Family & Spouse Visas in Netherlands
Sponsoring a partner, children, or parents
A Dutch national or a resident permit holder can sponsor a spouse, registered or unmarried partner and minor children, but the sponsor must meet an income requirement based on the statutory minimum wage and generally must show a durable and independent income. Many family migrants from outside the EU must also pass a civic integration examination at a Dutch embassy before travelling. EU citizens exercising free movement rights fall under a different and lighter set of rules.
| Route | Residence permit for a partner or family member source |
| Sponsor income | Generally at least the statutory minimum wage including holiday allowance, and durable source |
| Pre-departure exam | Civic integration examination abroad for many nationalities source |
| Partner types | Marriage, registered partnership, or a documented long-term relationship source |
| Highly skilled migrants | Family members are generally admitted alongside the main permit holder source |
Who may sponsor, and on what income
The sponsor must be a Dutch national or hold a qualifying residence permit, must live in the Netherlands and must have an independent, sufficient and durable income — the standard reference point being the statutory minimum wage including holiday allowance for a couple.
Durability is assessed by contract type and history: open-ended employment is straightforward, fixed-term and self-employed income is examined more closely over a longer reference period. Benefits generally do not count as independent income.
The rules are set out in the immigration service's published conditions and the required amounts are revised twice a year.
The civic integration examination abroad
Family migrants of many nationalities must pass an examination at a Dutch embassy or consulate before the entry visa is issued. It tests basic Dutch speaking and reading and knowledge of Dutch society, at an elementary level.
Nationals of the EU and EEA, Switzerland and a list of exempted countries do not sit it, and there are exemptions on medical grounds and for certain categories including family members of highly skilled migrants and Blue Card holders. Because exemption lists change, they should be checked against the current government guidance rather than assumed.
What the permit allows
- Free access to the labour market in most cases, so the partner is not tied to one employer.
- Registration in the municipal records, a citizen service number and access to the compulsory health insurance system.
- A dependent status: the permit is generally linked to the relationship and to the sponsor's own residence right.
- An independent permit is possible after a qualifying period of residence with the partner, subject to conditions including integration requirements.
EU free movement is a different system
Family members of EU and EEA citizens who are exercising free movement rights in the Netherlands are dealt with under EU law rather than the national family migration rules. The income test, the pre-departure examination and the standard fees generally do not apply in the same way.
This distinction matters for mixed couples, because the route available can differ substantially depending on the sponsor's nationality and circumstances.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.