Kingdom of the Netherlands · family · Leads to settlement
Partner residence (Dutch national or resident sponsor)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Residence permit for partners, spouses, and registered partners of Dutch residents and citizens.
- Processing time
- Typically 60–90 days.
- Government fees
- Around €225.
- Typical duration
- Initial 5 years; leads to permanent residence.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
Partners (including unmarried registered partners, subject to evidence of durable relationship) of Dutch nationals or legal residents can apply for residence. Income, housing, and civic-integration requirements apply.
Guidance by nationality
Specific information for applicants from these countries. Don’t see yours? The general eligibility criteria above apply to everyone.
Indian applicants
Indian partner-visa applicants typically join sponsoring Kennismigrant/Blue Card holders in the Eindhoven Brainport corr…
Chinese applicants
Chinese partner-visa applicants follow standard rules. Mainland Chinese marriage and birth certificates have used Hague …
Brazilian applicants
Brazilian partner-visa applicants benefit from the Brazil-Netherlands shared cultural and business ties. Brazilian civil…
Russian applicants
Russian partner-visa applicants continue under standard rules. Russian-issued marriage and birth certificates accept apo…
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓Durable exclusive relationship with sponsor.
- ✓Sponsor's income at 100% of Dutch minimum wage.
- ✓Civic integration requirement (A1 Dutch abroad before entry).
Common blockers
- !Sponsor below income threshold.
- !Relationship evidence insufficient.
Typical evidence
- ·Marriage certificate or cohabitation agreement.
- ·Sponsor's payslips.
- ·A1 Dutch certificate for applicants from some countries.
Application pathway
Sponsor declaration and income evidence
Sponsor signs a declaration of support.
Submit combined MVV/residence application
Sponsor typically files.
Travel and register
Collect MVV, BRP registration.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceSponsorApply for partner residence ↗
The Dutch sponsor uses this IND page to check requirements and start the partner residence application.
Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · verified
Fees and processing time
Indicative government fees: Around €225.. A decision then typically takes 2 months – 6 months. Both change over time, so the dedicated pages below carry the itemised breakdown and the current official figures.
Also explored by
Compare Kingdom of the Netherlands with
Related routes
Frequently asked questions
Can unmarried partners apply for the Dutch partner visa?+
Yes, provided the relationship is durable and exclusive — evidenced by cohabitation history, joint finances, and similar evidence. The Dutch rules recognise registered partners and de-facto durable relationships.
What does my partner need to qualify for a Dutch partner visa, and is there a language test?+
Your partner must show a durable, exclusive relationship with you, and the sponsor must have income at 100 percent of the Dutch minimum wage. There is a civic-integration requirement to pass A1-level Dutch abroad before entry for applicants from some countries. Typical evidence is a marriage certificate or cohabitation agreement, the sponsor's payslips, and an A1 Dutch certificate. Confirm the requirements on the official IND page.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor →