partner answers a questionnaire about the relationship, and you add an unmarried status declaration from your country of origin that is no more than 6 months old. A sponsor who is Dutch or holds a permanent or asylum residence permit does not need one.
What if my partner earns less than the income requirement?
The IND adds up several sources of income if each one meets the rules, and irregular income such as overtime counts if it was paid in the 12 months before the application. If the income is too low without holiday allowance, the IND looks at it with holiday allowance. Social assistance and other benefits from public funds do not count.
Does my partner need to pass a Dutch exam before coming?
Usually. The Civic Integration Exam Abroad tests Dutch language and culture and must be passed before the MVV application. Nationals of EU and EEA countries, Switzerland, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Monaco and Vatican City are exempt, as are partners of someone whose permit is for a temporary purpose.
How much does a partner visa cost in 2026?
The IND fee is €254 for a partner and €85 for a child under 18, and one fee covers the MVV and the residence permit. Budget separately for the civic integration exam abroad and for legalising and translating certificates. When your partner applies at an embassy, the fee is paid within 3 weeks of the date on the form.
What happens to my residence permit if we break up?
You report the end of the relationship to the IND within 4 weeks, and to stay you need a residence permit for a different purpose. After 5 years of living with your partner here, and with the civic integration exam passed, you may get an independent permit. Special circumstances, such as violence within the family or children at school here, are also weighed.
Can my child come to the Netherlands too?
Yes. A child under 18 of the sponsor or of the sponsor’s partner applies with the same IND form, with a birth certificate and proof that the sponsor has custody. A parent with custody who stays behind signs a declaration of consent, and children aged 15 or older add a certificate of non-impediment. The fee for a child is €85.
Refused, delayed or facing an IND deadline?
Tell Finn what the IND sent you and the dates on it. We check whether a lawyer is worth it, prepare your case and introduce you to an independent immigration lawyer who works in English. Most clients are introduced to a lawyer within one business day.
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Official sources, checked 14 September 2026
- IND form 9511: application to stay with a family member (foreign national)
- IND: apply for an MVV and residence permit from abroad
- IND: required amounts, stay with a family member 2026
- IND: independent, sustainable and sufficient income
- IND: civic integration exam abroad
- IND: fees for an application
- IND: decision periods
- IND: obligations of a foreign national and a family sponsor
- IND: main residency and time abroad
- IND: change of residence purpose
- IND: residence permit humanitarian non-temporary
Final notes and legal disclaimer
- This article provides general information and is not tailored to your personal circumstances.
- It does not cover all situations, exceptions, or recent legal changes.
- Reading this article does not create a lawyer-client relationship with findlawyer.nl or any associated entity.
- No guarantee is given that this information is complete, accurate, or up to date.
- No rights can be derived from this article.
- For decisions about a partner or family reunification application, or your specific situation, always consult a qualified professional.
FindLawyer is a lawyer-matching and case-preparation service, not a law firm. Legal advice comes from the partner lawyer.