Netherlands partner and family residence permit for Indian spouses and children

The income test is the statutory minimum wage including holiday allowance, expressed by the IND as EUR 2,294.40 gross a month excluding holiday allowance for January to June 2026 and EUR 2,337.00 from July, from employment with a contract of at least twelve months (or a flexible contract with three years of history), self-employment with eighteen months of accounts, or a combination; highly skilled migrants meet it automatically. The sponsor must also not have received social assistance in the last three years.

Partners of Dutch nationals and of most residents aged 18 to 65 sit the civic integration exam abroad (basisexamen inburgering buitenland) at the embassy in New Delhi: three computer-based parts testing spoken Dutch at A1, reading and knowledge of Dutch society, EUR 150 per attempt with a self-study package from DUO. Family members of highly skilled migrants, Blue Card holders, researchers and students are exempt because the sponsor's stay is classed as temporary, which is why most Indian families in the Netherlands never take it. Indian marriage and birth certificates need the MEA apostille and an English, Dutch, French or German translation; unmarried partners prove a durable relationship with cohabitation and contact evidence.

Vistolane shows the EUR 254 IND fee per person as listed and the exam, apostille and translation costs separately.

1. 1

   Legalise the relationship documents

   MEA apostille on marriage and birth certificates; translation if not in English; relationship declaration signed by both partners.

2. 2

   Pass the civic integration exam abroad, if required

   Book at the embassy in New Delhi; EUR 150; results in about 8 weeks; exempt for families of highly skilled migrants, Blue Card holders, researchers and students.

3. 3

   Sponsor files the TEV application

   On the IND portal (recognised sponsor) or by post with the income documents (contract, payslips, employer declaration or accounts); pay EUR 254 per person.

4. 4

   IND decision and MVV

   2 weeks via a recognised sponsor, up to 90 days otherwise; collect the MVV at the embassy or consulate within 3 months; sticker in about 10 days.

5. 5

   Arrive and register

   BSN at the municipality within 5 days, residence card at the IND desk, TB test, health insurance; civic integration in the Netherlands within 3 years for partners of Dutch nationals and permanent residents.

Families of highly skilled migrants usually file together with the worker and travel together within four to eight weeks of the contract; partners of Dutch nationals should plan three to six months.

Family members receive permits endorsed 'arbeid vrij toegestaan' and may take any job or start a business without a work permit; children attend Dutch schools free and the family must hold Dutch health insurance within four months. Permits are renewed with the sponsor's (partners of Dutch nationals receive five years), and after five years a partner can apply for permanent residence or an independent permit, earlier after the relationship ends in some cases.

Partners of Dutch nationals and permanent residents must complete civic integration in the Netherlands within three years (B1 Dutch under the 2022 Act); families of highly skilled migrants are exempt until they apply for permanent residence or citizenship, when the A2 or B1 diploma is required. Naturalisation after five years requires renouncing Indian citizenship unless married to a Dutch national.

• IND: residence permit for partner ↗
• IND: fees and required amounts for 2026 ↗
• IND: required amounts, income requirements ↗
• DUO: civic integration exam abroad (basisexamen inburgering) ↗
• Ministry of External Affairs: apostille services ↗