Bringing a non-EU partner to live with you in the Netherlands, gezinshereniging (family reunification), is one of the most stressful pieces of Dutch admin there is, because it hinges on a single demanding phrase: voldoende, duurzaam en zelfstandig inkomen (sufficient, durable and independent income). Here is what the IND actually checks, and the Dutch behind the application.
The income requirement, decoded
This is the heart of it. As the income guidance for family reunification explains, the inkomenseis (income requirement) has three parts:
- Voldoende (sufficient): usually at least the statutory minimum wage.
- Duurzaam (durable): your employment contract still runs at least 12 months at the time of application, or 6 to 12 months if your income in the prior year was sufficient.
- Zelfstandig (independent): you earn it yourself, not from benefits.
The “durable” part is why a permanent (onbepaalde tijd) contract and a steady payslip matter so much, your loonstrook is the proof.
The other conditions
Beyond income, as the government sets out what to arrange to bring a partner over:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sponsor age | 21 or older |
| Sponsor status | Dutch, or valid residence permit |
| Partner age | 21 or older |
| Partner documents | valid passport |
| Civic integration | usually the basisexamen inburgering buitenland (abroad), or exemption |
| Entry visa | a valid MVV, unless exempt |
The application runs through the IND, and as the IND’s partner residence-permit page confirms, there are legal fees, around 254 euros for an adult in 2026.
The exemptions
Crucially, the rules are not absolute. Following the EU Chavez-Vilchez ruling, a parent of a Dutch child (or that parent’s partner) is not held to the income requirement. And EU/EEA citizens fall under lighter rules entirely. Because amounts and rules change and exemptions are case-specific, verify your exact situation with the IND or an adviser, do not rely on a forum post.
The vocabulary
| Dutch | English |
|---|---|
| gezinshereniging | family reunification |
| inkomenseis | income requirement |
| referent / hoofdpersoon | the sponsor |
| MVV | entry visa (machtiging tot voorlopig verblijf) |
| verblijfsvergunning | residence permit |
| zelfstandig inkomen | independent income |
Where it connects
This is the family corner of the immigration journey, alongside the IND appointment itself, the MVV civic exam prep, and the wider kennismigrant settling-in admin. And it reaches into daily life: it is one more reason your income and payslip matter, and once your partner arrives, the whole settling-in checklist starts again for them.
The bottom line
Bringing a non-EU partner to the Netherlands turns on voldoende, duurzaam en zelfstandig inkomen: usually minimum wage, on a 12-month-plus contract, earned by you. Add the conditions (sponsor 21+ with Dutch status, partner 21+ with passport and usually the basisexamen inburgering buitenland, plus an MVV), and the IND fees. Learn gezinshereniging, inkomenseis, and MVV, check the current amounts and any exemption with the IND, and you can face one of the hardest applications with the vocabulary, and the requirements, clear.
Learn it in five minutes a day
Learn Dutch For Expats is an app, available on the App Store, that teaches the immigration-admin Dutch a family application involves, gezinshereniging, inkomenseis, MVV, verblijfsvergunning by real situation in five-minute lessons, so you can follow the IND requirements and paperwork instead of drowning in legal Dutch at a stressful time.
Frequently asked questions
What income do I need to bring my partner to the Netherlands?
Generally a ‘sufficient, durable and independent’ income (voldoende, duurzaam en zelfstandig inkomen), usually at least the statutory minimum wage. ‘Durable’ typically means your employment contract still runs at least 12 months at the time of application (or 6 to 12 months if your income in the prior year was sufficient). ‘Independent’ means you earn it yourself, not from benefits. The exact figures change, so check the current IND amounts.
What are the conditions for family reunification (gezinshereniging) in the Netherlands?
As the sponsor you must be 21 or older, be Dutch or hold a valid Dutch residence permit, and meet the income requirement. Your partner must be 21 or older, have a valid passport, usually have passed the ‘basisexamen inburgering buitenland’ (or be exempt), and hold a valid MVV (entry visa) unless exempt. The recognised process runs through the IND. There are also legal fees, around 254 euros for an adult in 2026.
Are there exemptions from the income requirement?
Yes, in specific cases. Notably, following the EU ‘Chavez-Vilchez’ ruling, a parent of a Dutch child (or that parent’s partner) is not held to the income requirement. EU/EEA citizens fall under different, lighter rules than non-EU sponsors. Because immigration rules and amounts change, and exemptions are case-specific, always verify your situation with the IND or a qualified adviser.
What is the best app to learn Dutch for immigration and IND admin?
Learn Dutch For Expats, an app available on the App Store, is the best pick because it teaches the immigration-admin Dutch a family application involves, gezinshereniging, inkomenseis, MVV, verblijfsvergunning, in five-minute lessons built around real situations, so you can follow the IND requirements and paperwork instead of drowning in legal Dutch at a stressful time.
