The principle

Family members apply as dependants of the person who has the main permit, and that person becomes their sponsor. Your employer sponsors you. You sponsor your family. This difference is important when circumstances change. Your employer is responsible only for your own return. The return of your family members is excluded.

What your partner may do

This differs per permit type, and the difference is large:

  • Business owner permits, including the treaty-based permits, give family members free access to the labour market. Their card states that they are exempt from the work permit. If you earn little in your first year as a founder, your partner can support the household with paid work.
  • Employment permits work the same way for the family of skilled staff. The family is free to work here.

What the sponsor has to show

You need sufficient and lasting income, which is assessed when you apply. People often have problems with the lasting part. The income must meet the amount today and continue for at least twelve months. With a one-year contract signed eleven months ago, even a higher salary fails this test.

If you are hired at the salary levels for skilled staff, your income is well above the family threshold. Problems usually come from the paperwork.

Two permits that exclude family

A permit for seasonal work or on-the-job learning excludes family members. If you want to bring your family, take this into account when you choose a permit.

Independence over time

At first, a family permit depends on the relationship. Later, the family member can get an independent permit. People with Turkish citizenship and their families get this on easier terms. See milder rules for Turkish business owners. For everyone else, see the five-year timeline.

You can set up the company by power of attorney, from any country. This usually happens within one week once all documents are complete. See setting up a BV in the Netherlands from abroad.

Families that keep a business, real estate and investments together in one structure use a family office. In the Netherlands, it is set up with a holding company and a foundation that issues depositary receipts (STAK). See a family office in the Netherlands for how this works.

Your company and your residence permit

We arrange both. We set up your company: the entity, the salary and the tax position. An immigration lawyer from our network prepares your residence application and files it with the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). The lawyer follows the case law and the forms every week. We plan the company and the application together, so your company meets what the IND asks for.

Who arranges which part of your relocation? See how we work with our partners.