Netherlands Spouse of a citizen

For the foreign spouse, registered partner or unmarried partner of a Dutch citizen. It gives a five-year residence permit with free access to work, after an MVV entry visa where required. ^{1 2}

What you must show and pay

• Income of at least EUR 2,337 a month (≈ $2,610) · Sponsor gross social-security (SV) salary per month without holiday allowance, valid 1 July to 31 December 2026; EUR2,523.96 (≈ $2,820) per month with holiday allowance. ^{1 2}
• A fee of EUR 254 (≈ $280) · IND application fee for the partner residence permit. ¹

Requirements

• Applicant and sponsor have valid passports or travel documents. ^{1 2}
• The relationship is verifiable: married, registered partners, or unmarried partners. ^{1 2}
• Both partners are at least 21, or at least 18 if they were already married while both lived outside the Netherlands. ^{1 2}
• The partners will live together in the Netherlands and register at the same address with the municipality. ^{1 2}
• The sponsor signs a declaration of sponsorship in the application form. ^{1 2}
• The applicant is not a danger to public order or national security. ^{1 2}
• The sponsor holds Dutch nationality; Dutch law applies to Dutch nationals bringing a partner to the Netherlands. ^{1 2}
• The sponsor earns at least EUR2,337.00 (≈ $2,610) gross SV salary per month, or EUR2,523.96 (≈ $2,820) with holiday allowance. ^{1 2}
• Antecedents certificate completed by everyone over 12 and enclosed with the application. ^{1 2}
• Official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German. ^{1 2}
• The applicant passes the civic integration exam abroad before applying for the MVV, unless exempt. ^{1 2}
• The sponsor applies for the residence permit and the MVV together, online with DigiD or by post; the fee is EUR254 (≈ $280). ^{1 2}
• The IND decides within 90 days; the applicant collects the MVV sticker within 3 months of the decision. ^{1 2}
• After arrival the applicant takes a TB test at the GGD within 3 months, unless the nationality is exempt. ^{1 2}

Stay

• Five years for the partner of a Dutch national; a type I temporary regular permit that can be extended and, after five years, followed by a permanent residence permit.
• Initial permitted stay: 60 months.
• Visa validity: 3 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationals. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Free to work: the permit states that a work permit (TWV) is not required.

Checked 2026-10-11

Official sources

1. Residence permit for partner · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-11
2. Required amounts: income requirements (valid 2026) · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-10
3. Becoming a Dutch national through naturalisation · Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) · checked 2026-10-11