Guides for Netherlands

Practical guides checked against official sources. Filter by topic to find what you need next.

Showing 4 of 4

Residence and visasBringing your partner or children to the Netherlands (family reunification)Who can sponsor a partner or child, the 2026 income requirement, the civic integration exam abroad, fees, documents and decision times, plus the separate routes for family of EU citizens and of highly skilled migrants.The IND has 90 days to decide; add time for the civic integration exam abroad (results take up to eight weeks) and for legalising documents
Residence and visasLiving in the Netherlands as an EU, EEA or Swiss citizenWhat free movement means in practice in the Netherlands: no residence permit, the conditions for staying longer than three months, registration and BSN, health insurance, permanent residence after five years and how non-EU family members join you.One registration appointment; no immigration application
Residence and visasResidence permits in the Netherlands - routes, sponsors, fees and next stepsWho needs a Dutch residence permit, how the sponsor system and the MVV entry visa work, the main routes for work, study and family with 2026 IND fees, what to do after arrival, extensions, and how you move on to permanent residence.The IND's standard decision period is 90 days (60 days for study); with an IND-recognised sponsor, work permits are often decided much faster
Residence and visasThe highly skilled migrant permit (kennismigrant) and its 2026 salary thresholdsHow the Dutch highly skilled migrant permit works: the recognised sponsor rule, the 2026 salary thresholds and what counts towards them, the application steps, family members, changing jobs, losing your job and how it compares with the EU Blue Card.With a recognised sponsor the IND usually decides within about two weeks; the legal decision period is 90 days