Partner residence permit — unmarried partner

You have a verifiable relationship with your partner. You are married, you have a registered partnership, or you are unmarried.

You are both 21 years or older.

You are going to live with your partner in the Netherlands. And you will both register with the municipality at the same address.

You have Dutch nationality or you have a valid Dutch residence permit.

You declare that you are a sponsor for your partner in the application form. This means that you have obligations and responsibilities.

You cannot have your partner come join you in the Netherlands if you have a residence permit for one of these purposes of stay: Au pair Working Holiday Cultural exchange Work experience (intern or apprentice) Seasonal work Seafaring service as a crew member on board a seagoing vessel EU-UK Trade Agreement

Are you obliged to integrate in the Netherlands? Then you must have lived for at least 1 year in the Netherlands with a valid residence permit, before you can bring your partner to the Netherlands. This does not apply when it is in the interest of your minor children that your partner already comes to the Netherlands now.

Other requirements may apply to Dutch nationals who have lived with their partner in another EU country.

Different requirements may sometimes apply to Turkish citizens and their family members.

Different requirements may also sometimes apply to family members of UK nationals.

You have a verifiable relationship with your partner. You are married, you have a registered partnership, or you are unmarried.

Would you like to know which documents you need to submit the application? Then answer a few questions and get your document overview.

Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.

Your income must meet these 3 requirements: Your income is independent. This means that you pay taxes and national insurance contributions on your income. Your income is sustainable. This means that you receive the income long enough. Your income is sufficient. This means that your income is high enough. The IND uses required amounts (in Dutch: normbedragen) to determine whether your income is high enough. Your income is sufficient, if it is at least as much as the required amount. The required amounts vary per residence permit.

Application for a residence permit to stay with family member These required amounts are valid from 1 July 2026 up to and including 31 December 2026. Residence permit to stay with a partner​ Gross SV salary per month without holiday allowance € 2,337.00 Gross SV salary per month with holiday allowance € 2,523.96

Do you have income from work in paid employment? These are income requirements.

Application to stay with partner or family member, permanent residence permit or long term EU resident Your income is sustainable if 1 of these situations apply to you: Your contract is valid for at least another 12 months. The probation period gets counted in. Your contract is valid for at least another 6 months, but less than 12 months. One of these two situations applies to you: In the last 12 months you have had sufficient average monthly income from work in paid employment or from an unemployment or sickness benefit. In the last 3 years you have had sufficient average monthly income from work or from an unemployment or sickness benefit. Your contract is valid for less than 6 months or you have a flexible contract. In this case you must have had sufficient average monthly income in the last 3 years. You may not have received an assistance benefit or other benefit from public funds.

Exemptions when you apply for a residence permit for a family member or partner These are the situations in which you get an exemption from the income requirements as a sponsor: You get state pension or you have reached the state pension age (AOW).

You can apply online or in writing by post.

The application costs € 254,00.

The IND must take a decision within 90 days.

We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide.

When the residence permit is ready at an IND desk, you will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it.

Did you indicate at the time of the application that your partner will take a TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment at the Public Health Service (in Dutch: Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after your partner has received their residence permit.

On the back of your partner’s residence permit is stated: ‘free to work, work permit not required’

Your partner often has the same employment rights as you.

Your partner is free to work if you have one of these residence permits: highly skilled migrant holder of a European Blue Card intra-corporate transfer researcher within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/801

You have a residence permit for study. Your partner is not allowed to work.

You have a single permit (in Dutch: gecombineerde vergunning voor verblijf en arbeid or GVVA) for residence and work. Your partner is only allowed to work if the employer has a TWV.

You will receive the decision in a letter.

The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.

Do you have a temporary residence permit? Then the end date of your partner’s residence permit is the same as the end date of your residence permit.

Are you Dutch or do you have a permanent residence permit? Then your partner’s residence permit is valid for 5 years.

Then your partner can apply for extension online.

Does your partner want an independent residence permit? See if your partner can change their residence permit to the residence permit on humanitarian non-temporary grounds.

Does your partner have a residence permit for 5 years for residence as a family member or relative? Then your partner can apply for a permanent residence permit.