Family reunification and partner visas in the Netherlands

National partner route: core checks

• Both partners have valid travel documents.
• The marriage, registered partnership or unmarried relationship is verifiable.
• Both are normally at least 21. If already married while both lived outside the Netherlands, the IND states that 18 may satisfy the age test.
• The couple will live together and register at the same Dutch address.
• The sponsor meets the applicable independent, sustainable and sufficient income rules.
• The sponsor has Dutch nationality or an eligible Dutch residence permit and accepts sponsor obligations.

EU-law families use another assessment

A non-EU family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen may need verification against EU law rather than the national partner permit. EU-law eligibility, documentary evidence, visa facilitation and retained rights have separate rules. A Dutch citizen is not automatically treated as exercising EU free-movement rights; special situations include returning after genuine residence with family in another EU/EEA country.

Application journey

1. Choose the legal route and check whether an MVV is required or an exemption applies.
2. Collect passports, civil-status documents, relationship evidence, income evidence and sponsor declarations listed by the IND.
3. Legalise and translate foreign official documents when required.
4. Submit the combined MVV and residence application where applicable, or the residence application from the Netherlands when eligible.
5. Track the application in My IND and follow the decision letter for the MVV sticker, biometrics and residence-card collection.
6. After arrival, register in the BRP and complete any TB test requirement within the stated period.

Work rights are not identical

The endorsement on the residence card is decisive. A partner of a Dutch national is free to work. Partners of highly skilled migrants, European Blue Card holders, intra-corporate transferees and qualifying researchers are also generally free to work. A partner of a student is not allowed to work under the national partner permit. Other sponsor routes can require a TWV.

If the relationship changes

Separation, death or domestic violence can affect dependent residence. Do not wait for expiry. Check whether independent humanitarian residence, retained EU-law residence or another work, study or family route applies before changing registration or travel plans.