Bringing Non-EU parents to Netherlands permanently

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

You're not the first person who has asked this question.  The Dutch Government have issued a document relating directly to this subject; you can download it as a PDF file from this link, direct to your device.

You'll note that Section 3 tells you who this applies to and goes on to say "the focus is usually on a spouse (male/female) or registered partner or children under the age of 18."  It does not specifically mention any other family members, but it does include the word "usually", so there is room for Regulatory discretion.

Put simply, if your parents need your full-time support in order to live, then they will consider it; they will speak to whoever is providing that care at the moment and make a decision based on that conversation.

If you want them to come and live with you because they are getting old and it's the way your culture does the right thing for parents, sadly, while that by itself is laudable, is not sufficient reason to bring them to the Netherlands.  So if you have any living extended family back home in India, then that can be reason enough to turn down your request.

I don't know of anybody who has managed to achieve this; if you do then please let us know so we can inform others.

I wish you the best of luck with this and hope this helps.

Cynic

Expat Team

Dear Cynic,

Thanks for your detailed response on this topic. It's true then that it's nearly impossible to bring them over. Time to widen our options in that case.

I will keep this thread posted if I get any new information other than what is shared here.

Have a great day!!

Thanks!

By becoming a Dutch national, the probability that NL will refuse them a direct VISA is high. I was able to bring my parents by exercising my eu rights outside NL that is bringing them through another EU country before they finally join me in NL.

@Guurl Thanks for your response.

Does that mean you were a citizen of some other EU country which allowed parents to come and then you all moved to Netherlands?

Please clarify.

Thanks!

Couple with Dutch citizenship and another EU citizenship but This is not necessary to your main question.

If you are a citizen of any EU country living in that same EU country for example The Netherlands, the countriy's national law applies.

If you are a Dutch citizen, living in another EU country, the EU law applies. This is why in NL, there is the application called "Application for Verification against EU Law" which allows other EU citizens to bring in for example in this case, their parents.

If NL national law says no to parents then its a NO, but if you move temporary for example to Belgium then the EU law applies. This EU LAW allows you to bring your parents who are nonEU. You are allowed to move back to netherlands with them at least after 6months or so with proofs. For more details of the documents to provide IND with this option, you have to visit the IND website.

Note that there are rules also for each EU country to exercise the EU rights, example providing evidence of dependency, birth certificates etc.

The requirements for non-Dutch EU citizens can be found on the Dutch Government (IND) website; this link will take you straight to it.

Thanks Cynic and Gurrl for your responses. I will check what works best for our situation.

One last question: Do you think hiring a lawyer would help us in advising the best things to do or possibilities in our situation in order to bring the parents here? Any advise on this please.

Hi again.

Guurl is a Belgian citizen and probably found a way to bring her parents into Belgium, from where she could exercise her EU rights to bring her parents into the Netherlands.  It seems a bit silly that you have to go through this fuss and spend all this money in order to do something that ultimately is going to go your way.

It may be worthwhile speaking to a Belgian lawyer to see if there is any value in you moving there.

I hope this helps.

Cynic

Expat Team

@SLB57 This is a simple application. You dont need a Lawyer. You just need an address, Birth certificate 6 months of proof of dependency and a source of income. You can also keep your job in NL depending on the distance from the border.

If you choose Belgium , I will also advice you to go for a NL visiting visa  because you can also convert the visa to a Belgium residence permit by applying directly through gemente to IBZ. Much easier than making the same application via the embassy.

Choose your options in this link. Agii is the best advice you can get.

https://www.agii.be/thema/vreemdelingen … unieburger

@Guurl Thanks for your reply.  I'm a bit confused by the suggestion.  Can you please clarify the below?

• I understand that we can work in BE & then use our NL Passport to get BE Residence permit. Is that right ?
• Does this also mean that we've to LIVE in a BE address & can work in BE or NL?
• Proof of dependency - Amount credited to the non-eu dependent from my account?

You can use your NL passprt to register and work in Belgium

You can also live in Belgium and go to work in NL

The choice is yours.

Yes, The proof of dependeny should show money going from your account to their account, consistetly for  6 months.

Also provide evidence that they dont have income, any real estate etc

The agii link above tell you all this. take your time and read it on a PC not on a phone

@Guurl This is a very helpful lead. I will read through it. Will come back for any clarification.

Thanks for patiently replying to my questions to you and @cynic.