Apply for family reunification within 3 months of your residence permit

This step-by-step plan tells you how to apply for family reunification. This must be done within 3 months after you receive your residence permit. This is officially called 'gezinshereniging nareis asiel' (asylum family reunification post-entry).

A mother hugs her children after family reunification.

Source: VluchtelingenWerk Nederland / Goedele Monnens

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Conditions for family reunification in the Netherlands

Last updated: 25/09/2024, 11:28

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 if:

You have a residence permit asylum.
Your family relationship (for example, marriage or partnership) existed before you fled to the Netherlands.

Please note: After you have received a residence permit, you must apply for family reunification within 3 months. This is called the "nareistermijn" (post-arrival period). Did you not apply for family reunification within 3 months? Then it is not free.

Would you like support in submitting your application? Your contact at

VluchtelingenWerk Nederland (VWN)

or social worker from another organisation can support you.

A leaflet with information about family reunification

VWN also has a leaflet with more information about family reunification. This leaflet is available in several languages. You can find the leaflet on VWN's website.

More information

You can apply for family reunification for these family members:

Your spouse or partner

If you have more than one spouse, you may only apply for family reunification in the Netherlands for one spouse.

Your biological children, foster children or adopted children

In general, the older your child is, the less likely it is that your children will be allowed to come to the Netherlands. This is because the IND assesses how dependent your child is on your care.
Another requirement for family reunification is that your children are not married, are not in a relationship and do not have children of their own for whom they must care.
If the parent of your child or children is abroad and you are not applying for family reunification for your partner, your partner must consent to the departure of your child or children to the Netherlands.
If you have more than one spouse, only the children of you and your spouse for whom you are applying for family reunification will stand a chance of family reunification.

Any other family members

Like your siblings if you are under 18. Or your parents, if you are over 18 and your parents depend on you. This is done through a procedure called '"Gezinshereniging 8EVRM' (family reunification 8EVRM).