If your spouse or partner already lives in the Netherlands or is a Dutch national, you can join them under certain conditions. In order to obtain a spouse visa for Netherlands, you will need to apply for the right type of permit with the Immigration and Naturalization Department.
An important distinction is made between EU and EEA nationals and other foreign citizens. The conditions that apply do depend on the applicant’s nationality but there are also certain criteria that apply in all cases.
Our Dutch immigration lawyer is ready to assist you if you are interested in coming to the country as a spouse or partner. Our team can help you check the needed documents and submit the application. We can also give you details on a joint application for citizenship.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Netherlands spouse visa | Must be in a long-term relationship (marriage/registered partnership) and must meet the general requirements. |
|
Spouse visa nationality restrictions |
Not restrictions, but different conditions can apply to certain citizens, such as Turkish ones and their family members. |
|
Spouse visa for civil partnerships (Yes/No) |
Yes |
| Spouse visa in the Netherlands for non-heterosexual couples (Yes/No) | Yes |
| Spouse visa validity |
5 years if the partner is a Dutch national or permanent resident; valid for the duration of the partner’s residence permit in other cases. |
| Employment in the Netherlands for the spouse visa holder |
Subject to conditions. |
| Study for the spouse visa holder |
Possible, subject to the local conditions. |
| Income requirements |
The spouse who is already a Dutch citizen or resident will act as the Sponsor and the declared income must be independent, sufficient, and sustainable. |
| Accommodation requirements |
Must provide proof of proper accommodation in the Netherlands. |
| Document requirements for the applicant | Identification documents, proof of relationship, biometric data submission. Translations are required. |
| Proof of relationship |
Via a marriage certificate/civil partnership registration certificate, other proof to show the exclusive long-term relationship. |
| Permanent residency right |
Subject to a separate application. |
| Visa fees |
€ 243,00. Fees may be subject to change |
| Visa processing time |
90 days or more, if the application is incomplete. |
| Assistance for spouse visa applications in the Netherlands | Our Netherlands immigration experts offer complete guidance for those interested in applying for a residence permit for a partner. |
| Civic integration basic exam for the spouse | Mandatory |
| Civic integration exam taken at | The Dutch embassy or consulate |
| Exam subjects | Basic knowledge of Dutch language and society |
| Civic integration exam validity | 1 year |
| Exemptions | Some family members are not required to take the exam abroad. |
| Exam costs | Specific costs apply. These can be subject to change. |
| Document language | Dutch, English, French or German. Documents not in these languages have to be translated. |
| Document legalisation | Foreign-issued documents must be legalised for use in the Netherlands. |
| Document apostille | In some cases, an apostille stamp is required. Our Dutch lawyers can give you more details. |
| Special circumstances | If an applicant considers that a special circumstance applies in his/her case, a written declaration is required. |
| When to contact us during the spouse visa application process | As soon as you start gathering the documents. |
| Assistance for other types of visa applications | Yes, we provide assistance with all types of residence permit applications. |
| Other services | Residence permit renewal or type change, permanent residency and/or citizenship applications. |
| Our team | We are a dedicated team of Dutch lawyers who specialize in immigration law. |
| Why work with us | Our experience with international clients makes us a valuable partner for all those who are considering relocating to the Netherlands. |
As the spouse of a Dutch citizen, it will only be natural to wish to apply for citizenship in Netherlands yourself. One common question is how long you will have to wait for your application to be processed by ye authorities. Officially, the process takes less than one year, however, there can be cases in which it will last longer. Our team can guide you throughout the process.
Table of Contents
Main conditions for obtaining the spouse visa for Netherlands
Joining a partner or spouse who is already living in the country with a residence permit in Netherlands or who is a Dutch national is subject to a set of conditions that apply irrespective of the applicant’s nationality. The following conditions apply for the spouse visa for Netherlands:
- Relationship: the applicant and the partner are married or entered into a registered partnership; alternatively, they are unmarried but have a long-term, exclusive relationship;
- Minimum age and accommodation: the applicant and partner are both at least 21 years of age and they are going to live together;
- The partner’s situation: the applicant’s partner is either a Dutch national or has a valid residence permit in Netherlands;
- Civic integration: the applicant needs to pass the civic integration examination abroad (note that this is only required in some cases).
- Income: the partner who the applicant will be joining in the Netherlands has independent and sufficient income or declares that he/she will be the sponsor.
Turkish nationals can be subject to different conditions when applying for the spouse visa for Netherlands.
Spouse visa application steps
The main steps for applying for the spouse visa for Netherlands will depend on whether or not the applicant required a temporary residence permit (MVV) or not. Many foreign nationals are not required to obtain this additional document. For example, Canadian nationals will not require the MVV while Chinese applicant will also need to apply for it.
Below, our team of Netherlands immigration specialists highlights the application steps when the MVV is required:
- Prepare for the civic integration examination: this step takes place before the MVV application and it is an important condition to obtain the document;
- Apply for the MVV: two options are available: you can apply for the MVV yourself with a Dutch representation in your country of origin or your partner in the Netherlands can apply for it with the Immigration and Naturalization Department;
- Collect the MVV: if the decision is a favorable one, you will be able to collect the MVV within 3 months from receiving the letter;
- Travel to the Netherlands: you can now book your flight and travel to the Netherlands; the MVV will be valid for 90 days.
Once you have arrived, you can collect the residence permit, register with the municipality, and take our health insurance.
You can also watch the following video about this type of visa:
The civic integration examination is required for those foreign nationals who arrive in the country based on a temporary residence permit. Below, our team of immigration lawyers in Netherlands presents some of the most important details about this exam:
- the examination takes place at the Dutch embassy or consulate in the applicant’s country of origin;
- the questions test one’s knowledge about the Dutch language and society;
- a self-study pack is available;
- the results are issued within 8 weeks;
- you can submit the application for the MVV once you have passed this exam.
Some of the costs associated with applying for the spouse visa for Netherlands are the following:
- the spouse visa application costs 243 € (this is the visa issued by the authorities for the first application to stay with a family member, or a spouse – married or unmarried);
- lower fees are available for Turkish nationals (under the Association Treaty signed by the Republic of Turkey) of 81 €.
Individuals who already have a residence permit can change the reason for their stay so that it will be for the purpose of living with their spouse or partner.
When applying for the spouse visa for Netherlands, the applicant needs to enclose a set of documents in the application as well as translate and legalize all official documents that are not in Dutch, English, French, or German. One of our lawyers can provide more information about the needed documents so that you can make sure that your application for the spouse visa for Netherlands is submitted accordingly.
Under a DAFT visa, the spouse and children will not need a separate visa evaluation if they wish to join the holder of the visa concluded under the DAFT treaty. This visa is awarded to a US investor who is able to open a business in the Netherlands and maintain a minimum capital requirement at all times. Other categories of applicants may be eligible and you can contact us for details.
The civic integration examination for the spouse visa in the Netherlands
Foreign nationals who require a provisional residence permit and those who want to live with their partners in the Netherlands are usually required to pass a civic integration examination abroad.
What this means is that the spouse who requires an MVV to join his or her partner who is already living in the Netherlands will schedule the examination with the Dutch embassy or consulate in their country of origin as a first step before planning to move to the Netherlands with their partner.
The result of the civic integration exam taken abroad by the person who applies for a spouse visa in the Netherlands is valid for one year and within this time the individual will apply for the MVV.
As a spouse joining a husband or wife in the Netherlands, you will not have to take a Dutch civic integration examination in the situations presented below by our Dutch immigration lawyer:
- You will be coming to the Netherlands with your own temporary residence permit (for example, you were also offered employment in the Netherlands);
- You are coming to the country as a spiritual counsellor but will not be engaging in offering services to clients (for example, you will simply remain in the country as a monk);
- You are an EEA country national, or you have the nationality of one of the following: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Monaco, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Switzerland, or South Korea. If you are a foreign national who is a citizen of one of these countries, our Netherlands immigration agents can answer your questions;
- You lived in the Netherlands when you were a child (of school age) for more than 8 years.
You may also be exempt from taking the civic integration examination abroad in other cases when you apply for a spouse visa for the Netherlands. The application for exemption is a filled-in form, which is enclosed with your MVV submission.
In some cases, a spouse joining his or her partner in the Netherlands may also receive a dispensation from the civic integration examination taken abroad for medical reasons or, for personal reasons, the applicant was only able to pass sections of this exam.
Post-arrival steps when you join your partner in the Netherlands
The decision to reunite with your partner who is already living in the Netherlands is an important one and, for all couples, it involves a series of mandatory steps. As previously mentioned, the conditions differ between EU citizens and non-EU citizens, as well as between citizens of different other countries (depending on whether or not their country of origin has signed a treaty with the Netherlands).
Obtaining the spouse visa for Netherlands is just a step among many that will be relevant upon the partner’s arrival. Below, our Netherlands immigration specialists summarize a set of other important conditions and relevant requirements:
- have your studies recognized: as a spouse who will be working in the Netherlands, you will not only need to apply for residency in the Netherlands, but also have your qualifications/credentials evaluated and recognized; this will allow you to seek employment according to the titles you have received following your completed studies;
- take up medical care: you will need to register with a health insurer, as a mandatory step, and register with a general medical practitioner (not as a mandatory step, but as a convenience);
- have your driver’s license recognized: initially, you will be permitted to drive in the Netherlands with the license issued in your country of origin, however, you will need to register your license (either through an exchange process, or by taking a theory and practical examination for driving – a choice depending on the country in which the license was issued, and its type);
- other essential steps: we can also mention the need to open a bank account, as well as meeting the ongoing requirements to pay your taxes.
If you relocate to the Netherlands from USA, these steps will take place under the provisions of the DAFT treaty.
As part of the steps you will need to handle concerning the Dutch authorities upon your arrival in the country when you join your spouse, you will first need to register with the municipality in which you will be living. Secondly, you will apply for your digital identification used to file the tax return, and for other operations.
Foreign nationals should keep in mind that they will need to have certain documents legalized. Nearly all foreign-issued documents need to be translated into Dutch and legalized (translated by a sworn translator, and, in some cases, bearing an apostille when the document is issued by a country that has signed the Hague Convention on apostille legalizations). Our Dutch immigration lawyer can give you more information about this requirement.
If you are a spouse living in the Netherlands based on an MVV permit, you will have to continue your integration commitment. Civic integration is a key element when relocating to another country, and it is essential for those who reunite with a spouse living in the Netherlands and plan on remaining here, as well as securing long-term residence or even citizenship by naturalization.
Taxes and benefits for spouses who join their partner in the Netherlands
One of the most important issues you will need to observe as a spouse joining his or her partner in the Netherlands concerns your tax obligations. Additionally, you will wish to know if you can qualify for any benefits.
When living in the Netherlands you can receive healthcare benefits. This is possible when you have health insurance and if you comply with several other conditions:
- be at least 18 years old;
- have income under the income threshold (both your income and your partner’s);
- you and your partner’s assets do not exceed a certain sum;
- you and your partner have a valid residence permit in Netherlands.
The amount of healthcare benefit depends on the combined income you and your partner have, and our team can give you details about the calculation method used for this purpose.
You can obtain residency in the Netherlands for medium to long-term purposes even if you are not the spouse of a resident or Dutch citizen. For more information on how the IND assesses each application, and the requirements that apply in your case (depending on the type of residence permit you are applying for), please reach out to our team of immigration specialists.
Contact our immigration lawyer in Netherlands for more information on the conditions for obtaining the visa that allows the applicant to live with his or her spouse or partner. We also assist couples who wish to apply for Dutch citizenship.