Facilitation Visa? Wife to dutch, mother to dutch children

Hi and welcome to the Forum.

Actually, the information is very clear, you just don't know where to find it.

So, start here (link); it's the IND website for a spouse/family visa; from what you've said, this visa is probably your only option.

To put it simply, you do have to pass the Inburgering exam, this is basically a Dutch integration course (learn about some things from Dutch society), a part of which is a Dutch language test; it's a very basic level; the Dutch Government have put together a training package called "Naar Nederland" that will help you through it; this link will take you to the Dutch Government website that tells you all about it.

Once you have passed the exam, you can start your family visa process.  There is a time limit between you getting your family visa and you actually arriving in the Netherlands, I think it's 90 days.

To qualify as your sponsor, your husband will have to have what they call "independent income"; in other words have a job.  It has to be a proper job with a contract and basically pay him more than Dutch minimum wage; it's all described within the many links they provide in the Family visa link I gave you.

So, he will probably have to head back to Holland first; find work and a home for you all, while at the same time you start learning Dutch.

Once you've read the links I've provided, if you have any further specific questions, then please come back to us.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Thank you for your kind and fast reply! I’ve read the link you’ve given. Many thanks!

However, I wasn’t planning to enter the Netherlands with a Spouse Visa. I’m planning to enter the Netherlands with this visa:
Link:
Facilitation Visa

I suppose it wouldn’t be necessary for my husband to go back to the Netherlands in advance to seek for a job. He can do it when we’re all in the Netherlands as a family?

The information given on IND’s website states that I’m able to go to the Netherlands with this visa and within 6 months they’ll decide whether I can continue to stay in the Netherlands.  While waiting for their decision, my husband should be able to get a job.

It doesn’t say on the link I gave that I’d need to sit for an Inburgering Exam or apply for an MVV. I was in the Netherlands as an au pair before so I personally am not too worried about the exam itself as my husband and I sometimes speak Dutch at home as well.

I’d like to know more about this facilitation visa for parents of Dutch minors; perhaps you know anyone who has experience coming into the Netherlands with this visa?

Thanks again 😊

Hi again.

Unfortunately, I can't see your link (it's a restriction the system places on new members - sorry) - what's the name of the visa?

If it's a facilitation visa, then there is a very important restriction, namely "if you are visiting the Netherlands as a family member of a Dutch national you cannot apply for visa facilitation."; this link takes you to the relevant release document from the Dutch Government.

I'm away for a few days from tonight - so I'll get back to this on Monday night.

I'm really keen to follow this up as it's not something we've looked at in the past and it will potentially help others.

Cynic
Expat Team

Hi! Thanks again for your response.

https://ind.nl/en/family/Pages/parent(s)-of-a-minor-Dutch-child.aspx

I copied and pasted the link above. Hopefully you can copy paste it and open it. It basically states on the IND website (link copied) that as a parent of a dutch minor:

1) I’d need to enter the Netherlands with a facilitation visa as Indonesian passport holders need a visa to travel to the Netherlands. I have to apply for the facilitation visa through VFS I guess. I need to indicate that I intend to live with my dutch children (minors) in the Netherlands when applying for the visa.

2) As soon as I arrive in NL, I’d need to report to IND, file in an application form and submit proofs that I’m the mother and caregiver of my children in order to get a residence permit.

3) IND will check my application etc, and eventually decide whether I can receive a permit. Website says the process itself may take up to 6months.

4) I’d need to collect my permit, make sure our family is registered in the municipality we’ll be living in and get health insurance. With this permit, I can also work in the Netherlands.

The only downside is that when it expires, I can’t just extend it. I’ll need to go to IND and repeat the whole process so it can be a hassle.

I really want to hear experiences of parents of dutch minors who received a residence permit through this process as I can’t seem to find/know anyone who went through this process. Thanks again!

Link doesn’t want to show again I guess 🙁🙁


w w w. ind.nl/en/family/Pages/parent(s)-of-a-minor-Dutch-child.aspx

Basically it should come up if you google ind parent of a minor dutch child.

Many thanks! Really appreciate it!

Hi again.

No problem; I asked that they unlock the link on your post and I can now see it.

I'll get back to you next week.

Have a great weekend.

Cynic
Expat Team

Hi again.

Fresh back from my long-weekend away.

I think I agree with your summation of what you have found. 

The down-side of all short-term visas is that they are what I describe as political visas because the rules and circumstances under which they are issued can be changed at the stroke of a politicians pen.  So, the next Government may decide they no longer need/want immigration, they can stop it and your next renewal becomes that much harder, but once you have residency, then it is much easier for you (and harder for them).

I think both visas are open to you; I would still recommend my way, even though it splits up the family in the short-term, it is much easier for your husband to move to Holland and find work so that you then know that when you move, he already has a job and a place for you all to live than to try and do the same with a wife and kids in a strange country to worry about; you also don't have to worry about the 6-month renewal issue.  If you go your way, then I'm assuming you have somewhere to go once in the Netherlands so that you have an address you can register from etc.

Anyway, the choice is yours to make.  If you have any further specific questions, then please come back to us.

Hope this helps.

Cynic
Expat Team

Thank you so much for the advice. Really appreciate it! 😊

You should take the route that Cynic advises otherwise they will send you back.