Your family doesn’t come along automatically on your permit. Each family member applies for their own residence permit, with you as their sponsor.
Who can join you
The IND has separate routes for:
- a partner: a spouse, a registered partner, or an unmarried partner in a lasting, exclusive relationship
- minor children
Law firms note that partners of any gender qualify.
The income test for self-employed sponsors
As sponsor, your income must be independent, sustainable and sufficient. For self-employed people the IND’s income page says:
- income counts as sustainable once you’ve earned it for 18 months at the time of the application
- if you apply for your own permit and your family’s at the same time, the IND looks at the expected income in your business plan
- for the second half of 2026 the required profit is €1,766.77 per month, including holiday allowance
The IND’s online income check asks whether you applied under the Dutch-Japanese trade treaty, but its pages don’t explain what that changes.
Can your partner work?
Yes. ind.nl says your family members “are allowed to work in the Netherlands without a work permit (TWV).” That’s broader than your own permit, which is tied to your business.
Documents to prepare
- Proof of each family relationship, such as birth and marriage records, with an apostille and a translation into Dutch, English, French or German
- For unmarried partners: the IND’s declaration of relationship
Health insurance
According to one law firm, you and your family have full access to Dutch health care and can take out Dutch basic health insurance (basisverzekering) once you have your permits.