Family reunification refugee
Requirements
For family reunion these requirements apply to you and your family member:
- You have received a decision from the IND stating that you will receive an asylum residence permit. You have to apply for family reunification within 3 months after you have received this decision. This is the family reunification period. You apply for the residence permit and visa (MVV) at the same time for your family member. This visa is called a provisional residence permit (in Dutch: machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf or MVV).
- You can only submit this application for the following family members:
- Your husband or wife;
- Your partner;
- Your child or foster child;
- Your parents if you were unaccompanied and under 18 when you submitted your asylum application.
- Your family member is part of your family and was already part of your family abroad.
- Are you applying for the MVV for your partner, husband or wife? Then both of you must be aged 18 or older.
- Your family member has not committed an offense or crime.
- You declare that you are the sponsor for your family member. The sponsor is the person who brings the family member to the Netherlands.
- Is there a parent who stays behind in the country of origin? And does that parent have custody of the child? Then, that parent has to sign a permission statement. With it, the parent gives permission for child´s departure to the Netherlands.
- You must prove the identity of your family member and the family relationship with documents.
Process
The application process for the residence permit consists of the following steps:
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1. Voorwaarden controleren Deze aanvraag is alleen voor nareizigers. Dit betekent dat alleen houders van een asielvergunning deze aanvraag kunnen doen voor gezinsleden.
Voor u en uw gezinslid gelden de volgende voorwaarden:
U hebt een asielvergunning
U hebt van de IND uw verblijfsvergunning asiel gekregen.
U doet de aanvraag binnen 3 maanden nadat u de asielvergunning hebt gekregen
U moet gezinshereniging aanvragen binnen 3 maanden nadat u de asielvergunning hebt gekregen. Dit is de nareistermijn. U vraagt de verblijfsvergunning en het visum (mvv) tegelijk aan voor uw gezinslid. Dit inreisvisum heet een machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf (mvv).
Uw gezinslid komt in aanmerking voor nareis
U kunt de aanvraag alleen doen voor de volgende gezinsleden:
- Uw echtgenoot of echtgenote. U moet beiden 18 jaar of ouder zijn.
- Uw partner. U moet beiden 18 jaar of ouder zijn.
- Uw (pleeg)kind
- Uw ouders. Dit kan alleen als u alleenstaand en jonger dan 18 jaar was toen u uw asielaanvraag deed.
Vraagt u nareis aan voor uw (pleeg)kind?En is er een ouder die achterblijft in het land van herkomst? En heeft die ouder ook het gezag over het kind? Dan moet die ouder een toestemmingsverklaring ondertekenen. De ouder geeft daarmee toestemming voor het vertrek van het kind naar Nederland.
Uw gezinslid hoort bij uw gezin.
Uw gezinslid hoort bij uw gezin. Uw gezinslid hoorde ook in het buitenland bij uw gezin.
Geen gevaar openbare orde of nationale veiligheid.
Uw gezinslid is geen gevaar voor de openbare orde of nationale veiligheid. Iedereen ouder dan 12 jaar moet een ingevulde Bijlage Antecedentenverklaring meesturen met de aanvraag. In deze verklaring geeft u aan of u ooit een strafbaar feit of misdaad hebt gepleegd. Bijlage Antecedentenverklaring 7101 (PDF, 167.56 KB)
U verklaart dat u de referent bent voor uw gezinslid.
De referent is de persoon die het gezinslid (nareiziger) naar Nederland laat komen.
U kunt de identiteit van uw gezinslid en de gezinsband aantonen.
U moet de identiteit van uw gezinslid en de gezinsband bewijzen met documenten.
Voldoet u of uw gezinslid niet aan deze voorwaarden?
Bekijk of u voldoet aan de voorwaarden voor een andere verblijfsvergunning voor verblijf als familie- of gezinslid.
Wilt u een mvv aanvragen voor andere familieleden, bijvoorbeeld uw broers of zussen? Gebruik dan het aanvraagformulier voor een machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf artikel 8EVRM.
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2. Collect documents Do you have (original) documents to support your application? Then enclose them with the application form. Collect all documents before you apply.
Have official foreign documents documents from abroad translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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1. Apply
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3. Apply The IND prefers that you submit the application for your family member. You apply for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time. You can apply online or by post.
Your family member may also apply themselves at the Dutch embassy or consulate abroad.
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4. Pay for the application The application is free of charge.
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5. Wachten tot uw aanvraag aan de beurt is U krijgt een brief (ontvangstbevestiging) als de IND uw aanvraag voor gezinshereniging heeft ontvangen. Daarna duurt het een aantal maanden voordat de IND begint met de behandeling van uw aanvraag. Dit komt doordat er erg veel nareisaanvragen zijn. U krijgt een brief als uw aanvraag aan de beurt is. Dit is het moment waarop de behandeling van uw aanvraag begint. In deze brief leest u of de IND nog meer informatie nodig heeft. En of u nog meer brieven kunt verwachten.
Kijk wanneer u aan de beurt bent
Wanneer de IND begint met uw aanvraag, hangt af van de datum van uw nareisaanvraag. En van de gezinsleden voor wie u gezinshereniging hebt aangevraagd. Kijk voor de actuele wachttijd op de pagina wanneer begint de IND met mijn nareisaanvraag?
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6. Wait for the decision on the application The IND must take a decision within 90 days with an extension of 3 months.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. In that case, the IND will send a message.
Does your family member have no, or not enough documents? Then the IND may carry out more investigation. For example, a DNA test or an interview with you and with your family member. Is more investigation needed? Then, you will receive a letter.
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7. Decision on the application You will receive the decision in a letter. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: your family member will get an MVV.
- Negative decision: your family member will not get an MVV. You can object against this decision.
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8. Pick up MVV and travel to the Netherlands Your family member can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV. Your family member collects the MVV from the Dutch representation that you filled in on the application form. This is an embassy or consulate.
The MVV is valid for 90 days.
Collect MVV
Your family member has 3 months to collect the MVV. This can be extended to 6 months. Your family member must make an appointment at the Dutch representation to pick up the MVV.
Valid passport required
When your family member collects the MVV, the passport must be valid for at least another 6 months. Does your family member not have a passport? Then your family member usually gets a temporary passport (a Dutch laissez-passer). This is a replacement travel document for a single journey.
Biometrics
The Dutch representation takes biometric data when your family member collects the MVV. Your family member needs to bring 1 new passport photo with them. On the website of netherlandsworldwide.nl you can read about requirements the passport photo must meet. Your family member will also provide their signature and have their fingerprints taken.
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9. Registration in the Netherlands Your family member must travel to the Netherlands within 90 days. After arriving in the Netherlands, your family member reports within 3 days to the IND for registration at the refugee family reunification desk in Zevenaar. This is only possible by appointment. Make an appointment for family reunification of refugees with IND Zevenaar.
Process registration of family members of refugees
The registration process at the IND refugee family reunification desk in Zevenaar takes 1 day. During the registration in Zevenaar, the following happens:
- The IND checks your family member’s identity, MVV and passport or laissez-passer details.
- Your family member has provided their photo, signature and finger prints at the Dutch representation. The IND checks if these data are correct. Sometimes your family member must have their data taken again.
- Your family member receives the decision from the IND. Is the residence permit (residence document) ready? Then your family member also receives this immediately.
- Your family member will receive a letter with an appointment at the municipality. With this your family member can have their personal details registered in the Personal Records Database (in Dutch: Basisregistratie Personen or BRP) at the town council later.
- Your family member will have to do a tuberculosis (TB) test if necessary. This test will take place at the reception of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (in Dutch: Centraal Orgaan opvang asielzoekers or COA). Is this not possible or is your family member not staying in a reception centre? Then your family member must make an appointment for a TB test at the public health service (in Dutch: Gemeentelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). It depends on your family member’s nationality whether a TB test is required. Read the following appendix to see if your family member does not need the TB test:
Receiving the residence permit
During the registration in Zevenaar, your family member receives the residence permit. Is this not ready yet? Then your family member will receive a letter when the residence permit is ready to collect at an IND desk. You must make an appointment to collect it: Make an appointment to collect the residence document.
Application forms
You can submit this application online. You must have DigiD with SMS verification and internet banking (iDEAL).
Online Application for a 'Regular Provisional Residence permit - persons making a journey in connection with family reunification with an asylum seeker'
Written application forms
Appointment family reunification of refugees IND Zevenaar
Your family member must travel to the Netherlands within 90 days after collecting the MVV. After arriving in the Netherlands, your family member reports within 3 days to the IND in Zevenaar. Registration in Zevenaar is by appointment only.
Arrange reception COA
Do you live in a reception centre from COA or NIDOS? Or you live in a place of residence that is not suitable for all of your family members to live in? Then you need to ask the COA for reception for your family member. You do this by e-mail. Your contact person from VWN can help you with this. Ask for reception after the journey for your family member has been booked, but before they depart to the Netherlands.
Asking COA for reception by e-mail
This is how you ask the COA for reception for your family member:
- Send an e-mail to the COA in which you ask for reception for your family member. Send the e-mail to this e-mail address: FMMZZevenaarDuiven@coa.nl.
- Put the following details in the e-mail:
- Your first and surname, your telephone number and e-mail address (or VWN’s e-mail address).
- The first names and surnames of all your traveling family members.
- The V-number of all your traveling family members.
- Date of arrival in the Netherlands of your traveling family members. This is also the day your family members will need reception for the first time.
- Within 2 working days you will receive a confirmation email from the COA saying where your reception is.
Appointment with the IND
Did you send an e-mail to the COA for reception? The COA will then make an appointment for you at the IND in Zevenaar. You do not have to make an appointment yourself.
Make an appointment at IND refugee family reunification desk in Zevenaar
Important information when making the appointment
- Only make an appointment if you have a suitable place of residence for all your family members. Do you not have a suitable place of residence? The COA will then make an appointment for you.
- Only make an appointment after booking your family members’ journey to the Netherlands, but before their departure to the Netherlands.
- Make an appointment for all family members who need to register in Zevenaar. Fill out their V-numbers and first names and surnames.
- Fill out your e-mail address or the e-mail address of your counsellor from VWN.
Adress IND Zevenaar
The address of the IND refugee family reunification desk is: Ringbaan-Zuid 2A, 6905 DB Zevenaar. You and your family member have to report at the E-gebouw Aanmeld Nareis (E Building). The opening hours and a route description can be found on the page IND desks and locations. Staying the night is not possible in Zevenaar.
Cancelling appointment Zevenaar
What if the appointment made in Zevenaar cannot go through? For example, because your family member arrives in the Netherlands later than planned? Then cancel the appointment via the link in the e-mail confirming your appointment. As soon as this is possible, make a new appointment for your family member.
The residence permit
Find out what else you need to know about the residence permit:
Your family member will receive a derivative residence permit
Your family member will receive a derivative asylum residence permit. This means that the residence of your family member depends on your asylum residence permit. The IND can withdraw your family member’s residence permit if there is no longer a family relationship with you. For example, if your family member is a child who will go and live on their own within a year.
Your family member can apply for an independent asylum residence permit
Your family member may also apply for asylum in the Netherlands on their own. The IND then assesses whether your family member has a right to an independent asylum residence permit.
Working with the residence permit
Your family member may work in the Netherlands with a temporary derivative residence permit. Their employer does not need a work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV). On the back of the residence permit it says ‘Free to work. Work permit is not required (in Dutch: Arbeid vrij toegestaan. TWV niet vereist).
Legal obligations
A sponsor has an obligation to provide information and an administrative obligation. Your family member has an obligation to provide information. Read more about the legal obligations of the sponsor for a family member and the foreign national’s obligation to provide information.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. Are you violating your obligations? You then may get an administrative fine.
Validity of the residence permit
Your family member’s residence permit is valid for 5 years.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type III, temporary asylum residence permit.
Other applications
Replacement of the residence permit
Has your family member’s residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then, have the residence permit replaced. Go to the page residence permit damaged or change of personal details or residence permit lost or stolen.
Extend the residence permit
Will your family member’s residence permit expire soon? Then, your family member can extend the residence permit
Permanent residence permit
Has your family member had a residence permit for 5 years? Then, your family member can apply for a permanent residence permit.